Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.
It’s no surprise that I’ve reviewed an item or two in my time as a blogger. The formula is actually very simple: Proven online influencer + Two little boys = the opportunity to get my hands on some of the hottest products for children.
There are, however, a few categories of products that I just never got around to really penetrating – playards being one of them. And, naturally, that’s the reason why I receive the most e-mails and tweets from readers asking me to recommend one. D’oh!
(Ask me about strollers, car seats or breast pumps and I can go on for DAYS. Playards? Cue the crickets.)
In fact, for the last two years when asked about a playard recommendation, I could only offer advice on the über chic Baby Bjorn Travel Crib. Sure! Every parent should own one… if you’ve got $350+ to drop. Chances are, you don’t – and I began to feel like a schmuck for not having alternate, more affordable choices that I could stand behind as well.
Enter Bright Starts. Having previously reviewed their Ingenuity Automatic Bouncer, and with a house once chock-full of their play gyms/mats, toddler toys and more, I was already very familiar with the brand. So when asked to check out their NEW Bright Starts Ingenuity EasyWash Playard, I decided to take one for the team.
Disclaimer: I am not pregnant, nor am I expecting to be. And yes, my two little guys are actually too big for a playard. However, in order to continually expand my knowledge of the newest children’s gear, and hoping to offer my readers a playard recommendation that is more affordable and accessible, I decided to review the Ingenuity EasyWash Playard.
And why, after two years, did I finally accept another review of a child’s playard? One word: WASHABLE.
“The innovative playard made of fabrics that can be completely removed for machine washing. Now you can know that baby’s playard is free from dirt, germs, allergens, food spills, and diaper mishaps. Designed for ultimate ease of use, the playard fabric zips off in just 60 seconds. Other thoughtful features include One Less Step folding, extra-large storage tray, convenient travel bag, plus the fashionable styling InGenuity is known for.”
Out of the box, the playard is tucked into an ergonomic carrying case.
Set up was very easy, and took less than five minutes from start to finish. Incredibly, I didn’t even have to call my husband for help with this one! Yup – just call me handy Lena. All of the pieces clicked together with ease, and I bypassed the instructions entirely (it was that simple).
Visually, it’s a stunning playard. In fact, my husband did swing by after I had put it together, and even he noted, “Wow. That’s much better quality and nicer looking than the playards we were looking at years ago.”
(Mmmkay. For a dude to notice that a child’s PLAYARD is “nicer looking” than most others, you know it’s a gorgeous piece. Either that, or my husband moonlights at Babies r Us.)
The playard feels sturdy and yes, removing the fabric is a cinch. In fact, as I was pondering the washable factor of this product, I wondered why all playards aren’t washable. After all, think about how messy babies are! I remember feeling *slightly* grossed out with playards at play centres and gym daycares – this would be an affordable solution. Get on it, peeps!
The fabric held up perfectly after washing and reattaching it was a breeze. I suppose the only challenge came when it was time to store the playard; after a few tries, although I could get it to collapse, I just couldn’t get the legs to compress into a perfect fold that would allow me to store it in the carry case. Frustrated, I yelled for hubby, who took a few cracks at it himself before realizing that we had to press the engage button fully for the poles to bend all the way. We tried it again and I still had trouble with it, but on the third try I finally uncovered the knack for effectively storing the playard.
(Good to know: the quick-fold features means that you can quickly fold and go without removing the bassinet.)
The Bright Starts Ingenuity EasyWash Playard retails for $189.99 and is available at Babies r Us stores across Canada, as well as online at www.babiesrus.ca.
WIN IT!!!
One lucky reader will win a Bright Starts Ingenuity EasyWash Playard! To enter, simply fill the form below with your qualifying entries. Good luck everyone!
This would be great for us! We lent out our playard when our toddler outgrew it, and now we’re expecting baby #2. I would love to be able to leave the first one with our friends if we were to win a new one!
Would love to win this beautiful play yard! Love that it’s washable.
This would be an amazing gift for my daughter!
Oh my gosh! Fully washable had me, I don’t think the rest would even matter, however, it is pretty nice looking too!
the playyard looks excellent. compact, neutral colors, easy to assemble. i’d love to win something like this!
I would like to win this as we are currently renovating our house to include a play room for our 2 month old son. This would be a great addition!
Washable!?!? Oh pick me, pick me! I could really use it as I’m currently using the one I had 4yrs ago with my 1st son. So its def not in the best condition.
I’d love to win the playard because baby #1 arrives in January, and I haven’t bought anything yet! I’ve seen friends with playards, and they look handy. Being washable is always a good thing when it comes to babies. Grandma and Grandpa would probably appreciate me having this so it would make it easier to drop baby off for a visit.
I’d love to win as this looks like the perfect item for days at the lake! :-)
For our new little one!
THis would actually be a nice gift for a young man who works in our office. He works full-time, and is completing university on a part-time basis and just found out he has a daughter. He is in need of a bunch of baby items. hopefully I’m lucky enough to win this for him.
I would love to win this for my new niece/nephew due in December!!
My niece is having a baby soon and I think this would be a terrific gift for her.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Would be perfect for Baby #2!
Would love to have this! Love that it’s machine washable :)
Fantastic looking product.
For my best friend’s newest addition!
I’d love to win this for my niece
I would like to win this for my baby daughter.
