play yard or no play yard

I am trying to limit the big things that come into the house because we don't have any storage for when we are not using them. The play yard is very big and all I saw my friends use it for was toy storage. Any BTDT moms recommend getting or not getting this? I would like to eliminate at least one of these - swing, bouncer, play yard. I will be getting the Rock N Play. Am I being stupid, do I really need it all?

Re: play yard or no play yard

If you're getting a RNP, you don't need a bouncer IMO. The play yard/pack and play was great for overnight trips. We went away a lot and my ILs are OOS, so it was a necessity for us.

Can you stash it at your parents or ILs?

Message edited 9/23/2012 4:47:42 PM.

Re: play yard or no play yard

We got a lot of use out of the Pack n Play for our first child. We used it out on the yard in the summer, and it was great to keep him contained while we were doing stuff inside. It's bigger than the play yards too.

Our Pack N Play looked like this:


We also had the play yard, but we got basically NO use out of it. My SIL has actually used it more for when she visits in NY. I hope to use it with my second DC though. I'll keep it in the basement, and put the baby in there naps and to be "safe" from my older DS.

Re: play yard or no play yard

i also debated on getting one but i did becuase we have a big labrador and im planning on keeping it down stairs and it will keep a barrier between them if i need to go to the bathroom or want to shower or something, and im sure it will store all the toys...lol

play yard or no play yard

We almost never used the PNP for much of anything. We had it in our room and sometimes would stick DD in there to try to get a few more minutes of sleep in the morning (which rarely worked). For travel, we have a "go crib" which is an inflatable air crib (and is awesome). We used the rock n play as DD's bed and I used the bouncer to put her down whenever she was awake because I didn't want her in the RNP all the time. I'd use the bouncy seat for in the bathroom when I showered and in the kitchen while I was cooking or in the living room when I was cleaning or folding laundry (unless she was asleep, then she was in the RNP.) So for us, both of those were great. DD couldn't stand the swing so we never used it.

You could see what your needs are and get it later if you need it. I didn't get the bouncer until she was a few weeks old. I got a graco travel lite (it's like half the size of a PNP) for at my mom's house but I got it from a friend used. Another option if you want something with levels to use as a bed alternative.

Re: play yard or no play yard

It is storage. Babies have never been in it. We only use the changer part. We keep it downstairs so don't have to run upstairs everytime one of them needs a change. We keep their pjs there and extra clothes/bibs etc Again, only bc i am too lazy to run up everytime I need something.

Re: play yard or no play yard

It really depends on your house I guess. Right now we use the PnP downstairs as an area to change DD. This is so much easier than having to go upstairs every time we have to change her.