The 5 Best Play n Pack Mattresses in 2023 – By Experts

A common consensus in early parenthood says that parents sleep when their babies sleep. However, in today’s busy world, it’s challenging to keep pace with your baby’s sleep cycle. You need something portable, something more practical than a crib or a bassinet.

You let out a sigh of bliss as you see your precious baby growing up before your eyes, you even bought them a godsend Pack n Play to avoid the “bassinets vs. cribs” dilemma. As the name suggests, these versatile sleeping spaces are easily packable. They can function as a crib or a bassinet on-the-go so that your baby feels at home anywhere.

However, Pack n Plays generally come with impractical and thin pads that won’t serve your baby’s comfort. Luckily, there are many mattresses that are exclusively crafted for Pack n Plays. 

Having said “many,” you shouldn’t be overwhelmed with a wide range of choices. For parents concerned about their baby’s worry-free sleep, we’ve wrapped it all up with our list of the best Pack n Play mattresses that will turn your baby into a dreamful sleeper like never before.

Comparison Table:

Mattress	Construction	Dimensions	Weight
Dream On Me 3” Playard Mattress	10% Vinyl, 90% Foam	37.5 x 25.5 x 3 in.	2.44 lbs.
Dream On Me 2 in 1	Plush Top	38 x 24 x 3 in.	‎3.5 lbs.
LA Baby 2”	Polyfiber	24 x 38 x 2 in.	2 lbs.
NapYou Amazon Exclusive	Memory Foam: 40% Organic Cotton, 60% Polyester	37.5 x 26 x 1.5 in.	3.49 lbs.
Milliard Memory Foam Pack N Play Mattress Topper	Memory Foam	26 x 38 x 2 in.	3.31 lbs.

The 5 Best Play n Pack Mattresses in 2023

1. Dream On Me 3” Playard Mattress – Best Overall

Dream On Me has been a pioneering and reliable manufacturer of Play n Pack mattresses for quite a long time. Its 3” Playard Mattress is at your baby’s disposal.

This baby-approved mattress is made up of 90% foam and 10% of vinyl. This blend allows for both comfort and firmness since slightly firm fabrics are better for your baby’s comfort other than foamy ones. It’s also CertiPUR-US certified to ensure it passed all the tests for safety. Moreover, it has 3 inches of thickness, which is ideal and supportive for babies regardless of their weight.

It features a waterproof cover that’s easy to clean in case of diaper leaks or bottle spills. Another plus to that cover is that it never lets drooling and up chunks leak to the mattress. It also prevents mold, mildew, and unwanted odors from getting into the mattress’ core. 

Additionally, the stitching along the seams is antibacterial. It features a waterproof binding, meaning that you can wipe it clean with soap and water, but don’t submerge it!

Your baby is more likely to enjoy sleeping on this mattress since it’s hypoallergenic, meaning that its outer shell feels gentle on the skin and won’t cause any allergic reactions.

Despite having everything a baby needs, it’s not a go-to for babies under 6 months. And on the downside, the 30-day warranty is below standards in the realm of mattresses.

The Dream On Me 3” Playard Mattress is our top pick on the list. With its superb waterproof cover, you’ll have no room for worrying about your baby’s convenience as they drift off peacefully into a sweet nap.

2. Dream On Me 2 in 1 – Runner Up

Dream On Me made it to the headlines as our best overall and runner-up for Pack n Play mattresses!

Like our best overall, the Dream On Me 2 in 1” Pocket Coil Mattress is constructed from a CertiPUR-US certified poly foam core that is breathable and comfortable. The foam construction here still doesn’t compromise on the firmness needed for your baby’s safety. However, it’s not firm enough for newborns.

The point where our best overall and runner up part ways is the internal pocket coil springs that our runner up accommodates. These coil springs offer a huge deal of support for your baby than bare foam.

Similar to the Dream On Me 2 in 1” Playard Mattress, this innerspring mattress also comes with an antibacterial waterproof vinyl cover that’s easy to clean with mild soap and water. Moreover, the impermeable cover blocks unwanted odors and liquids from seeping into the core.

The mattress passes all flammability tests, and it’s also lead-free. So, you shouldn’t worry about your baby’s safety as long as they doze off.

The 2 downsides to this mattress are the difficulty of transportation since the coil springs add up to its weight, and, of course, the short 30-day warranty from Dream On Me.

