Review on Delta Children 36-inch by 36-inch Playard: Innovative Concepts for Kids by Joyce Jones

Update: Requires bulletproof glass on top to keep projectiles off TV, thanks Babe Ruth. We had a problem with our first playpen and sent pictures in Delta. They sent us a new one which arrived in a few weeks with no problems or payment. This playpen is really cute. It arrived in product packaging that looked rather shabby but the playpen itself was intact. The setup was initially disappointing. I'm small and couldn't figure out how to open it after attaching the side rails. The instructions were unhelpfully written on the arena floor, hidden by folds of fabric. Turns out I just didn't want to lift it high enough. I absolutely have to study. The friend lifted it up and it was installed in 30 seconds. The design of the animal is even more adorable than the pictures. The colors are bright, cheerful and not intrusive. The fabric is of good quality and appears durable. The walls are high enough that my medium sized 9 month old can only pull himself up to stand in the very corner. I'm sure she will learn to move around quickly. The playground is big! It was so important to me. We wanted to be "free range" parents. It was a dream, an ideal, a big goal. Then reality crashed into reality. Our furniture? Parkour course. Shoes? She gets her "adventure taste" by licking the soles of her feet. Playard was an obvious necessity, but I didn't want her to feel cooped up and bored. I wasn't sure if that would actually give her enough wiggle room, but it definitely does [pictured]. That's why she likes it. So far we've used the thinner playpen and her crib as safe play areas, and they'll have her crying once she realizes she's indoors, not out, exploring. Now she played it several times without even looking. I think it's mostly because of the extra space. Other pluses: Very firm Mattress feels nice Takes up less space than a Joovy number Cons: Heavy I'm deducting a star because the mattress doesn't lie completely flat. There is a dimple in the middle which I vaguely remember being a problem with almost all dummies, but sometimes it's a bit harder for them to stand up without staggering. Overall: I definitely recommend this mannequin, especially if you live like us with Evil Knievel Jr. in a matchbox-sized apartment and can't protect yourself adequately from children. UPDATE: We've had it for a few months now and my daughter spends a good chunk of her day in it. The playground is still great for them. She runs in circles, stands on her toys to look over the edge and has just started to stand alone in the middle. There doesn't seem to be a shortage of room to explore and she only cries when she's tired. One downside I've since noticed is that I hate putting it back together every night. Our living room is not big enough to furnish it permanently. I didn't deduct a single star for this because it's a big arena, which is exactly what I wanted. I'm more than willing to leave and walk around if that means I can cook and shower and she's happy as a clam with her toys and her Daniel Tiger. I added one star because I really liked it and I often talk about how glad I am that I bought it.