We need one for grandma’s house.
we need one for grandma’s house also
I would like to win because my sister is expecting and this will be perfect for her baby
I’d like to win this as I’m due in August, and this looks like such a useful piece of gear!
I would like to win because a friend is expecting and she would love this.
Starting a new family so this would be awesome!
I’d love to win this for when my youngest grandkidlets are visiting
For a gift or for myself ::fingers crossed :) ::
I have friends coming for a visit with their baby and it would be perfect to have
I have an adorable niece who would benefit from this. :)
My girlfriend just had a baby girl and this would be perfect for her when she goes to the cottage.
I have two neices having babies this year and it would be a wonderful gift for one of them.
This play yard is pretty cool and would be perfect for my friend’s baby # 2 who just arrived last week.
This is my crib!
This would be great for when we travel.
I’d love this because we are planning another baby and we live in a small space, so this would be perfect to pack away when we don’t immediately need it.
This would be great for my daughter at home and when we travel.
i am planning on having a baby soon and i dont have a playyard!!
I would like to win for when my new nephew visits. This playard is adorable and so versatile!
I’d love to win this for when friends and family with babies come to stay!
I would love to win this because my cousin is having a baby and this would be the most awesome gift ever
B/c we have some twins coming
One of my best gals is expecting and is in need of baby equipment so I would love to gift her with this.
its would be perfect for my 1st baby!
Every family with new babies needs one of these.
It would be great for my baby to use
I love that there is a change table at the top and a section to hold essentials (wipes, diapers, etc)
How did they mange years ago without them?
I would love to win this for my friend! They are expecting their first and baby was a surprise, so I would love to give them this as a gift!
Would love to win one for my newborn baby girl!!
i would love to win if and when baby #2
Washable would be huge. My toddler is a very heavy wetter at night, when we go to the cottage (and use our 2nd hand playard) I’m terrified to see what the morning brings. To be able to pop off the cover and throw it in the washer would be great!
Having just had a baby girl (a week old), this would be perfect for us.
It would be a great present
This would be a perfect gift for my Nephew’s new daughter :)
Hope to win this for my wonderful sister!
I would like to win it because we are trying for our next child!!
very practical
This would be a great gift for my daughter.
New grandchild coming and could sure use this.
Every mom needs one of these.
i love this playard. After doing research on finding the right one this one is the best in the market!
I’d like to win because I have a friend who is expecting and this would make an awesome gift for her!
How did mother manage before this was invented?
This is one of the most practical baby items ever.
I’m due in November and I don’t have a playard yet so this would be a great win.
i run an in home daycare..this is one i can wash!
If I won this, I would give it to my friend. She is due in a few months.
great for the family that’s on the go
I love the brightstarts brand and this looks like a great play yard!!
This is a wonderful product – I think every family that does any moving around should have one.
I would love it since it’s washable
I would like to win this for my sister’s little ones.
Brilliant prodcut for families.
It would be great to take on family vacations!
All that funcationality and it’s washable too.
I would love to win this for my daughter
thanks
flower_child_23(at)hotmail(dot)com
I would love to win this for my sister-in-law who is due in January. I love the removable fabric feature, so important!! And it’s adorable – love the design!!
I’ve got several nieces that really need this product.
so many features – I don’t know where to start.
I bought a new playard for my 3rd baby (7mo now), and have had to replace the floor mat because the plates shift around making it uncomfortable for her. When I contacted the warranty dept, and mentions I used a fitted playard sheet, the told me those are not recommended. Do they not know that babies spit, pee and poop? A lot? It baffles me that you can’t use a sheet. Anyway, I love the design of this one.
Love the portability
I would love to win this as me and my husband are trying for our first child!
It would be great to use as we bring the babe to my parents and the in laws quite a bit – it would be super helpful
Love to have this!
Didn’t have one for baby 1 & 2, would be perfect for baby #3
Gonna be a Grandma. This would be great for my daughter.
I would love to win this! Its soo pretty and would fit in perfectly with our house colours!
Being washable makes so much sense.
After trying to conceive over a year & being referred to fertility. We just found out we are expecting!! So Im on a hunt for amazing produnts. This crib is incredible. The blog simply makes you need it! It’s washable, that is definately the coolest part of it. Thanks for the detailed info. :)
Nice
Keeps baby safe and provides them hours of enjoyment.
Simple and easy packing up makes it a terrific product.
It’s washable! What more could you ask for?!? :D
Great compact way to travel with a crib for baby.
The colours are so perfect – matches almost any decor.
wow. i have been looking for a playyard and this one looks great. would be great to win.
Hi,
Would love to win this, my sister and her husband are expecting their first child (yes my first nephew!!!!) and this would be great :) She has been researching playards and your blog has been a wonderful place to get information…thanks for sharing!
one of the most innovative products on the market
I would love to win this for a friend of mine!
Best product in years for keeping baby safe and happy.
All the features and it’s washable – fantastic.
Washable makes it all that more appealing
I would love to win because I am due at the end of the month. This is incredibly adorable in boy colors.
Great gift for my sister
it’s perfect!
it’s washable…. looove it!
Our first is due in December and I would LOVE to win such a beautiful and practical piece of baby gear!
So versatile and practical.
So versatile and practical.
I would love to win this as a gift for my Sister in Law.
I would love to win this for my new little guy so he can have a place to sleep when we go visit family
Compact, functional and washable – what more can you want?
Compaact, functional and washable – what more is there?