Skip to main content

The best portable playards for indoor and outdoor use

Many kids enjoy the freedom of doing what they please — within reason — in a portable playard. Consider these highly regarded portable playards when you’re looking for a safe and dependable play area that will allow your children to express themselves.

Portable playards can be used both indoors and outdoors. They typically have a soft floor and sides, so kids don’t harm themselves while playing. No matter where you plan to use one, these portable playards can help keep your children safe anywhere you set one up.

Recommended Videos

Summer Infant Pop ‘n Play Portable Playard

Best portable playard overall

Image used with permission by copyright holder

What offers these attractive qualities: Lightweight, easy to fold, water resistant, and ideal for indoor and outdoor usage? The answer is the Summer Infant Pop ‘n Play Portable Playard, which is a smart overall choice. It provides 14 square feet of contained playing area, and its folding metal frame weighs just 12 pounds. Its water-resistant canvas floor helps keep kids dry, even on damp surfaces, and its travel bag with strap is designed for maximum portability.

BABYSEATER Portable Playard Play Pen

Easiest portable playard to set up

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Busy parents who are constantly on the go probably would rate quick and easy setup as the top-needed feature in a portable playard. BABYSEATER’s Portable Playard Play Pen then should top their list. The portable playard is designed for single-handed operation, so it can set it up with one hand even while holding a child in the other. The portable playard also comes with two safety locks, so parents can rest assured during both indoor and outdoor play. Its lightweight metal folding frame is designed to make it easier for loading and unloading.

Summer Infant Deluxe Playard with Shade

Best portable playard with shade

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you plan on heavily using a portable playard outdoors, the Summer Infant Pop ‘n Play Deluxe Playard with Shade is right up your alley. It features a full coverage canopy with two zip-open panels and mesh sides to offer protection from the elements. The portable playard for babies and toddlers can block 98 percent of harmful sun rays.

When it comes to portable playards, parents want safety, easy assembly, and low weight, while kids need comfort and independence. These portable playards can please everyone in the family.

15 fun rainy day activities for kids you should have in your back pocket when boredom kicks in
Beat the rainy day blues with these cool activities
Child with umbrella

Rainy days happen at any time of the year. It's always the same when the kids are stuck inside because the rain just won't go away. The key to navigating a rainy day, whether it falls on a weekday or the weekend, is things to do. Let's face it. Kids want entertainment, and when the raindrops fall, the devices come out.

As a parent, you don't want the kiddos spending hours online or endlessly streaming shows and that's where rainy day activities come in. The best way to keep the kids busy on rainy days is to have some fun activities at your disposal to keep them occupied. We have cool rainy day activities that even teens may put down the smartphone for.
Rainy day activities

Read more
The best outdoor games for kids – try these fun, classic activities
Cool activities to play outside with kids
Kids playing games outside

When the nice weather rolls around, there's nothing better than getting the kiddos outside to run and play. It can be difficult these days because getting kids off the devices is always a challenge. Another obstacle is often the dreaded announcement of being bored or there isn't anything to do outside. Well, as parents, we know that's certainly not true, especially when there are a whole host of outdoor games for kids.

Having an array of fun and engaging outdoor games is always a perfect pick for the whole family, whenever you're hosting a party or when the kiddos have friends over for a playdate. The wonderful thing about outside games is that they are timeless. They take adults back to their childhood, and even teens enjoy taking a page from their elementary school gym class days.

Read more
Plan a great family road trip: The best aquariums in the U.S. for kids
Your kiddos will have lots of stories to tell when they get home
Little boy sitting in front of an aquarium watching the fish

Sebastian said it best when he told Ariel that "life under the sea is better." Of course, we can't technically live under the sea, but the next best thing is a visit to an aquarium. If you're planning your family's next adventure, a road trip to an aquarium is a perfect pick, especially if your kiddos are fascinated by life under the sea. For families glued to the television during Shark Week, seeing sharks in person is a must-do task.

Thankfully, some of the best aquariums in the U.S. are actually just a road trip away and are in hot spots, offering families a super cool vacation. The top aquariums in the U.S. just happen to be in major tourist attraction cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago. So, if you're ready to see one or more of the most sensational U.S. aquariums in person, we've got the don't-miss list below.

Read more