Eddie Bauer Fairview Collection Playard Review And GIVEAWAY! 1/15

When you have a baby in the house, you quickly discover that there are certain must have items that make your life as a new parent substantially easier. For me, my must-haves include a good bouncer seat, a lightweight stroller(which I have yet to find), and of course, a playard. (Or two in my case, as I have 2 toddlers!)

Having a decent playard probably tops my list as my youngest baby gets older and more mobile. Xander has sadly outgrown his MamaRoo and his cradle swing, so I was in need of another safe place to lay him down for naps, or just contain him and keep him out of trouble when Mommy needs to go to the restroom, sign for a package, or cook a meal.

You see, babies cannot be left to their own devices, even for a moment. My husband learned this the hard way when he went to use the restroom and came back to learn that our daughter, Sophie, had completely destroyed our cable and DVR box in the 90 seconds he was gone by banging an unopened can on the corner of the TV stand, causing it to explode and spray all over the place. The cable box was drenched and obviously shorted somehow, and ultimately needed replacing. When I returned from the store, hubby was not at all happy, but he knew it was his fault for not putting Sophie in the playard while he did his business. Since then, he fully understands the importance of having a good playard. Lesson learned!

---

We were recently in the market for a second playard, since Xander is now old enough to really need one. We had been making do with just one, but now that he's bigger, a second playard was definitely necessary. After all, I can't really put both babies in the same playard together. Sophie would probably eat her baby brother alive, and no one wants that! After doing a lot of shopping around, I found a playard that I absolutely love. I was thrilled when the nice folks at Eddie Bauer sent me their Complete Care Playard from their Fairview Collection for my review.

When it arrived, it was very well-packaged and came with easy to understand instructions for quick assembly. As we assembled the Fairview, I was absolutely giddy because this playard offers a lot of great perks not found in my older playard. (More about those in a moment!) Yep...It was definitely love at first sight!

Why did I fall in love with the Fairview Playard from Eddie Bauer? Well for one, I absolutely love the color scheme. I decorate using a lot of red and black, and this fits right in! And of course Eddie Bauer is known for their plaids, and this is also incorporated into the design, creating an overall look that is both modern and traditional. It is also very gender neutral. Since I have both a boy and a girl, this was a major requirement for us. Take a look!

Isn't this to-die-for?! I adore the black and red color scheme!

Another thing I really love about the Fairview Complete Care Playard is that it offers just that: Complete care. This playard is perfect for babies from newborn all the way into the toddler years. Some of the added extras that are guaranteed to keep baby happy during naptime and playtime alike? Well for one, take a look at the sweet bears that are suspended from the canopy! (Yes, I said canopy!) These enchanting little bears are friendly and welcoming, and my babies happen to adore them.

Another feature that is super-convenient, especially for parents of newborns and younger babies, is the Flip Away Changer. This changing station makes diaper changes an absolute breeze and simply flips to the side and away when not in use. Notice what's underneath the changing station? Yep! Storage! The Fairview also has added storage pockets for diapers, wipes, creams, and whatever other essentials you want to keep at arms' reach!

Something else that makes the Fairview stand out is the comforting Baby Module. What exactly is the Baby Module? It's a special little attachment that clips right onto the playard. The Baby Module offers some great elements designed specifically to soothe baby, like 10 calming sounds and songs, two-speed vibrations, and even a soft, comforting night light to keep those night time fears at bay. My toddler, Sophie, loves the Baby Module, as you can see in the photo below!

The Eddie Bauer Fairview Playard is incredibly versatile, making this the perfect playard for parents of infants and toddlers alike. Aside from being a standard playard, it also has a bassinet mode for smaller babies. Once baby reaches about 2-3 months old (from my experience) it is best to remove the bassinet, lowering the mattress to create a standard playard space.

The sides of the playard are made from a highly breathable mesh-netting. The mesh sides are soft to the touch and won't cause any scratches on baby if they happen to squish their faces up against them, like my babies tend to do. It is also very strong, though. My Sophie loves nothing more than running around and spinning in circles, barreling herself into the sides of the playard. I am very pleased to say, she has not been able to bust free yet!

I should also point out that the Eddie Bauer Fairview Playard is also very easy to clean. My daughter spilled her chocolate milk inside of the playard, and I was able to simply wipe it clean and disinfect with Lysol. Since the bulk of the playard is darker colored, sticky little hands won't stain too easily, either. Of course cleaning right away is recommended.

My babies both love the Eddie Bauer Fairview Complete Care Playard, and so do I. Good looks aside, and let's face it: looks DO matter, this playard has it all. From added accessory storage, a convenient changing station and bassinet mode, to the ingenious Baby Module, this playard absolutely rocks. It appears rather compact due to the construction of the sides, but the playard is actually very roomy and comfortable for baby. It even has a skirted bottom, making it even more attractive!

The Eddie Bauer Fairview Complete Care Playard is definitely a winner in my book and would make a great gift for those expecting parents out there. It is high-quality, durable, and incredibly versatile. But then again, would you expect anything less from the folks at Eddie Bauer? This name has been synonymous with quality since 1920, and now I see why! So now that I have found my perfect playard, now I need to find a lightweight stroller. Wish me luck!

BUY IT:

You can check out this and other great Eddie Bauer Baby products on their website. The Fairview Collection is sold exclusively at Target!

To stay on top of great products for the rest of the family, including some awesome clothing, you can also follow Eddie Bauer on Facebook and on twitter.
PLEASE NOTE: Eddie Bauer Facebook and twitter pages DO NOT include updates on baby gear!

WIN IT:

One VERY lucky reader will receive their choice of the following item from the Eddie Bauer Fairview Collection:

Fairview Complete Care Playard
Fairview Classic High Chair
Fairview Travel System

---

_How cool is that?! Thanks so much to the awesome folks at Eddie Bauer for such an amazing giveaway!

Please use this handy Rafflecopter form to enter!

This giveaway will be open to US residents 18+  until 12:01AM EST on 1/15/2012. Winners will be chosen at random and will be announced here, tweeted, shared on Facebook, and contacted via e-mail. The winners will have 48 hours to reply and claim their prize. If I receive no response, I will be forced to draw a new winner.

***Disclosure: I  received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

_

a Rafflecopter giveaway