View Full Version : changing table on playpan -- necessary or useless?
kitty0898
06-18-2004, 03:53 PM
The two Graco playpan I am interested in do not come with a changing table. Does your playpan have a changing table? If so, did you find it useful? If not, did you miss it?
Thanks in advance.
Kitty
Marisa6826
06-18-2004, 03:57 PM
I have a Graco PnP with a changing table and still use it daily (Sophie's 18m old). We also use it when we travel. Soooo much easier on my back than trying to change her on a bed.
I have it set up in the livingroom so I don't have to climb the stairs with every wet or poopy dipe. It's also good for getting her dressed in the morning without having to go upstairs (I'm preggo and have heart issues, so I shouldn't be climbing stairs carrying a toddler).
Hope that helps!
-m
slknight
06-18-2004, 04:23 PM
I've got the opposite experience as the previous poster. We almost never used ours. I thought I could use it instead of buying a changing table. But I found the height to be really weird (too low) and it hurt my back. We do live in a ranch-style house though (no stairs except to basement), so I didn't really need a changing area on different floors. I can see how it might be useful for an occasional change, but I wouldn't want to use it full-time.
gisele
06-18-2004, 04:32 PM
Mine didn't have a changing table and I didn't miss it at all.
I think on the Graco web site you may be able to buy a changing table later for some models, if you decide you want it.
cinrein
06-18-2004, 04:48 PM
We have a changing table and use it daily. Our house is 2 levels, so the PNP is the changing table station on the first level. I actually use the playpen part of the PNP to store baby stuff.
I only ever took the PNP changing table part along when we travelled for more than 3 nights. For trips shorter than that I just change her on a bed. I much prefer a changing table because it's more comfy for me and I find that Anna behaves better during diaper changes (like not trying to escape).
Cindy and Anna February 2003
vikivoly
06-18-2004, 05:05 PM
I used mine a lot, but I think it depends on your living situation. If you're going to keep the PNP downstairs and the nursery (and changing table) is upstairs, I think you'll use it a lot.
jd11365
06-18-2004, 09:13 PM
We are on one floor... We never used it. I wanted to, but it was awkward and easier to change DD in her room on the regular changing station. As a matter of fact, I bought the fancy schmancy top of the line one that vibrated, played music, had a night light...yada, yada... Next go around, I'd buy a regular 'ol PnP. DD hated all the bells and whistles and loved the basic one my mom had at her house...go figure.
HTH!
Jamie
Mommy to Kayla
May '03
HallsofVA
06-19-2004, 01:32 AM
We've used the changing table on our PNP from the moment we brought him home from the hospital. Because of the C-section and the resulting stairs limitation, we had to set up an entire crib and changing area downstairs. Our PNP, with the 3/4 bassinet and changing table has fit that bill perfectly. It's our downstairs changing station, and has saved our back many times. I'm going to reget the day coming up soon when he's too big for the bassinet, because I'll have to start removing the changing table whenever I put him in the PNP, so he won't bring it crashing down on himself.
tippy
06-19-2004, 02:27 AM
We had a basic PNP with a bassinette and changing table. While I never used the bassinette I did use the changing table quit a bit. I didn't want to spend a fortune on a regular changing table and this was a good alternative. After ds passed the weight limit I actually used it on the bed and floor.The only problem I had was finding a cover that fit with the holes in the right place. I ended up having to cut a regular changing pad cover for the straps to fit through.
We LOVED ours and used it exclusively for the first 4-5 months. We kept it in our room and since DS was co-sleeping it made those nighttime dipe changes much quicker.
