Summer Infant Pop N’ Play Portable Playard

Editor's rating:
9.0
Reviewed by Bobby Brower
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We like

Easy to fold and unfold

Extremely lightweight and easy to maneuver

Comes with its own bag so you can bring it anywhere anytime

Can be traveled with without it taking up a lot of room

Has multiple uses for more than just a playard

Gives your child their own space to play, nap, and grow

We don’t like

Folding and unfolding can get time-consuming

The metal bars can sometimes hurt your child if they fall

How it works

The Summer Infant Pop N’ Play Portable Playard was created for the parent who doesn’t stay home. The playard is a foldable and portable play area that can be brought virtually anywhere. It’s lightweight and easy to carry and even comes with its own bag so that you always have the capability and ease to bring the playard wherever you are going. Many parents have praised its safety and durability even parents with rambunctious children who like to run against the sides of the playard. The playard has a see-through mesh that surrounds the area making it easy for parents to keep an eye on their children, and the bottom is waterproof for when you are resting the playard on a wet surface. Capable of being used anywhere, the Summer Infant Pop N’ Play Portable Playard is a great purchase for any parent with young children.

 

Design

Design

The Summer Infant Pop N’ Play Portable Playard was designed to keep everything easy and simple. The playard’s dimensions are 14 square feet. The sides sit at 26 inches high, and the entire playard is 48 inches wide. By looking at the numbers, it may appear as if the play area is not that big, but once you open the playard, you will see how the area is actually quite big for a play area and your child or children will have more than enough space to play and move.

Around the outside of the playard is a mesh fencing that keeps your child safe and allows for you, the parent, to see into the play area at all times. The mesh is soft, yet durable. Many parents have found that with previous play areas, children who were on the bigger side were capable of tipping their playpens because they were so big and heavy; however, many parents have found that the Summer Infant Pop N’ Play Portable Playard does not tip. Even when the biggest of children (and in some cases small animals) were in the play area, they would push against the sides and the play area would not lift or tip making it one of the safest play areas parents have seen.

The entire play area is opened and closed along a hinged arm system that allows the play area to fold up into itself for carriage and storage. The bottom of the play area is a waterproof plastic that will not absorb moisture if placed in a damp area.
Ease of Use

Ease of Use

The Summer Infant Pop N’ Play Portable Playard is easy to open and close; however, it can be a bit time consuming if you don’t know right away how to operate the folding and unfolding of the playard.

To open the playard, all you have to do is take the folded playard out of the bag in which it comes and place it flat on the ground. To open the playard fully and make it secure, turn the playard upside down and open it. You will see that each “foot” of the playard has a strap next to it that has a loop. What you have to do is pull on that loop and extend the bottom of the playard over the foot tightly. When you do this, the bottom of the playard will stay in place. Next, you have to go around to all the “feet” of the playard pulling on the loops and extending the bottom of the playard over the feet. Once you have done this to all the feet and the bottom is pulled tight and fully secure, you can then turn the playard right-side-up and place it on the ground. The playard is then ready to go. The entire playard weights a total of .16 ounces making it easy to maneuver and flip upon opening.

To close the Summer Infant Pop N’ Play Portable Playard, all you have to do is flip the playard upside down and pull the bottom loops away from the “feet.” To make it easy to fold up, if you pull the bottom away to the left, do that for all the feet, and if you pull the bottom away to the right, do that for all the feet as well. The uniformity of the bottom being released makes it easy to fold the playard and return it to its bag.

You can then put the playard back into the bag and you are ready to go.
Safety

Safety

Safety is the number one priority with the Summer Infant Pop N’ Play Portable Playard. The purpose of the playard is to give your child a safe environment in which to play without the fear of them wandering off or wandering into a room or situation where they could potentially get hurt. The design makes watching your child easy and keeping them safe as the playard has a mesh outside for giving parents a clear view of their child and the anti-tipping design allows for even the biggest kids to roam around the play area without the risk of tipping the playard.

Once you have the playard open, it is always recommended that you place the playard on a flat surface in an open space that is not too cluttered to avoid the playard from tipping or rolling. Although the playard won’t tip when pushed upon from the inside, gravity will take over if the playard is on an uneven surface.

