Roomy but roomy!
Written: Aug 01 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lots of space for play; sturdy & safe
Cons: Where do I find fitted sheets?? The new version is not same shape...
The Bottom Line: I don't know if you can buy this new anymore--buy used after testing ALL safety features & cleanliness.
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| lisandrea's Full Review: Baby Trend Nursery Center & Playard |
We received this item as a hand-me-down from my son's elder cousins, so I was grateful to not have to dish out $100 for a traveling bed for my boy. This one is very brightly colored, however, unlike many of the other portable playpens out there. The colors shown in the attached image are those in my son's version, and they are not conducive to sleep...but great for play!
This item attempts to be good for both, of course.
HOWEVER, I wouldn't travel anywhere overnight without this Nursery Center for my son, because it is my only current option & I trust it. One downside is that when others stay overnight with us, their Pack 'N' Play (PNP) sheets don't fit my playard, because this is a square format (38" x 38"), not rectangle. We figured that out too late, when it was time to set up the bed for the night, and...whoops! Those sheets don't fit!
Being that it is square it also takes up indoor floor space differently than the more bed-like PNP. A PNP can scoot alongside the parents' bed & slip into many spaces much more easily than this bulky product...but then you'll find those who would complain that it is too small for play.
You MUST follow directions to open & collapse this item for your safety and your child's. Before I read the directions I thought I had it all figured out, but I almost broke my hand trying to collapse the darned thing. Of course, you musts UNLOCK the sides with an easily twisted key type mechanism in the bottom, and then all sides squeeze open easily to collapse into a neat long square tube. The interior padded base then folds around the outside of the playpen frame & you simply batten down the Velcro through loops to keep it all together. The outside of the "mattress" has a strap handle to lug it around & for added cleanliness you can even slip a cover over the whole thing & lug it around that way.
There is an insert padded bottom which we religiously Velcro down to the skeletal framework through 6 designated holes at the bottom. It is not perfectly simple to push the Velcro straps through the slats on the four outside corners, as you're fighting against the existing poles. I have long slender fingers; cannot imagine what a couple chubby short fingers might do to make that easier...The center Velcro straps are more easily strapped down for safety.
In fact, the use of Velcro here is very well thought out. Six Velcro straps serve to lock the base in place to the frame, then act to hold the frame together by battening down on the outside through loops. After four years of use the Velcro has not lost its strength or function in the slightest.
The padding on the base seems decent; my son has never risen with marks on his body from sleeping on a crease or anything, but it really isn't a mattress, per se. More like a napping mat. I always lay a softer colored blanket from corner to corner, however, so that it keeps the fabric of the Nursery Center cleaner, and it covers the busy primary color patterns--especially during daytime naps. Plus, it brings a bit of home on the road with us. We have traveled A LOT in the past 15 months & we have used this portable crib nearly 40 nights for sleep.
Once unfolded & locked in place this is a very stable unit. It may take you a couple head-scratching sessions to understand exactly how to assemble & breakdown but a couple practice runs & you'll be a pro, able to whip this item open in a New York minute, and collapse it almost as quickly.
We have used it outdoors for our son to play in while we did gardening work (tucked under the shade of a tree), to keep him out of traffic & other harm's way, & he was content to reach up to the top rail & peer out at cars & trucks passing by, which kept him occupied. At the same time, I had no fear of him crawling out because the rails are quite tall, & no fear of the rails collapsing on him because when they are locked in place there is no breaking them down!
I am disappointed that it is not easier to attach links to any of the 4 corners, so as to hang various toys for entertaining playtime. We have managed to snap a few on with some real efforts by forcing them past the fabric onto a rail underneath, but it seems like an easy design feature that could have been built in to have a small gap between the post corners and the beginning of the nets' top fabric.
The nets are in perfect condition even after three boys have used this product extensively. The colored fabric decor all wipes clean fairly easily, though it cannot be removed to toss into the wash.
We got this item after my son was past the diaper-changing station & bassinet-like attachment, but would consider using this with the next baby. I have read other reviews about the use of those elements and feel confident in their safety.
Overall, a really solid piece of gear. It's heavy, but you do want it to be strong, so that's manageable. Spacious "floor plan" & bright design scheme make for a better playpen than substitute crib, but it still functions well as both, with some considerations.
BTW: my baby boy (awww--not so much a baby any more) has slept beautifully in here, although transferring from the shoulder to lay him down has been a challenge when he's already asleep because it's a long way down & over railings. Awkward movements in that transition make it a real challenge to keep Baby content & still sleeping! I expect we'll continue to use this as a traveling bed for a good year or so more, since it is so spacious.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
lisandrea
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Location: Virginia
Reviews written: 45
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
AP, NFP, WAHM/SAHM but NO SPAM (thank you, Ma'am)! :O)
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