Recommendations for crib for grandma's house.

[bw52]

What's an inexpensive, but SAFE option? I'm not sure where to start looking. Only requirements are :
1. that it folds up easily and compactly (to be stored when we're not there). We live out of state, so will be there a couple times a year.
2. SAFE
3. Built well enough that it won't break in a year. This will only be used occsionally, since we live out of state, but we plan to have a large family (plus factoring in my siblings will start having children soon), so it will be used for many years
4. Price. Obviously we don't want to spend a fortune on something to be only used once in a while, but enough that it will last.

TIA!

[WatchingThemGrow]

Get a basic $50-60 Graco (only) pack and play. It will be perfect for your situation.

[bw52]

How long can they use a pack n play? I thought they could only use that (for sleeping) for a few months. We will need somewhere for her to sleep for 18 months, maybe? Not exactly sure how long babies stay in cribs either, I guess.

[zag95]

I'd say a pack n play if you are looking for something that can be "Put away"- if not, then a porta crib might be good. I would go with a regular size porta crib so you can easily find sheets.

Also another idea is to get an Ikea crib (that converts to a little toddler bed), if Grandma has a special bedroom for the crib!

[WatchingThemGrow]

They stay in a PnP until 35" tall. For most, I think that's around 2, maybe 2.5.

After the PnP, we move them into an aerobed for kids for travel. I found them through this board on sale for $40, so I got one to leave at each grandparent's house, along with the PnP.

[newg]

We have a pnp at each grandma's house...dd is 15 months and still very easily sleeps in it. Both grandma's can very easily set it up and take it down (though we usually do that for them)...and it stores in a closet, or someplace out of the way........both got a very basic gracco pnp for around $60......I have one pnp sheet at each house, but I usually bring my own for dd to sleep on so it has the same smells on it as her sheets at home (to help with the whole transition of sleeping in a different place)

[hillview]

DS is TALL and happily sleeps in a PnP at 21 months. He is off the charts. That said, I don't leave him in the PnP alone when I know he is up and wanting to get up -- I would worry about him climbing out.
/hillary

[sweet_pea]

I'm also considering a pack n play for travel...

How sturdy are the Graco pack n plays? Is there something underneath the bassinet "mattress" supporting it? How do you use it once the baby is too heavy to put on top using the bassinet? Thanks.

[misshollygolightly]

Yup--Graco PNP sounds like the way to go. The bassinet (top, shallow part) is only good for the first few months, but you can use the PNP without the bassinet for a sleeping child pretty much until they could crawl out of it. Sweet Pea: you just take the bassinet part off when you want to use the PNP without it. Then, when you're ready to put LO in the PNP to nap/sleep/whatever, you just set him/her down in it. It's soft and supportive--pretty much like a crib. Very easy, very safe, affordable, and easy to travel with. A practical investment, IMO.

[sweet_pea]

Sweet Pea: you just take the bassinet part off when you want to use the PNP without it. Then, when you're ready to put LO in the PNP to nap/sleep/whatever, you just set him/her down in it. It's soft and supportive--pretty much like a crib. Very easy, very safe, affordable, and easy to travel with. A practical investment, IMO.

Thanks a lot!

Just wondering if there are features that make the Graco PNPs different from other brands? Or is it price? Graco seems to be the brand recommended by everyone.