Graco Suite Solutions Portable Playard - Birkshire

Comments about Graco Suite Solutions Portable Playard - Birkshire:

It was purchased for several reasons: (1) smaller than a conventional crib for space saving (2)has built in diaper changing station (3) has organizer/storage space (4) no need to buy much in the way of bedding.

As the oldest of 13 kids, a mom of 2 and a soon-to-be nonna, I want to break this down...in some ways it sounds better than it is, but can be used the same as most play yards that are less expensive.

It is pretty and easy to assemble. It will be ideal as a bassinet when my grand daughter arrives. The nicest thing is the look...but the baby will care less...it's a mommy/caregiver thing. Daddy's will like it...its not too frilly.

The "dancing lights" are actually 5 or 6 little pinhole lights on the back of the hand-sized music/vibration console that sits on the side railing of the play yard. They don't really light well and I have yet to see any "dancing" with any of the tunes or nature sounds. An infant on its back with little vision would not see them at all. You could probaby safely attach a mobile...do not attach christmas lights...LOL.

The sounds are pleasant but can be heard best in complete quiet-so if the baby is crying, it won't hear anything. And they only play for a few minutes, like a mobile. Make a playlist on your i-pod or MP3 and put it on speakers....it will put you all to sleep.

The vibration console sits under the "mattress" (and I'll get to that later), and you can feel it well. However, press down on the mattress to simulate a heavier baby, and the wooden or plastic underside of the mattress hits the vibrater console and becomes loud and annoying. Should work for up to about a 10 lb baby. This and the music/lights thing can't be used when you convert to a play yard.

The mattress...well, it's either wood or thick plasticon the bottom and minimal padding on the top, covered by vinyl on the bottom and that special quilting they mention on the top...when I hear quilting, I think thick and padded...think more like a specially stiched receiving blanket. Now, the add mentions that the wetness from baby is absorbed through the quilting to the padding beneath for cleaner sleeping....problem is, there is no way to remove the outer lining!! The whole mattress will have to be taken out for scrubbing in a tub or something and air dried...unless you have a wet/dry vac....that might work. But then, where will baby sleep when its drying?

The padding is ridiculously absent. There is no way an infant would find it comfortable. Our solution? We bought a 1&1/2 inch thick port-a-crib mattress to place over top the play yard mattress to use with waterproof padding and sheets. (fit perfectly) Remember, the mattress will be the bottom of the play yard after the baby is done sleeping in it...it has to be firm so baby can stand on it and I think this was the intention of the manufacturer.

The storage area underneath is thin vinyl and plastic attached by velcro but seems to hold up well when filled to capacity, even with smaller wicker baskets inside for booties and bibs. It isn't very deep, so you can actually store more behind it...but make it seasonal items or thinbs you won't need easy access to or you will have to take out everything in front to get to it. It will not replace the need for a dresser or other clothing organizer...unless you intend to have a minimum of clotheing and wash every 3 days.

The diaper changer is smaller than it appears in the picture, but adequet...it's not a changing table, mind you...just somewhere for baby to lie. I have read about the shifting with the weight of the baby, but baby isn't hear yet. As long as everyone knows, there shouldn't be any suprises.

The little organizer holds about 20 newborn diapers when packed tight. The wipes holder can hold an equivalent of one of those thin travel wipe cases...the kind you would put in a diaper bag. The 2 "cupholders"...well, we've managed to put some Q-tips, mini lotions and rash ointments in, but they seem like they don't belong.

The canopy has stayed in place nicely and the nightlight is sufficent to view baby without waking her. Don't worry....maternal instincts will wake you before the baby wakes up!

The storage bag is thin vinyl and has no handles or straps for carrying and could rip or cut easily on sharp corners in cars. If you like lifting heavy logs, this set-up is for you. LOL

The shell (the decorated apparatis that sits in the play yard and holds up the mattress)...what to do with that afterwards? The diaper changing station? And the storage? The canopy? I guess you can hold on to them, but there will be no use for them in the play yard. Buy a big sized bin for storage of them.

Once baby is on her hands and knees, stop using the bassinet...it would be too easy for her to pull herself up and over. We intend to take out the shell and lower the play yard mattress and the port-a-crib mattress into the bottom of the play yard for longer sleeping use vs buying a full sized crib after about 4 or 5 months.

