When you have a baby, you will miss the chances you could be spontaneous and have fun whenever you want. It is possible to take a day off from work to travel or do what makes you happy. But, there are no off days in parenting. If you were a traveler who was used to hit new destinations every week or month, you do not need to explain how it feels after having a baby.
 I was a solo traveler from my college days. Then we traveled together as a couple. When our first baby boy came into the play, our lives changed. Feeding schedules, sleep schedules and daily routines attached us to home and traveling was not even an option for some time. But then we started to travel short distances and to the places, we thought that our babies will be comfortable. It helped us to recharge our souls wearied from work and parenting.
One of the challenges we faced with our eldest was to get him to sleep in his Pack N Play. He did not want to sleep in it does not matter how tired he was from the road trips. I am sure you are reading this article because you too have faced the same problem. I will share some tricks and tips that helped me to get my boys to sleep in the Pack N Play. Keep reading.
CONTENT
1.   What is a Pack N Play?
2.   How to get my baby to sleep in his Pack ‘N Play?
3.   How to find a good Pack N Play?
1. What is a Pack N Play?
A Pack ‘N Play serves as a playpen, bassinet, diaper changing station, or a combination of all these. It compactly breaks down and packs itself away into an easily portable bag that suits well for travel. Therefore, a Pack ‘N Play can solve many of your problems that arise while traveling. It assures the comfort and safety of the baby and with no trouble of fitting into a family vehicle.
Your baby will play, rest and sleep in your Pack N Play. Hence, you have to make sure you purchase a high-quality Pack ‘N Play that can serve all the purposes with no safety risks.
2. How to get my baby to sleep in his Pack ‘N Play?
- Practice
You do not have to wait until the day of your trip to let your baby sleep in the Pack ‘N Play. If your baby is going to sleep in the Pack ‘N Play for the first time in an unfamiliar hotel room or a relative’s house, you might probably miss your sleep that night. Some adults find it uncomfortable to sleep in an unfamiliar place. Therefore, it is very unfair to expect a baby to sleep through the night when he is put into a new crib placed in a new room.
Start by letting your baby play inside the Pack ‘N Play at home. Place it in the nursery or the living room. Talk to your baby and play with him until he gets used to the Pack N Play. When the baby is happy to play in the Pack ‘N Play, you can start practicing to sleep in it. You can let your baby have a nap in the Pack ‘N Play and then try spending the night in it.
Do not wait until your baby becomes a toddler to travel and spend nights at other places. Spend a night at a hotel within few hours of traveling or visit family or a friend for a stay. You should introduce the Pack ‘N Play to your baby before any of these visits. If you start earlier, your baby will be ready to sleep in a Pack ‘N Play at an unfamiliar place before he becomes a toddler who loves to rebel.
- Do not forget the soothers
Every baby has a soother that helps him to calm down and fall asleep. It can be a soft toy, pacifier, a security blanket, or anything that your baby has a special connection with. Take that soother with you when you travel. This can even be the white noise that you always play during your baby’s bedtime and naptimes.
It is natural for babies to be fussy in a new environment. Sleeping in a Pack ‘N Play will also be another challenge for him. But his favorite toy, pacifier, or toy can give him a feeling of familiarity and security. So, keep these soothers on top of your packing list. These may even help to keep the babies occupied while traveling too.
- Bedtime routine
The babies love routines and consistency attached to them from day one of their life. Most of the babies have a schedule for the day as well as bedtime. If you follow the same bedtime routine of your baby while you are spending the night out from home, your baby will find it easier to fall asleep in his Pack N Play.
The bath, the bedtime stories, or the bottle/nursing session comes before bedtime signals the baby’s body and mind that it is the time to sleep. Although Pack ‘N Play is not a part of his regular life, the baby will be sleepy enough not to mind where he will be sleeping. So, you will be able to have a good sleep while your baby sleeps well in his Pack ‘N Play.
- Stay active during the day
If your baby sleeps too much during the travel, he will definitely keep up during the night. It is not about his dislike to sleep in the Pack N Play. He is not sleepy just because he slept enough for the day along your ride or flight. To avoid this situation, try to keep your baby active and engaged while traveling. Take him to a quick walk in a park nearby your hotel or let him play in the backyard at Grandma’s.
But you should never make your baby overtired. When a baby is overtired, he will hate everything you do from feeding him to putting him to bed. Getting your baby to sleep in a Pack ‘N Play placed in a new room will be completely impossible if your baby is overtired. So, let him have the naps on time. If it is not an option, let him take a nap while traveling but try to make sure it is not longer than his normal nap time.
3. How to find a good Pack N Play?
A good Pack ‘N Play should be safe and comfortable for your baby, should take less space, and be durable. Below are some recommendations by me. The first one is the Pack ‘N Play I used with my babies. Others are approved and recommended by parents around the world and I have done my research on them.
This Pack ‘N Play has it all. It has a changing station as well as space to store essentials like diapers, wipes, swaddles, and burp cloths. You can use it from the time your baby is born until they grow out of it. I could use the same Pack ‘N Play for my three boys.  Click here to know more about this product.
Dimensions: 40 x 28.5 x 33.25 inches
Product Weight: 32.4 pounds
Child Weight Limit: 30 pounds
Height Limit: 35 inches
This is a no-frills version of the first Play N Pack recommended by me. But it will get the job done and take up less space. It is durable so you can have one Pack ‘N Play for all your babies. Click here to know more about this product.
Dimensions: 40 x 28.5 x 29 inches
Product Weight: 18.5 pounds
Child Weight Limit: 30 pounds
Height Limit: 35 inches
Age Recommendation: Newborn to 3 years old
If you are a family that loves traveling, this is the best option for you. It is lightweight, easy to assemble, and made of non-toxic material. Click here to know more about this product.
Dimensions: 46 x 31 x 25.5 inches
Product Weight: 11 to 13 pounds
Child Weight Limit: No Weight Limit
Height Limit: Not Listed
Age Recommendation: Newborn to 3 years old
This is the safest Pack ‘N Play for toddlers. It has plenty of space for your toddler but it is still compact and portable. Click here to know more about this product.
Dimensions: 39.75 x 39.75 x 31 inches
Product Weight: 29.6 pounds
Child Weight Limit: Not Listed
Height Limit: 35 inches
Age Recommendation: Newborn to when the child, can climb out