The name “Dream On Me” explains it. This brand never ceases to turn your baby’s fitful, dreamless sleep to a dreamful and deep one. The Dream On Me 2 in 1” Pocket Coil Mattress is the best supportive mattress on the market. Although the warranty period is a bit worrying, Dream On Me is known for the most durable mattresses for Pack n Plays.

3. LA Baby 2” – Best for Budget

The 2-inch LA Baby Mattress is full of surprises for its price point.

This mattress is filled with durable polyester fiber this time other than foam, which is safer at this price range since the low-priced foam mattresses pose a serious hazard to your little one.

Babies who are one-year-old and above may find the 2-inch thickness a bit inconvenient. However, the misfortunes of some are advantages to others because the thickness is ideal for smaller babies, newborns, if you will.

Like the mattresses from Dream On Me, this also comes with a waterproof vinyl cover ensuring that the mattress is fresh all the time; wipe it with water and soap, and it’s squeaky clean! It also doesn’t allow odors or diaper leaks to seep through it to the mattress. 

The cover is hypoallergenic and antimicrobial. So, if your baby is allergic to polyester, they will still get a good night’s sleep. Combined with the dust-mite barrier, this mattress is an example of antimicrobial protection. On top of that, you get a generous one-year warranty from LA Baby!

On the downside, this inexpensive mattress tends to make noise when babies move around, but it’s minimal. 

The affordability of the LA Baby 2” never conveys how feature-packed it is. But it’s real! With a poly-fiber construction, waterproof cover, and antimicrobial protection, you get all the perks with the low price tag of this durable mattress.

4. NapYou Amazon Exclusive – Best for Travelling

The Amazon-exclusive NapYou is a memory foam mattress that will take both your baby’s comfort and yours to the next level.

Made from a blend of memory foam, organic cotton, and polyester, this mattress combines comfort with firmness, making it soft to touch, yet a bit firm to ensure your baby’s safety. Thanks to the organic cotton, this blend is also highly durable, although NapYou didn’t state anything about warranty information.

The organic cotton waterproof cover is removable, which is a huge plus to this mattress. While you can’t do that with our first 3 mattresses, the cover here can be tossed in the washer and dryer for a cleaning session if it gets considerably soaked up.

The key feature of this mattress is the tri-fold design. You can fold it up and take it anywhere with the generously included carry bag.

Another advantage of this mattress is that it can double up as a sole sleep mat. Owing to its rounded corners, it’ll still be your baby’s companion even if they outgrow they Pack n Play.

The drawback to this mattress is that it lets out a pungent smell when you first open it up. But, this is due to being packaged in the carry bag, and the smell should fade away after a day or two. Moreover, you must wait 24 to 48 hours for the foam to expand.

No matter if you’re using it as a mattress or a sleeping mat, the NapYou Amazon Exclusive Mattress is your baby’s best friend wherever they are. With a carry bag, fine construction, and a washable cover, you couldn’t wish for more from a foldable mattress.

5. Milliard Memory Foam Pack N Play Mattress Topper – Best Versatility

Conquer boredom and allow some versatile sleep for your baby with the Hiccapop Dual Sized Mattress. Your baby will fall in love with this mattress throughout their infant and toddler stages. 

Made up of memory foam, this mattress has a firm side with gentle foam support, which is critical for your baby’s safety in their infant stage. On the other hand, the other side is filled with a  full soft foam core that toddlers naturally prefer. The foam here is CertiPUR-US certified, meaning that it passed all the rigorous tests, ensuring it’s eco-friendly and non-flammable.

As for the outer shell, it comes with a removable waterproof cover, which is hypoallergenic and antimicrobial. It also features lock-stitched binding along the seams that accounts for durability and prevents liquids from leaking to the core.

Being removable, you can throw the cover into the washing machine in case it gets too stinky. The cover features a removable zipper that you can take away when you decide to wash it. On top of that, you get a lifetime warranty from Hiccapop!

On the downside, the zipper gets stuck when you try to attach it back to the cover. Also, the cover is subject to shrinking if you overwash it.

The Hiccapop Dual-Sided Mattress is an example of peak versatility. A lifetime warranty from Hiccapop is an indicator of durability. It conveys that this mattress will be your baby’s long term companion from infancy until their feet can hit the floor with confidence!

How to Pick a Pack n Play Mattress

New parents are so obsessed with their babies’ sleep that the in-depth review of our top picks may not alleviate their concerns. That’s totally normal, and it’s a sign of early, warm-hearted parenthood.

There are intuitive procedures that you should consider before opting for a Pack n Play mattress, like checking the Pack n Play’s instructions for the compatible dimensions so that the mattress would fit snugly.

