1st -I have to say that I was so surprised and thrilled that this Play-yard is so sturdy & heavy – (for me anyway). Wasn't so bad after I removed it from the box and put it together though.
It comes folded up and the mattress is folded in a square to wrap around the frame & is held together with velcro. There is also a cover/case with handles for the folded play yard in for easy carrying/traveling.
The bottom of the mattress has the assembly instructions printed plus has a pocket where the sheet of assembly instructions, after folded, are kept. So you never have to forget how to put it together and close it up. The mattress is well padded & is a 100% polyurethane foam pad.
My 1st picture shows a stuffed monkey (because the baby isn't here yet) and the 2nd picture shows the Bottom of the play yard where you can see the 2 wheels on one side with 2 stands on the other side & you can pick up that side to roll the play yard. On the bottom you can see the sturdy frame that also includes a stand in the middle and on each of the long sides. (I wanted you to see this so you would understand how it is so sturdy – as well as the sturdiness of the frame parts.)
This is not only very sturdy but very easy to put together. You simply undo the velcro (mattress) which is holding the frame together – then put the mattress to the side. Then simply follow the directions. Just make certain that each side is completely up & you hear a 'pop' (the first time, one wasn't so I had to undo all & begin over by pulling the middle up) When all the sides are straight, you just push the middle part down. Then you lay the mattress in the middle & hide the velcro underneath - so baby doesn't try to chew on it.
The top of the rails is patted & the same pattern as the mattress and the corners are a sturdy plastic. I think that if taken care of (not thrown around or big kids get inside) this will last be around for another baby or more.
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[my sister went to bed & I stayed up to put both reviews here - instead of waiting til her laptop was available tomorrow - I sent an email explaining]