Please help us decide what playcenter to get our DD! ***UPDATE: We bought one!***

[ballerina18]

Hello Ladies,

My DD is 2.5 years old and my SO and I haven't gotten her any new toys in awhile. She has outgrown almost all of her toys and we want to buy our DD something special to make up for how bored she has been lately.

She loves to climb so my SO and I want to buy her a playcenter that we can either put in her toy room or out on our porch. We have narrowed down our choices to these following playcenters. The main thing we are debating right now is whether or not our daughter would like some kind of fort or playhouse along with a slide. I'll try to explain what we are considering with each of these choices.

We would LOVE some input from mothers of older children. We want to buy something for our DD that will last for a few years and keep her interest.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT! We really appreciate it ladies!

Option #1

This is the most expensive playcenter we are considering. It is $400. However, we do think it will last our DD for a number of years. It got great reviews online. My DD loves to climb and she loves slides so I think she would enjoy this a lot! But is it worth the $$$?

Option #2

This is our favorite choice. We would buy this center right now ..but it is out of stock. We don't know when it will be available. It is $270 I think... So, the question is...do we wait for who knows how long to order it?? Or do we go with a different choice. Also, this particular playcenter does not have a "house" kind of attachment. My SO and I don't know if..in the long run...our DD would get more out of a dollhouse/ playhouse style of playcenter or a fort/slide type of playcenter.

Option #3:

I know this photo is kind of small. If you want to see a bigger view go here: http://www.littletikes.com/toys/2-in-1-dollhouse-playhouse.aspx

This website is also where all of the other playcenters are from!

So, I like this because it is girly and I think my DD would really enjoy it as she grows older. It is $169, which is the cheapest playhouse we are considering. However, I don't know if she would like it right now. She likes to climb, as previously stated, and this is more of a pretend playhouse. Thoughts?

Option #4:

Is this playhouse the best of both worlds? It has a house and a slide. However, the slide is so small. I don't think my DD would use it past 3 yrs old! I think she would like the house part. I dunno.... Thoughts? This playhouse is $300.

So, those are the options. However, if anyone has any other playcenter ideas we would love to hear them! If you have older children my SO and I would love to hear what you think they would like in a playcenter.

Thanks Ladies!

**UPDATE!!

Thank you for your replies ladies! A special thank you to those who suggested I look on Craigslist! We found a woman selling Option #1 for $150! She just called me to tell me that I was the first one who emailed her about the playset and I have first dibs! (She just posted her playset for sale last night!) My DD and I are going to look at the playset in 1.5 hours! =D

I'll take photos and post them when I get home. I am so excited!

Thanks for your opinions ladies! Who knows..maybe since we're not spending so much on a playset now,  we may also buy our DD a "home" style placeset. =)

yay!!!

Update #2

We bought the playcenter from craigstlist! It will be delivered on Sunday!!! Here is the picture!!

***FINAL UPDATE***

Hello Ladies! Well the playset has been delivered and I just thought I'd post some photos of it. My DD LOVES it!

Thanks for looking =) This is my last update I promise ;)

[bluelola]

We bought your option 1 for our ds when he was two.  BUT we got it at a garage sale for $100!  It was the exact same play structure, but in different colors.  Our older son was 7 at the time and he loved it too.  In fact, all of our neighbours kids enjoyed it which was great.  We had it in a very small, but fenced backyard.  When it was hot out, we put a kiddy pool with the slide going into it and it was so much fun for them.  We gave it to our neighbours when we moved and I wished we had taken it with us, but we moved 500 miles away and it was a big thing to move.

[Elizabeth_]

I think option 1 although it is more expensive, I think she'll get the most use of it and will be good for a few years as she grows..

[ballerina18]

Quoting bluelola:

We bought your option 1 for our ds when he was two.  BUT we got it at a garage sale for $100!  It was the exact same play structure, but in different colors.  Our older son was 7 at the time and he loved it too.  In fact, all of our neighbours kids enjoyed it which was great.  We had it in a very small, but fenced backyard.  When it was hot out, we put a kiddy pool with the slide going into it and it was so much fun for them.  We gave it to our neighbours when we moved and I wished we had taken it with us, but we moved 500 miles away and it was a big thing to move.

Hello! Thank you for your reply! I have some questions for you.

1) Do you think the playcenter is worth $400? I haven't yet seen the playcenter for a cheaper price. So, knowing that your children loved it..do you think you would buy it over again for the $$$?

2) Is it possible not to install the tunnel and have 2 playcenters?

[Mom2HannahNZach]

 I say go with 4. It's got both the things she you want her to have. And you never know....past 3 yrs of age she may not care for it anymore so the slide wouldn't matter! If she wants a slide still, you can always buy her a free standing one to go right next to it. Such as this one for $80

[amayabrianna]

 I think # 3 or #4. My DDs are 2 1/2 and almost 4 and both love to play house. They like to slide as well, but they go upside down and sideways and I wouldn't want a slide in the house that I would have to CONSTANTLY watch them on. I don't mind watching them but things happen and they would get hurt on a slide in the house. I would get one of the last two and then maybe take her to the park to slide or climb. Or maybe get a slide one when she gets a little older. I think the playhouse ones would be a better choice. HTH some. GL mama!!

[lvnmylif]

I like number one.  There is a company called one step ahead.  Their web site is onestepahead.com.  They have a variety of play houses and it may give you other ideas. 

[usafwife314]

I would go with Option 1.  If you are going to spend 270 on Option 2, spend the extra money and get more than double the things to do.  My oldest two would have a blast on something like Option 1 (they are 7 and 6).

Option 4 would last for a little bit, but I think she would outgrow the playhouse.

[ZoeCY]

Have you checked craigslist at all?  We were able to get our 2 year old a swingset that retails for $500 for $85 and it was less than a year old.  I don't know how big your porch is but I think I would go with Option #2 if you plan on having it on the porch sometimes because it seems to be more compact but still has the climbing area.  Good Luck!!

[ballerina18]

Quoting ZoeCY:

Have you checked craigslist at all?  We were able to get our 2 year old a swingset that retails for $500 for $85 and it was less than a year old.  I don't know how big your porch is but I think I would go with Option #2 if you plan on having it on the porch sometimes because it seems to be more compact but still has the climbing area.  Good Luck!!

Thanks for the great idea! I don't know why I didn't think of craigslist. Yeah, Our porch is big enough to fit #1, but it would take up the entire porch! That's why we like #2. Thanks again for the idea..I'll go check craigslist right now.

[ballerina18]

Quoting lvnmylif:

I like number one.  There is a company called one step ahead.  Their web site is onestepahead.com.  They have a variety of play houses and it may give you other ideas. 

Thanks for telling me about the website! I'll go check it out! =)