My daughter loves how it looks...so do I! Do I like it? Yeah...it's good. I guess funtionality is more important to a seasoned veteran! LOL Would I recommend it to you? Yes...but I would definately decide if it will fit your needs through the toddler bed stage before you decide against a full sized crib.

Also, look at the lower priced items by the same and other makers....a few bells and whistles shouldn't amount to $50 more dollars!!!

Comments about Graco Suite Solutions Portable Playard - Birkshire:

Got as a gift and love so much! Looks so great for a
boy or girl and has lots of storage!

Comments about Graco Suite Solutions Portable Playard - Birkshire:

Less than a month ago, my daughter gave birth to my first grandchild. She and the baby spend a lot of time at my house (she does her laundry at my house and, as we all know, babies generate a *lot* of laundry!) I was attracted to the play yard because it provided a bassinet, changing table and storage all wrapped up in one convenient package. It has worked out perfectly! I would highly recommend it to other grandparent's and also to parent's who want an alternate baby station in their house (like downstairs versus upstairs).

Comments about Graco Suite Solutions Portable Playard - Birkshire:

I purchased this for our second daughter because it's more easily moved than a regular baby bed and because the shelves with a zipper front was necessary to keep my 16 month old from getting into the new babies things. I have only used this for a week but I really like it. It's very well made and it easy to put together. I did read a couple of reviews that said the changing table allowed baby to shift to one side until it was heavy enough to weigh it down and keep it even...this is true but it isn't a big deal, baby can't roll out at all or anything terrible like that. My newborn sleeps well in it. Great product, would buy again and recommend to friends.

Comments about Graco Suite Solutions Portable Playard - Birkshire:

I love the pattern, so I got the whole suite. It compliments my living room decor and I can use it with all future children, boys or girls. The extra storage is geat, the basinet is perfect for daytime naps and the changing table is great to have(but true that it is slanted-very annoying with a tiny newborn, but it's not so bad now that my son is 2 months old). Overall, I am satisfied with the purchase.

Comments about Graco Suite Solutions Portable Playard - Birkshire:

This is a gorgeous pack-n-play and I have no regrets registering for it. Our 6mo old daughter has used it exclusively since we brought her home. I agree with the other comments that the changing table feature is tilted (so we don't use that, we use our bed instead), that it was a challenge to assemble, and that we probably won't use it as a true "pack it up" item- too heavy and too many frills to fuss with. One problem we have had that I haven't search to see if others have is that the canopy won't stay up. We liked it to make it extra dark for our baby. Also it would be nice to have the music controll to be put on either side. BUT- very pretty and the storage is great!!

Comments about Graco Suite Solutions Portable Playard - Birkshire:

This product is a lot bigger than I had anticipated so we use it in the family room instead of the bedroom and it was a real pain to pack up so we have yet to use it as a travel play yard, but rather a stationary play yard. The product, however is beautiful and extremely functional from newborn on up. I would recommend this product to anyone who has a lot of space.

Comments about Graco Suite Solutions Portable Playard - Birkshire:

This is a really great product. It's attractive and useful and packed with features.

I used the bassinet for months! The changing table that flips down is handy, but not good to try to use as a main changing station. It's spot clean only and slightly tilted. But the product access attachment is neat. The canopy is nice. I never really used the hanging shelves.

It was an ordeal to get it set up with all the features the first time, but after that I can break it down and set it up in 30 seconds. It's VERY easy, but heavy.

As a playpen it's handy too. We use it as a portable crib for her now that she's older.

I would recommend getting the Pack N Play sheets/blankets to go with it.

Comments about Graco Suite Solutions Portable Playard - Birkshire:

My son and daughter-in-law are thrilled with this item. It is strategically placed on Daddy's side of the bed! It is rugged and versatile and will hold all their babies. So perfect.

Comments about Graco Suite Solutions Portable Playard - Birkshire:

I have been so happy with this purchase. I wanted something multifunctional that wouldn't be used for a few months and then stored away for years. My baby is not quite a month and sleeps great in this bassinet. The vibration soothes him to sleep so quickly and I love the variety of sounds it has. I haven't used it as a play pen yet so I have no comment on it in that aspect but I LOVE the design/color scheme and it's been adored by everyone who has seen it. I love the storage space and it was Very Simple to assemble. The only issue I've had is that until he weighed about 10 lbs the changing table tended to let him roll onto his side because he didn't weigh it down enough yet. Also, I wish that the controller was able to be put on either side of the unit.