Other than that, we’ll take you for a journey through a deserving 2-minute read of some factors you should consider before confirming your purchase.

Safety

Safety is undoubtedly a high-priority factor, especially when buying Pack n Play mattresses. 

To start with, Pack n Play manufacturers discourage parents from buying these mattresses for fear that they would be cheap and unsafe. However, they recommend using CertiPUR-US certified foam mattresses (including our top picks), which undergo tests for chemical emissions and flammability. 

To cut it short, there are two things you should put into consideration in regards to safety:

Firmness

Babies can’t balance themselves as they lie on mattresses as adults do. For infants who haven’t perfected rolling over yet, a Pack n Play mattress should be supportive and firm. 

Don’t forget that the fair majority of mattresses have a foam core construction. However, manufacturers add to the mattress’ support by intensifying the foam to make it firmer and a tad hard to dig in.

The baby sinking into the mattress leaves them vulnerable to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) due to forced suffocation. So, make sure your baby’s next Pack n Play mattress is firm enough by pressing down on it with your finger. If it overly digs in, it’s definitely unsafe to use.

Flammability

Don’t underestimate the mattresses’ deadliness when they’re exposed to fire.

When you unpack the mattress, look for these certifications that manufacturers always brag about, like CertiPUR-US certifications or 16 CFR 1633/1632. They indicate that the mattress has made it through flammability tests.

Durability

Although your baby will be using Pack n Play mattresses for a couple of years, the mattress still has to be durable. Some mattresses also double as a sleeping mat, which increases the rate of wear-and-tear in the long run since your baby will happily mess around on it.

Pack n Plays are primarily meant for traveling, and their mattresses, no matter how bulky they get, are portable as well. Thus, the mattress should endure the abrasion it might get exposed to.

Generally, these mattresses involve a polyester-backed foam core, which is highly durable and intensified.

However, there are mattresses featuring a lock-stitched binding along the seam line to ensure they’re impenetrable. Moreover, some feature removable zippers so you can throw the covers in the washer as much as you want.

I’d recommend examining all the weak points expected from a mattress, like sliding the zipper back and forth to see whether it moves seamlessly and check the seam lines of the mattress itself. If you notice a defect, don’t compromise on it and ask for a replacement.

Overall Comfort and Cleanability

You should see to it that the mattress is comfortable for a baby’s mindset.

There are mattresses that accommodate coil springs, but springs usually add up to their weight, which may make them hard to travel with. Still, they’re a sign for a “firm, yet soft” mattress.

Cleaning the mattress shouldn’t be a tough chore for parents. For instance, drooling and diaper leaks seeping into the mattress is a sign of a faulty cover. Cleaning the mattress shouldn’t be a tough chore for parents. You can buy a waterproof cover even if your mattress doesn’t include one.

The mattress should also be breathable. So, make sure the mattress doesn’t have an initial smell to it. Mildew, for example, may disrupt your baby’s sleep, and if they get conditioned to it, they will have a hard time trying to sleep on a different mattress.

Warranty

Although Pack n Play mattresses are designed to be on-the-go, most of them come with a warranty card.

Another way to think of it is that manufacturers love to take pride in their products’ quality by offering such a generous gesture.

Some warranties are relatively short, like the 30-day warranty that Dream On Me offers, whereas LA Baby grants you a generous 1-year warranty.

Brands like Hiccapop take the extra mile by providing a lifetime warranty against workmanship defects. NapYou, on the other hand, allows for a 100-night risk-free trial after you buy their mattresses.

Sometimes warranties aren’t a must, but it’s a great addition to know that you can ask for a replacement if a persistent problem arises.

Final Thoughts

We covered it all up for you, anxious parents. With our all-around list of the best Pack n Play mattresses, now it’s time to say good riddance to the uncomfortable, thin mat lying on the floor of your baby’s Pack n Play.

In a nutshell, these mattresses will not only ensure that your baby is dozing off in peace, but it will guarantee you a worry-free sleep knowing that your baby is sleeping on a comfortable surface.

I’d recommend our best overall, the Dream On Me 3” Playard Mattress, since it strikes an excellent balance between softness and firmness. Plus, it’s lightweight, easy to travel with, and presents a wide range of features like odor-resistance and waterproofness.

Our runner up, the Dream On Me 3” Pocket Coil, is undoubtedly worth pressing the “buy” button. Yet we placed it at #2 because the coil springs add to the overall weight of the mattress, thus limiting its portability.