In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Graco Pack 'n Play On the Go Review

Budget friendly with average functionality but it isn't as portable
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Graco Pack 'n Play On the Go Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $80 List
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Manufacturer:   Graco
Wendy Schmitz
By Wendy Schmitz ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  October 3, 2017
Contributions From: Juliet Spurrier, MD
52
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#7 of 8
  • Ease of Use - 35% 6.0
  • Portability - 30% 4.0
  • Comfort - 15% 6.0
  • Quality - 15% 6.0
  • EcoHealth - 5% 1.0

Our Verdict

The Graco Pack 'n Play on the Go is an inexpensive, quality travel crib and play yard for infants to toddler. This Graco is a nice option that provides what you need for a very reasonable price. It is a little harder to use and heavier than some parents will want to carry, but it has what you need for everyday use and on the go sleeping. While this economical option isn't the right fit for every family and it doesn't deny the use of flame retardants, we think it is a good choice for parents on a budget and that most families will be pleased with the features, functionality and overall quality of the Pack 'n Play. Check out our article on travel cribs to see how it ranks versus competitors.
REASONS TO BUY
Price
Average comfort and quality
REASONS TO AVOID
Large
Heavier
Not eco-healthy

Our Analysis and Test Results

In Philadelphia in 1942, Russell Gray and Robert Cone launched the Graco company which fabricated car parts. Years later, after Gray left the company, Cone hired an engineer to design baby-centric gear. Their first product was an infant swing inspired by an outdoor glider used to soothe a coworker's crying infant. The cool swing sold millions and helped put Graco on the baby gear map where they soon became the world's leading manufacturers of baby products.

graco pack 'n play on the go - the graco pack 'n play on the go comes with a bassinet, play mobile...
The Graco Pack 'n Play on the Go comes with a bassinet, play mobile, diaper storage bag and a changing station making it one of the full-featured options in the review.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


The Graco offers average ease of use compared to the competition.


Our ease of use metric consists primarily of set up and take down as this is the main functionality of this product type.

graco pack 'n play on the go - the included storage bag means you can keep diapers and other...
The included storage bag means you can keep diapers and other supplies nearby when using the Graco.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Graco took about 5 minutes to set up without the bassinet and closer to 7 minutes with it. If you add the accessories to the mix, it can take over 9 minutes. Over time the average setup time during testing was 1:47 minutes.


There are a lot of moving parts with the Graco, but the directions are listed on the bottom if you get confused, which includes locking the sidebars (above left) and pressing down on the center of the bottom (above right). This is reversed for folding. Once folded, you need to ensure the handles on the product line up with the handle holes on the travel bag before putting it in.


You need to snap the bottom to the frame (above left) and secure the mattress to the bottom with Velcro (above right) to complete the setup.

This yard is spot clean only. Some areas will be easy to keep clean, and others may require scrubbing or a vacuum. We suggest using the fitted sheet to help keep the mattress from getting dirty.

graco pack 'n play on the go - the pack 'n play is shorter than some of the competition, but it is...
The Pack 'n Play is shorter than some of the competition, but it is wider.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Portability


The Graco isn't the easiest option to travel with thanks to the size and weight of the folded product.


This travel crib weighs 17lbs and 12 oz when folded in the travel bag. It measures 10.6"H x 27.7"L x 10.3"W making it one of the largest in the group. If you include the bassinet, the weight goes up over 20 lbs.

graco pack 'n play on the go - the graco has two wheels on one end for easier movement between...
The Graco has two wheels on one end for easier movement between rooms. While it won't help you while traveling, it can help if you plan to use it as a play yard or safe place to rest baby while you divert your attention.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

This weight means carrying the Graco will be difficult. The small handles make it hard to move and the size means it may not fit in some spaces. This product has wheels on one side for easier moving between rooms.

graco pack 'n play on the go - the crib mattress on the pack 'n play is soft with some firmness.
The crib mattress on the Pack 'n Play is soft with some firmness.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Comfort


The Graco offers basic comfort that isn't impressive but isn't terrible either.


This travel crib has a one-inch mattress made of polyurethane foam. It is soft with enough firmness to stop it from depressing to the hard bottom. It is the third most comfortable mattress in the group. It is also fairly easy to get a baby in and out of the crib.

graco pack 'n play on the go - the graco pack 'n play is not the nicest of the bunch, but for the...
The Graco Pack 'n Play is not the nicest of the bunch, but for the price, it provides better quality than some cribs that cost over twice the price.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Quality


The Graco offers above-average quality for the price, even if it can't compete with the higher-end competition.


The Graco frame is sturdy and while it shakes somewhat the legs don't move when you press on the top bar like some of the competition. The fabric feels durable and we didn't observe any stray stitching or random threads. There are some Amazon reports indicating trouble with the fabric, but we didn't experience this in our setup process.

graco pack 'n play on the go - graco does not provide any information on the materials or possible...
Graco does not provide any information on the materials or possible chemicals used in the construction of the Pack 'n Play which leaves us to assume that flame retardants are potentially used in this product.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Eco-health


Graco doesn't offer much in the way of eco-health, which is similar to the majority of popular brands and their use of harmful chemicals.


The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) retains a list of most major manufacturers and their responses to inquiries about their use of flame retardants. Graco did not respond to questions and doesn't provide information on their website about flame retardants leaving the CEH, and us, to assume they use flame retardants.

Manufacturer Video



Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Graco Pack 'n Play On the Go versus top competing products:
Or, compare up to 5 products side-by-side here.

Meet Your Review Team

Wendy Schmitz
Wendy Schmitz
Senior Review Editor
Wendy is a mother of two who has been a leading member of BabyGearLab's Review team since 2014. She brings a combination of skills and talent to the team that translates into well written, thought-provoking, easy to understand reviews that provide the parents with the information necessary to make a well-informed decision regarding products for their children, as well as, entertain and encourage readers to read more articles on the site. Wendy has a BA in Biology and brings a scientific and... read more
Juliet Spurrier, MD
Juliet Spurrier, MD
Mom-in-Chief
Dr. Juliet Baciocco Spurrier is a board-certified pediatrician, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), mother of two, and founder of the Baby section of GearLab. Juliet earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Anthropology and Italian Literature from the University of California at Berkeley and her Medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington DC. She completed her pediatric residency at the Doernbecher Children's Hospital at Oregon Health & Science... read more