Chirpy Mama; 4 July, 2020 156 views

Do You Need a Mattress for Pack n Play?

If you are getting a pack n play for your baby and wondering whether you will need a mattress for it, this article if for you. Typically a standard pack n play comes with a thin mattress pad that is about 1” thick and is not considered a mattress. In addition, the bottom of a pack n play is a stiff cardboard- so uncomfortable!

So do you need a mattress for pack n play? Well, it depends on the use you intend for your pack n play and your personal preference for your baby. If you intend to use a pack n play as a crib for your baby, the thin mattress pad may not be as comfortable because you can easily feel the metal bars underneath.

Remember a pack n play has many uses for example for naps, as a play area to keep baby off the floor and as a portable crib you can carry with you when you travel. What’s more you can use a pack n play until your baby is 2 years of age.

Table of Contents

Do You Need A Mattress for Pack n Play?

If your baby hates sleeping in it, or cannot sleep for a solid 3 hours in it and when he or she wakes up grumpy consider getting a mattress for it– you will wish you had known earlier.

Now that a pack n play comes with a thin mattress pad which is not as thick as the standard mattress thickness , are you supposed to buy a mattress for it? Let us look at what a mattress will do better compared to the thin mattress pad it comes with.

More comfort

Let me be frank, you can easily feel the metal bars below the thin mattress pad of your pack n play.

You will be using a pack n play for naps and every parents desire is for their babies to have long quality sleep for their growth and well being. The mattress pad just won’t cut it- consider getting this Dream On Me 3″ Pack n Play Mattress for Pack n Play 4, 590 parents can not wrong to have decided to buy a mattress for their pack n play’s.

You will not regret getting one for your baby too – it will turn it into a functional bed for an infant.

Durability.

A 3” mattress will last you longer than the 1” mattress pad that will need replacement in less than a year. A $50 mattress is a worthy investment to make a pack n play more comfy to use.

Safety.

Do not get tempted to buy a foam pad to fit in the pack n play to make it comfortable for sleep. It is not safe or recommended it poses a suffocation risk for your baby.

Which is why ,if you want to make your pack n play more padded and cosy buy a mattress designed specifically for a pack n play such as the Dream On Me 3″ Pack n Play Mattress for Pack n Play

When is a Mattress necessary for pack n play?

Consider getting a mattress for your pack n play if you plan to use a pack n play for the following uses

As a baby crib for your baby until they are 2 years of age.
As a napper – baby will take many naps till they are 5 years old.
As a play area to keep baby off the floor for long hours.
As a portable crib for grandmas or friends home. Consider this portable Portable Hiccapop Trifold Pack n Play Matress pad with a carry case.

Is it safe to put a mattress in a pack n play?

Safety is a big concern for all parents especially when it comes to baby sleeping area. And adding a mattress to a pack n play is no different.

Consider these thing before getting a pack n play mattress.

Size.

The mattress must be specifically made to fit a pack n play. The length and width should perfectly fit your pack n play brand. This is because if it leaves gaps on the sides, it is not safe especially for newborns to 4months old.

You will also need to get fitting sheets for pack n play because regular sheets don’t fit.

Thickness.

Consider at least 3” instead of a 5” mattress so that it you do not add too much height such that when your baby stands they topple over. Typically the height limit for a pack n play is 35” and 30lbs.

Material.

It is recommended that infants should sleep on firm mattress surface until their toddler years when they can sleep on a softer mattress. This is to avoid suffocation cases. And it is good to know the available mattresses for pack n play in the market today have put this in mind.

Check out this mattress for pack n play with with sides- a firm side for newborns and a softer side for toddlers. Milliard Elite Dual Sided Pack n Play Mattress

Conclusion

Now you know everything you need to decide whether you actually do need mattress for your pack n play. Remember, the mattress pad it comes with is 1” thick and is by no means comfortable for your baby. Getting a 3” mattress is a safe and easy way to make your pack n play more comfortable for sleep.

Chirpy Mama

Hi! I'm Aviva; mom to my toddler daughter Mila and French Bulldog Winston, wife to my husband Tim, and after a 17 year stretch as a fast paced city gal in New York City, now happily living a suburban life in New Jersey. I hope this blog brings you moms and dads some knowledge, advice, and perhaps a little bit of humor in these crazy toddler times!