Graco Pack 'n' Play Compact

...relaxing.

The Graco Pack n'Play travel cot doesn't, at first appearances, look very special. It doesn't have the luxurious appearance of some of the more expensive brands.

It was highly recommended to me by a trustworthy friend and I have to admit that I came close to not buying it. The mattress felt hard and uncomfortable to touch and the loud blue, yellow, red and green check pattern didn't seem overly appealing.
...been very pleased with the Graco Pack n'Play Travel Cot and despite my initial fears my daughter sleeps very soundly in it - a full 12 hrs without any awakenings at all. She accepted it straight away and has no problems using it for short naps. It has come in extremely handy for trips away to friends and family and I'm planning to take it with us on holiday in three weeks time. Many hotels and holiday cottages do provide cots on request, but I feel ... more

Last weekend was one of the best ever. My sister's wedding at a smart country hotel in Sussex went like a dream and the half dozen or so baby and child guests behaved with great restraint and decorum - well most of them anyway! My 11 month old daughter was due to play a small part in the proceedings, having at last shed her chicken-pox scars and grown enough hair to warrant a pretty floral headband.

This was her first stay in a hotel and I have to admit that I had some reservations about all four of us trying to sleep in the one room. I had visions of me trying to pacify a yelling baby at 3.00am in the morning, my son climbing the walls in hyper-active mode and my husband resorting to a night in the en-suite bathroom, in order to get away from us all!

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PROBLEM
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One of the many difficulties to be overcome when travelling with babies and small children is where do they sleep? An adult bed is out of the question until they're at least 18 months old - preferably two years. Once past 4 months they are really too big for moses baskets and the bottom drawer of the hotel wardrobe.

There was a time, many years ago now, when if I wanted to take off on a leisurely trip to some little explored corner of the West Midlands, all I had to do was pack an overnight bag and top the car up with petrol. Now, with young baby in tow and 7yr old son dragging his heels, taking a trip into town has become a major expedition requiring meticulous planning and 20 lbs worth of assorted equipment.

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SOLUTION?
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Well, no, I can't relieve you of this heavy burden or the aching shoulders, but I can tell you about one of my more useful baby equipment purchases that has made my rare trips to far flung places - and hotel - a little more relaxing.

The Graco Pack n'Play travel cot doesn't, at first appearances, look very special. It doesn't have the luxurious appearance of some of the more expensive brands.

It was highly recommended to me by a trustworthy friend and I have to admit that I came close to not buying it. The mattress felt hard and uncomfortable to touch and the loud blue, yellow, red and green check pattern didn't seem overly appealing.

I decided to ignore my initial prejudices and plucked £40.00 out of my purse and handed it over to the friendly Mothercare World assistant, ignoring her plea to get me to take out another in-store account card - offer of a 10% reduction in price.

The travel cot comes in a polyester,wipe clean, blue, zip up bag with carry handle. Folded it measures only, 26 x 26 x 67cm - far more compact than any of the other brands on display. There were no problems fitting it into the boot of my Ford Focus, there was even room left for a few extra bags and weighing only 8.1 kg it was fairly easy to carry.

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OPERATION
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After removing the cot from the bag you are then faced with the dreaded task of reading the instructions - something I hate and never do properly. It comes out of the bag looking a bit like a large folded umbrella, its probably best to visualise this in your mind as you begin to unfold the legs - it helps. Gripping the sides of the cot pull each one up until it clicks into position and locks. Only then push down the circular disc supporting the base of the cot. The whole thing should then feel stable and secure. All quite tricky the first time you try, but you very quickly get used to it. You then unfold the slim, padded, checked mattress and place it into the cot. This is then secured using the velcro fixings.

The cot sides are made of a white mesh, so you can see your child whilst he/she is sleeping or playing inside and it is soft enough to protect the head in a fall. Fully unfolded the cot measures 102 x 73 x 75cm.

To dismantle the cot, take out the mattress pad, pull up the centre support and press the buttons under the centre of each side bar. The cot will then collapse and fold down, again, in a similar way to an umbrella. Everything can then easily be put back into the carry bag and you're ready to go.

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OTHER REQUIREMENTS
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As travel cots are not the same size as standard cots it is best, for safety reasons, to use special sized fitted cotton/terry sheets for the mattress. Mothercare sell travel-cot, machine washable, terry sheets priced at £10.00 in a choice of white or navy.

Rather than creating huge amounts of extra luggage with further sheets and blankets, I would recommend buying a lightweight baby sleeping bag. My daughter uses one at home and I'm sure she feels more secure if she sleeps in the same bag when we are away. Most large stores stocking baby products also sell sleeping bags for a cost of around £22.00.

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MY OPINION
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I have been very pleased with the Graco Pack n'Play Travel Cot and despite my initial fears my daughter sleeps very soundly in it - a full 12 hrs without any awakenings at all. She accepted it straight away and has no problems using it for short naps. It has come in extremely handy for trips away to friends and family and I'm planning to take it with us on holiday in three weeks time. Many hotels and holiday cottages do provide cots on request, but I feel happiest knowing the history of my cot and knowing that it is clean and safe.

My one negative point is that I really cannot see this cot as a play pen. It is quite small and a child may be not be happy to sit behind the mesh and watch a rather blurred mother busying away in the kitchen. My daughter seems happy to play in her larger wooden play pen for the short periods of time when I need to get on with something. When I can give her my full attention I let her play in a safe room, where there's a bit more space and she can access all her toys.

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TO CONCLUDE
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I highly recommend the Graco Pack n' Play as a travel cot and temporary play pen for use whilst away from home or on holiday.

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DETAILS/SUMMARY
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Conforms to BS 7423 and BS 1227
Recommended for children up to the age of 24 months or max 30 lbs in weight
Strong and light weight
Compact: Folded size - 26 x 26 x 67cm Assembled size - 102 x 73 x 75cm
Easy clean polyester, padded mattress
Quick and simple to set up
Folds down into carry-bag
Mothercare price £40.00

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COMPARISONS
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Mothercare Brighton Check Travel Cot

Price: £50.00
Weight: 9 kg
Folded size: 26 x 79.5 x 26cm
Assembled size: 72.5 x 100 x 83.5cm
Suitable for children up to 24 months or 14 kg

Basinette Travel Cot

Cost: £70.00
Weight: 11 kg
Folded size: 26 x 79.5 x 26cm
Assembled size: 72.5 x 100 x 26cm
Suitable for children up to 24 months or 14 kg
Comes with extra features - change table, crib and storage compartment

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