Graco Pack 'n Play Playard with Cuddle Cove Rocking Seat {Review & Giveaway}

By the time Big Sister E was born, my husband and I had amassed just about all of the various types of baby gear available in stores. After all, how could we call ourselves excellent first-time parents if we didn't own every single thing out there?

While the result was that we felt prepared for just about any situation, it also meant that the house was crowded and a large number of items never really ended up getting used. They were too big or bulky or just altogether not necessary.

Instead, what would have made life tremendously easier was one item that could have taken the place of many. Something that would have provided safety, security and comfort for my baby while providing peace of mind, a little less stress for me (during both the day and night), and would bring a whole lot of convenience to being parents.

Something like the Pack 'n Play Playard with Cuddle Cove Rocking Seat from Graco.

Inspired by the instincts and best intentions of a loving parent, the Graco brand of baby gear provides thoughtful, practical and dependable parenting solutions. From strollers and car seats to high chairs, playards, monitors and more, Graco's broad range of innovative products can help protect, nurture, comfort and soothe babies and children of all ages.

Having always been extremely impressed with the quality and durability of Graco's products in the past, I had no doubt that this Pack 'n Play Playard would be far from disappointing.

I had a moment's hesitation when removing the pieces from the box, as this Pack 'n Play already seemed to have quite a few more pieces than the one I had purchased nearly seven years ago when Big Sister E was born.

Surely this was going to take a great deal of time and effort putting it all together, right?

Surprisingly, it didn't. In fact, Graco not only includes the full owner's manual in its own convenient pocket, but it has the instructions for set up and take down printed right on the back of the small mattress!

In around 10 or 15 minutes, I had easily popped open and secured the base, assembled the bassinet, clipped the changing table attachment, Baby Basics Organizer, Enhanced Electronics Module with Vibration unit and Cuddle Cove Rocking Seat into place, and stepped back to see an amazing piece of gear (that I wished also came in my size).

Talk about features! Talk about convenience! Even my husband took one look at this Pack 'n Play and agreed with me that it was "fully loaded!"

In this first stage, it features the Vibrating Cuddle Cove Rocking Seat, which is perfect for gently soothing your newborn (under 3 months, 15 lbs. and unable to roll over) with the calming vibrations.

I love that the seat locks securely into place in the Pack 'n Play itself, while is also removable (with great carrying handles on either end) so that you can take it along into the next room.

The adjustable and removable canopy is just right for keeping bright lights or sun away from your baby's eyes and the combination of the ultra-soft, cushioned, washable fabric and the gentle vibrations sure would put me to sleep throughout the day!

The vibration unit sits safely underneath the seat but is conveniently controlled by the switch down by baby's feet.

When your little one isn't resting comfortably in the Cuddle Cove Rocking Seat, moms and dads also have a handy place for quick diaper changes thanks to the included changing table.

Snapping into place quickly and popping right out with the press of a button, this changer is cushioned with a quilted edge, giving baby a soft place to lay while providing an alternative to continually kneeling down on the floor every time a clean diaper is needed.

For use with babies under 25 lbs, I love that Graco made this changing table attachment a piece that can be reached for time and time again as your baby grows.

Even better, with the handy Baby Basics Organizer hooked on only inches away, you can easily grab a diaper, wipes, ointment and more without having to ever take a hand off of your baby.

At the same time, offering the option of using the bassinet (a safe and simple way to raise the mattress from the bottom) is another way that this entire playard is made adaptable as your little one ages.

For use with babies under 15 lbs, the bassinet uses the same vibration unit as the Cuddle Cove Rocking Seat to vibrate, so you have that extra option when soothing your newborn to sleep. Or, with the touch of a different button, your baby can also be appeased by five different nature sounds, entertained by music or more!

Whether kept at Grandma's house, used at home on a different floor than the bedroom or simply in place of a traditional bassinet, this really is a great place for a little one to sleep comfortably and safely!

Once your baby has moved past the infant stages and is heading towards toddlerhood, all that you have to do is remove the bassinet and place the mattress at the bottom of the Pack 'n Play. There, your growing child can play or sleep safely at home or while traveling.

We brought our Pack 'n Play with us on numerous trips for Big Sister E and Little Sister B, as the portability couldn't be beat and knowing that we could pop it up in seconds and have a familiar, safe place for them to sleep while at a hotel made for a much more restful night for everyone.

What more could you need?

The stylish colors (five patterns available); the easy set-up; the breathable mesh sides; the soft light that allows for checking on a baby without turning on a bright overhead light in the middle of the night; the vibrations that would have soothed Big Sister E; the nature sounds that would have been wonderful with Little Sister B... Graco really included it all.

Retailing for $219.99 (or 15% less on Amazon), the Graco Pack 'n Play Playard with Cuddle Cove Rocking Seat is truly packed with all kinds of convenient features for parents/caregivers as well as babies. Plus, when it's not in use, the whole thing packs down (minus the additional pieces) into one compact carrying case for easy storage or travel.

Find out much more about this and all of Graco's full collection of incredible baby gear by visiting GracoBaby.com and connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon be prepared to pamper their baby in luxurious sleeping, changing, relaxing, playing (and more), because...

One lucky person will win a Graco Pack 'n Play Playard with Cuddle Cove Rocking Seat!

Entry-Form

A big thank you to Graco for providing a Pack 'n Play Playard with Cuddle Cove Rocking Seat for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.