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The UPPAbaby Remi V2 is the more complete buy when you want a changing station built into the setup. The original Remi remains the more compact choice: it weighs 20 lb instead of 24.6 lb, occupies less floor space and folds into a smaller bundle. Both list the same 20 lb bassinet limit and 35-inch playard height limit, so V2 does not buy a longer use stage.
For most families, the decision is not “new versus old.” It is whether the included fold-away changer is worth a 4.6 lb heavier frame and a larger footprint. Existing Remi owners also need a separate accessory decision, because a product labelled for Remi or Remi V1 should not automatically be moved to the differently sized V2.
The changing station is the biggest package change
The original Remi package includes the playard, zip-on bassinet, mattress, organic cotton mattress cover and storage bag. Its changing station is a separate accessory. Remi V2 includes the playard, bassinet, mattress, storage bag and a fold-away changing station.
That makes V2 attractive for a main-floor or grandparent setup where diaper changes happen beside the playard. The station can fold out of the way, but it is still an attachment with its own rules: the V2 manual says to attach every clip to the top rails, listen for the click, remain within arm's reach and stop use at 30 lb. Remove it whenever a child is in the bassinet or playard. It is never a sleep surface.
If you already change on a floor mat or another established surface, the included station may add little value. In that case, the original Remi's smaller size and lower carry weight can matter more every time it moves between rooms or into a vehicle.
V2 needs more room and makes a larger travel bundle
UPPAbaby lists the original Remi at 40.5 x 26 x 28.5 inches open and 11 x 10 x 28.5 inches folded. Remi V2 is 42.1 x 28.4 x 29 inches open and 14.2 x 12.6 x 28.4 inches folded.
In practical terms, V2 adds 1.6 inches of length and 2.4 inches of width when open. Folded, it adds 3.2 inches in length and 2.6 inches in width. The near-identical folded height does not make the bundles equivalent; the V2 package is wider, longer and 4.6 lb heavier.
Those differences are modest in a permanent nursery corner but noticeable in a small bedroom, narrow closet or packed trunk. Mark the open rectangle where the playard will stand, then check the folded rectangle in the exact storage or vehicle space. A family moving the playard twice a day may reasonably value the original's lower weight more than a family leaving V2 open for weeks.
What did not change
Both generations use a one-hand opening design, include a zip-on bassinet and provide zip-open side access. Both list bassinet use from birth to 20 lb and playard use from birth until the child can climb out or reaches 35 inches tall. V2's larger frame does not raise those limits.
The original Remi Canadian manual and V2 manual also keep the same core setup boundaries: fully erect and lock the rails, use only the supplied mattress, secure it with the provided attachment in playard mode, close and secure the access zipper when the child is inside, and do not add another mattress, padding or soft bedding.
Choose the original Remi when portability leads
The original is the stronger fit when you expect frequent car trips, carry it between floors or have a tight storage spot. Its 20 lb listed weight and smaller fold are concrete advantages. It also includes an organic cotton mattress cover in the standard package.
Choose it when all three statements are true:
- You do not need a changing station included with the playard.
- The smaller fold or 4.6 lb weight saving will be felt often.
- You prefer its included organic cotton cover to V2's integrated changing setup.
An existing original Remi in complete, undamaged condition does not become less useful because V2 exists. The published bassinet and playard limits are unchanged. Upgrading is mainly a package, mattress-design and space decision, not a way to extend the product's age or size range.
Choose Remi V2 when one station replaces another task
V2 earns its extra bulk when the fold-away changer removes the need to create a separate diaper-change station. It is particularly coherent for a room that needs one piece to handle the bassinet stage, supervised changes and later playard use without storing a separate changing attachment.
Choose V2 when these statements fit:
- You will use the changer often and can keep one hand on the child throughout every change.
- The 42.1 x 28.4-inch open footprint fits without crowding the path around it.
- A 24.6 lb carry weight and the larger folded bundle work for your storage and travel routine.
The benefit is convenience, not a broader sleep-use claim. The changer must be removed from the child's space and cannot be used for sleep.
Do not carry V1 accessories over by name alone
The waterproof mattress cover at baby enRoute is explicitly titled for Remi V1. UPPAbaby describes product 0901-PMC-WW as fitting the original Remi's full-size mattress, not its bassinet mode. V2 has a different single-mattress design and different frame dimensions. Without an explicit V2 fit statement from UPPAbaby, this cover should not be treated as a V2 accessory.
The separate Remi Travel Bag, product 0901-PTB-WW, needs the same caution. UPPAbaby's current page says it fits the Remi playard, mattress, bassinet and sheet, but it does not name Remi V2. Because V2's folded dimensions are larger, compatibility remains unconfirmed. Do not include that bag in a V2 shopping list unless the maker adds an explicit V2 fit statement. V2 already includes a basic storage bag; the separate Travel Bag is the padded product tied to UPPAbaby's TravelSafe program.
The original changing station also does not need to migrate: V2 has its own included fold-away station and its manual shows the required V2 attachment method. Use the station supplied for the exact frame rather than testing whether an older attachment appears to clip on.
Canadian sleep guidance applies to both generations
Health Canada says playpens are not recommended for unsupervised sleep in Canada. It distinguishes the correctly assembled bassinet attachment as an option until the baby can roll over or reaches the attachment's weight limit, whichever comes first. It also states that a change-table attachment is not a bassinet and is not a safe place to sleep.
The Remi manuals add model-specific stop points: stop bassinet use when the infant begins to push up on hands and knees or reaches 20 lb, whichever happens first. For a Canadian setup, follow the earlier applicable condition from the federal guidance and the exact manual. For playard use, stop when the child can climb out or reaches 35 inches tall.
Whichever generation you choose, keep the supplied mattress flat and secured, remove soft items and extra padding, close the access panel while the child is inside and place the playard away from windows, blind cords, lamps and electrical cords.
The practical verdict
Buy Remi V2 when its included changer will replace a real daily station and the larger, heavier package fits your home and vehicle. Buy the original Remi when you want the more compact carry, do not need the changer in the box and value the included organic cotton cover. If you are deciding between a playard and a stroller bassinet rather than between generations, the separate Remi versus Bassinet V3 guide answers that different question.
Start with the exact baby furniture setup your room must support, then choose the Remi generation whose package you will actually use. Do not pay the size-and-weight cost of V2 solely because it is newer, and do not carry an original accessory onto V2 without an explicit model fit.
