NWMR: thoguhts and recs on backyard swingsets?

Re: NWMR: thoguhts and recs on backyard swingsets?

• mittensonkittens member

  November 2013 edited November 2013

  We got a Little Tikes playground after someone told me theirs held up in the Houston sun for 10+ years. There are a lot of choices in your price range, with or without swings, and they are more appropriate for your LO's age than the big wooden swing sets. Check the little tikes web site.

  Formerly known as ms.mittens Jude 12/31/2008 Ezra 2/10/2011 Nora 7/23/2013

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• emberlee3 member

  November 2013

  DH's parents gave us a big wooden playset as a gift when we were expecting DD.  DS was 3 at the time.  The kids are now 4 yrs and 17 months, and they both love it.  We can switch the swings from regular to baby (bucket seat) style.  We don't use it every day, but we use it a few times a week and we really like having it.  It's also great when hosting playdates, birthday parties, etc.
  

  DS born 8/8/09 and DD born 6/12/12.
  

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• Mustardseed2007 member

  November 2013

  Not to thread hijack, but one of the reasons we have NOT gotten one is that I figure we need to put fill underneath - not just for falls but also b/c I've been told (and it makes sense to me) that grass tends to get worn away or die under a swing set and then it will turn to pure mud hwen it rains. So I've held off b/c there isn't a spot in our back yard that I really can/want to tear up for large equipment like that.

  But have those that have them put down playground mulch or something? Is it really necessary?

   

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

   

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• carlab44 member

  November 2013

  We bought a wooden set from the website www.kidscreation.com. The area where we wanted it is sort of an odd shape and size and that site lets you design it yourself. Then you can add whatever components you want. We did two swings, a slide, a fort area and a picnic table below the fort. Our kids are 7 and 4 and they still love it.
  
  We do have mulch under ours, but mostly because I didn't want to have to mow under and around it.

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• emberlee3 member

  November 2013

  We have rubber mulch under ours. 
  

  DS born 8/8/09 and DD born 6/12/12.
  

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• WBMom member

  November 2013

  We actually bought ours used off of a buy/sell/trade site on FB and we have had it 7 years.  We just have to stain it again every couple years.  The kids love it.  We opted to not put mulch or anything under ours - the grass is worn away under the swings and at the end of the slide but we have had no issues with mud, etc.

  

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• mae0111 member

  November 2013

  We got ours through Creative Playthings.  It was a splurge.  We had one at our old house, and had planned on taking it with us.  When we sold, we got an offer that was well above asking, but it had a contingency that we leave the set.  So, we took some of the extra money and got a decent backyard set, especially since we were moving away from 2 awesome playgrounds that were within walking distance.
  
  One of my friends just got a used Cedarworks set for free.  I second keeping your eye on Craigslist or freecycle.  You might luck out.
  
  We have a bit of a mud issue right now, but we're going to put mulch under it in the spring.  We did that at our old house as well.  Wooden mulch, but playground quality - no chemicals, etc. 
  

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• SoMoNY member

  November 2013

  We got a cedar Summit unit from Costco and it is awesome!

  If we reapply stain it every 2 years I think we'll get at least 12 years out of it.
  

  
  

  I have thick grass under it for now, thinking of doing a rubber backed astro-turf under it when little guy gets a little bigger.

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