Friendly Toys Little Playzone with Sounds and Lights Review

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(More customer reviews)Perks:
1) Looks kid-friendly. Neat and colorful. It is oodles better than my first playpen purchase, a bizarre contraption we later discovered is also marketed separately as a dog enclosure!
2) Has a locking gate.
3) Is pretty stable on hard floors when placed on 2'x2' interlocking foam playmats (purchase separately).
4) Has suction cups for hard floors (I haven't used them).
5) Each wall piece is light weight and easily assembles and disassembles.
6) The play wall comes with batteries already installed. Thank you.
7) The bear stickers other reviewers have complained about were not included in my kit (spring 2005). I won't miss them.
Drawbacks:
1) The Playzone is small. I found it less expensive to buy two and combine them, rather than pay for shipping on several extension kits.
2) The battery-operated music is loud and there is no volume control. I taped cardboard over the speaker (located on the exterior wall) to muffle the sound.
3) The mirror is the same flexible mirror found on all toddler toys. I dislike these mirrors because they provide distorted images and are not durable for future generations of kids who will use this Playzone.
4) I wish the gate lock was easier to manipulate. You push a button and slide a latch to retract or release two prongs. Locking the gate can take a second because I have to slightly lift the gate so the prongs extend properly into the holes in the lock. I'll get used to it. If not, wall segments are easy to pull apart and reattach (though that's kind of loud).
6) The gate is not full length top-to-bottom. There is a trippable lip you step over when going into or out of the Playzone.
All-in-all this is the best play yard I've found on the market as of spring 2005. With a few tweaks it could be great.
Update four months later: The Playzone is still great. Our kid can push two segments of gate outward a little at the yellow joints, (this is noticeable because we configure the Playzone in a square shape), but it's not a big deal. We don't bother using the gate door, preferring to just walk/climb over the wall. Our kid enjoys the music buttons on the entertainment panel, but I wish this panel was included in a separately-purchased expansion kit so that the core product was sold at a lower price. Two Playzones combined leave ample room for Mom and Dad and baby to play together. Our cat can jump in and out via a couch placed next to the Playzone (a good thing for us).
I have not experienced a problem with the door hinge that another reviewer mentioned. My door locks when you close the door and move an outside lever that pushes two blue plastic "bolts" from the wall base out and into holes in the door. A locked door shouldn't open when a toddler pushes or pulls on the door. If that happens in your case, yeah, contact the manufacturer.
I envision never needing to lock and unlock the door. While our kid is small, it's easier for us to climb into the Playzone. When our kid grows bigger, we'll just leave the door unlocked.

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Great indoor and outdoor play yard! Kids will love talking the phone and setting the gears in motion. Various shapes can be made with different combinations of walls and flexible wall connector. Quick and easy to disassemble for compact storage and portability. Smooth, non-toxic surfaces wipe clean easily. 13 sq. ft. of play yard is secured with safety lock on the door. Includes 2 AA batteries. Ages 6 mos. and up. 23"H x 46"W x 46"D. Decorative stickers are no longer included with this item as shown.

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Summer Infant Secure Surround Play Safe Play Yard Review

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(More customer reviews)Pros:
1. It is taller than others, making it harder to be climbed over.
2. It serves its purpose; we couldn't live without it with twins crawling in 2 different directions.
3. Compared to others that aren't as flimsy, the price is right. The other option is metal and it's 2 times the price for half the size.
4. We added the extension and it's the perfect size for both our twins. They both have plenty of space to crawl around and all their toys.
5. Door.
6. Does fold up well to take with you
7. It does provide a safe place to put non-walking infants while you shower, pee, make dinner, etc. We use it everyday. I recommend the Step2 blue mat to go under it to avoid bumps.
8. It is easy to transport since it is light-weight.
Cons:
1. It is a little bit flimsy. You have to keep the door closed and latched or the whole thing will fall over when baby climbs on it.
2. Holes are perfect size for baby to stick hands/feet in and climb. By 9 months, my twins were able to climb half way up.
3. Only one door, others I've seen have a door on every other section, but this isn't a big issue and would probably make it even more unstable.
4. The biggest downer is that when my twins were only 8 months old, they could already move the entire thing around, including off the mat. I can only imagine how they will move the thing around when they can walk. It will defeat its purpose then since they'll be able to take off with gate in hand and get to what they want. It's too light-weight.
5. I only recommend it for babies not walking yet. Unless you tether it down to a piece of furniture or hooks on a wall, it's not useable for very long since they can slide it around when they start walking (see # 4). I would like to get more use out of it.
6. The "handle" is useless to carry it with. It's just a strap that you snap around it. The minute I picked up the gate with it, it came unsnapped. It needs something permanent.
7. It does look like a cage. I wish the slats were vertical...it would make it harder for them to climb and take away the cage-look. Who wants to "cage" their children like animals??
Overall, for the price, I would recommend it since it does serve its purpose. I've done my research, and for a plastic gate, this is the best one out there since it is taller and can be made larger with the extension. A metal one I've seen wouldn't be as flimsy, but then it would be too heavy to make it portable like this one. I guess there isn't such a thing as the "perfect play yard" all around. **UPDATE**
My twins are now 15 months old and we are still using this play yard everyday. They are walking now and can move it around but because all the toys are in the way, etc., it keeps it somewhat in place so they never go far with it. They just move it off the mat a foot or so which still keeps them refined to one area for safety's sake. They don't like staying in there by themselves as they prefer their freedom now, so I have to get in with them while they play or they cry. There is plenty of room for me, the two of them, and TONS and TONS of toys! My biggest complaint now would have to be the holes - they are the perfect size for little feet to climb. My kids can get all the way to the top so we can't leave them unattended at all. Since my kids prefer their freedom now, I think we will be packing it away soon (or using it as a large single gate across an entire room instead of an enclosed play yard), but it has been a life saver and I got more/longer use out of it then I ever thought I would.