JenCA
06-19-2004, 06:21 PM
We love our Graco PNP with the changing pad! We have a two-story house and wanted something downstairs that DD could sleep in and that we could use for diaper changes so that we weren't having to constantly go up and down the stairs. It was very handy when DD was a newborn--and now DD is 10 months old, and we still use the changing pad feature on a daily basis. I would definitely recommend it!
pritchettzoo
06-19-2004, 09:59 PM
That's the only thing we use the PNP for (other than it being a storage hamper). We have a two-story house as well, and it's our downstairs changing station. We still use it at 9 mos, although some babies aren't as cooperative during diaper changes. If you have a two-story house, I'd definitely recommend getting the changing table option. Can you maybe purchase the attachment separately if you like the other patterns better (I'm just assuming...you may have another reason entirely for your choices!)?
Anna
I use the PNP changing table is the only one I have. We are in an apt. We use the pnp changing table all the time--very handy. I have kitchen sized towels that I use on the surface to make clean ups easier.
August Mom
06-23-2004, 01:07 AM
The PNP is our downstairs changing table and the one that is used 99% of the time. It's indispensable to us.
Ours had it and it got used throughout the day until DS was about 6 mths old. Now, if we aren't upstairs where his changing table is, he gets changed on the floor. It was a great thing for us, especially after my c-section, but it's not a necessity.
lizmom427
06-24-2004, 12:45 AM
Hi, for those of you who are not using the changing table portion of your Graco PNP, I was wondering if you would want to sell it to me??
Thanks, lizmom427
Dcclerk
06-24-2004, 12:51 PM
I had the EXACT same experience as Jamie. I really think it all depends on your living arrangement. I don't know anyone who used theirs much who lives in a one-story house, but those in a 2 story (or more) often do. For me, we have only used the pack in play in the basic mode, so could have saved about half of the price!
kijip
06-24-2004, 09:58 PM
Our PNP was Toby's first changing station as well as his first bassinet. We were in a studio when he was born before we moved to a house. We used it all the time and did not find it too low. We stored dipes below the bassinet. Once we moved to a house he had outgrown the bassinet (15 pound limit) and we put it at Grandma's as her changing station slash nap area ( in the PNP sans bassinet). Always take off the changing table once you are using just the PNP.
jstevens
06-25-2004, 08:58 AM
We love ours! We have it on the first floor and DS bedroom is on the second floor where we have his changing table. Use the Pack N Play changing table daily and DS is now 12 months old. Would highly recommend it. I found that it is much easier to change a squirming, active baby when he is facing you and not turned to the side, like most changing tables are.
Ours doesn't have one and we don't miss it. We have a one-story house, though, so we don't need to climb up and down stairs for changes.
new_mommy25
08-01-2004, 04:08 AM
We used ours daily until DS was about 6 or 7 months old. Then he got too long for it. We had it set up in the living room and had a changing table in our room (where the crib was). IT made it a lot easier in the early days. We sold it when we moved but IMO it is a must have purchase and will buy it again if there ever is a #2.
hellosmiletoday
08-03-2004, 01:30 AM
I found it useful for many reasons. In the beginning the PnP changing table was used exclusively since we hadn't gotten around to setting up her changing area in her bedroom. However, she was sleeping in a traditional bassinet in our bedroom, while the bassinet part of the PnP was used for storage. If you are planning to use the PnP bassinet extensively, it might get annoying to have keep on putting on and removing the changing pad.
The PnP changing faces you, which has its advantages. I think its easier to change DD in the PnP bassinet, especially when she was a newborn and sooo tiny.
Most people seem to indicate that having 2 changing areas is only useful for a two-story, but we have a tiny 1 story house, and we use both the PnP and her dresser changing area about equal. I guess we are lazy! But it is nice to not have to walk to her bedroom to change her if we are in the living room. I also use the PnP changing station after her bath to remove her wet towel.
So its definitely a must for me...and I highly recommend picking up lap pads if you decide to get the changing station.
tippy
08-03-2004, 02:46 AM
FYI Graco recently issued a warning about leaving the changing table on your pack-n-play while your child is inside. Apparently a child strangled when he pushed his head up against the changing table and it came down on his neck trapping his head. Just wanted to let you know that in case you weren't aware of this!
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