Turn your pack n play (or any play yard) into a ball pit for a toddler that still needs occasional containment but also wants entertainment. At-home ball pit? Yep! Mama’s gotta carry in the groceries without a little person running into the street, right?!
Kalena tells us how she did it for curious toddler, Nolan:
- Remove any mobile and bassinet from your toddler play yard
- Add a few dozen fun balls (like these Intex fun balls, a pack of 100 for less than $20 with carrying case)
- Insert small child!
She tells us:
I’m a rookie mom to a one-year old little guy who has always HATED with a vehement (and very vocal) passion being contained in any way – especially in his pack-n-play. But, I was determined to find ANY way to make use of something we spent a pretty big chunk of change on. Inspiration struck, as it so often does, in the sale aisle at Target, in the form of 100 plastic balls for $15.
That $15 magically transformed the pack-n-play of DOOM into the SUPERFUN Ball pit of happiness. Which means I can get dressed without worrying about a surprisingly quick toddler going down the stairs “too fast”.
Photo: Rookie Moms reader, Kalena
I can totally relate. The day my son grew out of the Jumperoo was a sad sad day for me; I had no idea how to unload two kids from the car anymore. I would have loved to have this terrific reader suggestion from Kalena to create a DIY ball pit to keep him busy. Let us know if you try it!
Pro tip: If you have a playard or travel crib that rests on the floor — instead of skinny little support legs — like the BABYBJORN Travel Crib, you or your larger kids can play too!
[Photos by Kalena]
Awesome idea – I am totally doing this!
I LOVE this idea. Why didn’t I think of it. This is going to save me so much heartache from now on.
In time advise! I’ve been thinking how to make my 10month old baby how to enjoy staying in his crib. Thanks.
holy moly! this is the best idea I have heard of in a loooong time! Just this morning I needed someway to contain my daughter & entertain her while I was getting ready for work. I am seriously contemplating skipping out of work right now, heading to Target to get some of these balls! I only hope the Target by me has them! oh my I hope they have them! My life might get 100x easier until baby #2 shows up!! Thank you Rookie Moms!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh love this idea! We were just getting ready to buy a $50 ball pit too!
We bought an inflatable pool on clearance for $3.99 and we used that to put about 250 balls in. Caleb, my 14 month old, LOVES it!!!
Tried it! What fun. Thanks for the idea.
Also used it at a birthday party.
Blogged it here: http://diningwithgoldilocks.blogspot.com/2010/09/georgia-and-junes-crayon-party.html
(Pictures of ball pit appear about halfway down that post.)
Genius! My son never liked the pack and play so I’ve been looking to find other uses for it (besides storage for old toys). I’m also going to mention it in my next Macaroni Kid newsletter (http://www.npascackvalley.macaronikid.com). Thanks for the great idea!
That is awesome I so want to make one for me.
We did this activity today! Brilliant! I even used the box in which we received the Fun Balls as our make shift “pack and play”. My 9 month old AND 28 month old LOVED it. 🙂
I’m buying balls for my baby as a bday gift this year 🙂 I original saw those pricey “blow up ball pits” but this is so much better b/c it will keep her IN!
It’s cheaper to get the ball pit balls on Target’s website. http://www.target.com/p/Step-2-Fun-Filled-Ball-Assortment-150-pc/-/A-13633349#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink
plus you get more.
http://www.target.com/p/Moose-Mountain-Moose-Mountain-100-Balls-in-a-Mesh-Bag/-/A-11269946#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink
Here’s 100 count ball pit balls
Thank you so much for coming up with this, and for sharing the idea! This worked wonderfully! (Except that now my son does not want to get out of the pack n’ play!) Also, just FYI, I found inexpensive balls through Amazon….
Thank you again!
Its nice until they figure out how to throw all 100 balls out and you have to pick them all up
Terri – that is when you take them out and make a game where they have to pick them up and throw them back in. Works every time for me 🙂
I’ve also put buckets around the pack n play so she could throw the balls out but into a bucket. That way 90% of them ended up in a bucket and she loved the game.
Moms always crack me up that search for every solution when their child doesn’t ‘like’ something. News flash, they fit into your life, not the other way around. That being said, this is brilliant,way to go, a great solution to something that helps you both like something. My kids live under the school of hard knocks, and I will definitely use this trick. Cheers!
This is a great idea! I did this for my one year old about two months ago and he can play with these balls for hours! He loves it!
Ball pits are not just for babies! Using the BB travel crib (rests on the floor instead of legs), I was able to get into it. http://instagram.com/p/YiU7_WRUlo/
another way to make a cheap ball pit is buy a cheap baby pool and fill it with balls. You can deflate when done with it. I always stock up on them when they mark them down at the end of summer. Way cheaper than buying those fancy ball pits that come with balls. It is cheaper to buy the pool and balls separate.