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Today's parents are discerning consumers, they want only the best for their babies. Summer Infant takes great pride in developing superior products for babies, bringing to market only products of exceptional design, comfort, safety, and educational value. Summer Infant remains committed to manufacturing products to the highest standards by using the finest material available. All providing the durability and flexibility that parents demand. Thier products have received national recognition for quality and value from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award to the National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval.
Features:


Convenient walk through door with handle for quick access to child
Door panel swings both ways
Extra tall 30" panels - each one is 32" wide
Neutral colors blend with home decor
6 durable plastic panels included
Can be used with 4 or 6 panels
Inside area with 6 panels is 18 1/2 square feet
Carry handle and light weight allow for easy portability
Additional 2-Sided Extension Kit #07274 available

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North States Superyard Classic XT Gate Play Yard Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this as a playpen substitute. It's as advertised, so I don't have any complaint about the quality, but up close it looks even cheaper than it does in the photo. The person who said it looks like a dog kennel nailed it. So if you're looking for something that will go well with the decor in your living room, don't bother with this.
The way it looks doesn't bother me that much; what does bother me is that my son, by the age of 12 months, had learned how to push this thing around. It doesn't anchor to anything, so he started to shove it all over the living room, making it tip and generally creating chaos. My solution was to attach those removable non-marring 3M "Command" hooks to the wall and tie coated wire around them, then lash that wire to the play yard. It doesn't look beautiful, that's for sure, but it works; the play yard doesn't budge any more. If your little one is walking, you too will have to jury-rig a solution to their tendency to push the yard around and even lift it if they're strong enough.
I also recommend you get those colorful interlocking foam tiles to put under the play yard; it makes the play area a bit safer. Amazon sells the "Edushape" brand, but you can get various brands just about anywhere.
All in all, it's not an elegant solution, but weary parents who need a break will love it with all its flaws.

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Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, the North States Superyard XT is an excellent solution for creating a safe enclosed area for kids and pets anywhere from the backyard to the play room. Made of durable, weather-resistant plastic, the portable play yard provides 18.5 square feet of protected play space, and it can be reconfigured into different shapes to fit a variety of spaces. For added convenience, the play yard sets up and breaks down in a matter of seconds.
A Safe and Portable Indoor-Outdoor Play YardFor busy parents and dog-owners wishing to contain their children or pets in a safe, sturdy play area while they attend to tasks, the Superyard XT is the answer. Made of durable reinforced plastic, this gate weathers both outdoor elements and the wear-and-tear of play time, so you can look forward to years of use.
Do you want to keep your dog nearby while you spend a few hours in the garden? Or finish chores in the house while keeping the little ones safe and entertained? The Superyard XT makes it all possible. Weighing less than 20 pounds, this lightweight gate folds flat and even comes with a carrying strap, making it easy to carry everywhere from the park to the babysitter's.
Easy to Assemble and AdjustSetting up the Superyard XT is hassle-free. The six interlocking panels are pre-connected--simply pull the panels out of box, unfold and connect them together, and the Superyard XT is ready for use. To put away, simply disconnect one panel, fold together, and store. The Superyard XT is so easy you can set it up and take it down in under a minute. The hassle-free panels also give you quick and convenient access to your child or pet.
Measuring 26 inches high with a diameter of 18.5 square feet, this size-adjustable play yard provides an ample play area. If you'd like to extend the Superyard XT's overall diameter, consider purchasing a two-panel extension kit (sold separately) which increases the play yard's space from 18.5 to a generous 34 square feet.
Versatile Design Offers Many UsesWith its sturdy, flexible construction, the Superyard XT has many convenient uses. For example, you can use it as an enclosure to keep cruising babies or pets away from potentially unsafe settings, such as Christmas tree displays, office areas, storage areas, and more. And if you have a new puppy or kitten, you might also considering using the play yard as an area for house training or a timeout area for a naughty puppy.
To ensure 100% satisfaction with your purchase, all North States products come with a one year warranty against manufacturer's defect.
About North StatesLocated in Blaine, Minnesota, North States Industries offers versatile and economical gates and enclosures in the juvenile and pet categories. All of the company's products are certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association for safety, and are engineered to provide the highest quality, durability and ease of use.
What's in the BoxNorth States Superyard XT with six interlocking panels (each panel measuring 26 inches by 30 inches), a carry-strap, and instructions for use.

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