Also, make sure the playard is in an area that is free of debris as sharp rocks or twigs or toys that are underneath the playard will poke up and could cause your child to trip or slip or fall and get hurt while they are playing. A smooth surface also reduces the risk of a sharp object puncturing the bottom of the playard and damaging the product and potentially hurting your child.

The bottom of the playard is waterproof and won’t get damp or wet if you place the playard on damp ground or grass. Never put the playard in standing water as that is just completely unsafe all around.

Some parents have found that the metal hinged arms that allow the pop n’ play to open and close can be hurtful. Some babies and toddlers who are playing and fall in the playard have hit their heads on the metal arms. Although no serious injury has occurred and the metal is not too hard, some parents have come up with the idea of putting a durable foam over the metal to reduce the risk of injury should their child fall into the side of the playard and come in contact with the metal.
Maintenance

Maintenance

Cleaning the Summer Infant Pop N’ Play Portable Playard is quite simple. The sides and outer top of the playard do not require a lot of maintenance. It is rare that these parts would ever get dirty unless your child is eating in the play area and throws their food around. What does get the dirtiest, however, is the bottom of the playard. With several toys and multiple children, the playard’s bottom will get very messy. The best way to clean the bottom is by using a regular household cleaning wipe or baby wipe to quickly wipe away any kind of stickiness or mess that may occur. With one quick wipe it’s all cleaned up.

When folding up the playard, you can do a quick wipe of the bottom’s underside to get off any dirt or grime that may have settled there from the ground before you disconnect the bottom and fold the playard up and place it in its bag.
Portability

Portability

The Pop N’ Play Portable Playard lives up to its name as far as being portable. The main reason for its creation was so that parents can bring the playard with them no matter where they go. The playard is great for the park, grandparents’ houses, play dates, the beach, and wherever you want to set up your child to play safely while under your watch. The playard comes delivered in its own bag.

The bag resembles and works like a yoga mat bag. It has a long strap that allows you to throw the bag over your shoulder so that you can carry it wherever you are going. The playard weighs about the same amount as a yoga mat. It folds up tight and can be placed in any car trunk, backseat, closet, or storage area. It’s fast and easy and gives your child or children their own space.
Versatility

Versatility

The Summer Infant Pop N’ Play Portable Playard has several uses. Some parents have gotten quite creative and have used the playard for several reasons. The number one alternative use of the playard is using it as a ball pit. Many parents have filled the playard with plastic balls and have created an at home ball pit for their children.

Other parents use the playard as a napping area where they can put their children down to sleep and then do work around the house. If their child should awaken, the child cannot wander off because they are enclosed within the playard. Some parents have gone to major toy retailers and purchased foam floor play mats and cut them to the dimensions of the playard to create a thick, soft surface for children to sleep on and play on. It’s like creating your own mattress for napping.

Other parents have gotten extremely clever and when they take it to the beach, they flip it upside down making the bottom a canopy to keep their child out of the sun. Their children get to play and be completely covered and out of the way of the sun’s rays. The mesh sides make the area completely breathable.

Some purchasers of the product even bought the playard for their animals to give them a play area as well.

Always remember to keep your child’s breathing area clear of too many toys or stuffed animals or blankets when they are playing or napping in the playard.
Price Range

Price Range

The Summer Infant Pop N’ Play Portable Playard is moderately priced. Parents did not seem to have an opinion one way or another about the price. The playard has the potential to last you a very long time if taken care of properly. It has received a lot of praise for ease and comfort for their children and many parents recommend the playard to other parents. For the amount of money you would play for the playard, it is worth the purchase. It easily fits into anyone’s budget and because it is so easy to travel with, you can use the playard all day every day and definitely get more than your money’s worth for the product.
Conclusion

Conclusion

The Summer Infant Pop N’ Play Portable Playard is a great purchase for the parent on the go or the creative parent who wants to create an area of fun and development for their child. With the ease of setting it up and breaking it down, the playard is worth the money spent. It is also so easy to travel with (it comes with its own bag) that you can bring your child anywhere whether it’s a play date, the park, or the beach and they will remain safe and secure under your watchful eye. It can be used as its own toy and even a napping area for when your children are not in there playing. With so many uses, so much ease of use, and an affordable price, the Summer Infant Pop N’ Play Portable Playard is a great buy for any parent who is on the go or needs a play area for their child.
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