North States Industries Super Yard XT

Reviewers love the portability and convenience of the North States Industries Super Yard XT (*Est. $70), and many owners report using this gate to block off fireplaces, Christmas trees or other safety hazards in the home in addition to a play yard. Useable both indoors and out, the Super Yard XT provides 18.5 square feet of safe, enclosed play space for children up to 2 years of age. With the purchase of an extension kit (*Est. $35), the enclosed area can be expanded up to 34.4 square feet. Reviewers say this play yard is easy to assemble, and at 26 inches high, it's easy to lean over and pick a child up from inside the play area or simply step over the side to enter. The panels themselves can also function as doors; parents can unlatch one panel and swing it open in either direction for easy access to the enclosed area. On the downside, some parents say this playpen can slide easily across a smooth floor surface, so they advise placing it on a large play mat to keep it in place. It's not designed for napping, and it doesn't offer a changing station or other features common to standard play yards, such as the Chicco Lullaby Play Yard (*Est. $165) or the more affordable Graco Pack 'n Play Playard with Automatic Folding Feet (*Est. $70).

The best reviews of the Super Yard XT come from owners themselves; we found well over 1,000 reviews on Walmart.com alone, and an additional 500 reviews from Amazon.com and ToysRUs.com combined. While this gate isn't covered in professional reviews, owner opinions are valuable for providing insight into how practical the gate is for everyday use and identifying any common problems that occur over time. An individual product review, found on the blog A Mom's Guide to Surviving Everyday Life, provides a detailed account of exactly how functional this play yard can be.