Despite the Sad Gray Balls, This Ball Pit is a Blast From the Past

When I got pregnant, I knew I wanted my daughter to have experiences similar to the ones I had in my childhood (minus the trauma). One of those experiences was playing in a ball pit. But let’s be real — any public ball pit is probably a cesspool for hand, foot, and mouth germs. Since my daughter is a mere four months old, I figured it would be in her best interest to have her own little ball pit. So when I saw that Little Big Playroom made not just ball pits, but stylish, memory foam ones, I had to get one.

Memory Foam Ball Pit

$224.00 from Little Big Playroom Visit Amazon

The 90s Craze, Reenvisioned

Does anyone else remember Discovery Zone? Maybe it was just a Northeast thing, but I have photos of myself as a teeny one-year-old playing in there, and it brings back so many nostalgic feelings. One, of course, being the ball pit. 

When I got the memory foam ball pit, I was immediately excited. All you have to do is remove the pit from the box, and it expands to its standard size, which was ample. It could easily accommodate two small children (under 3) or one larger toddler (4-5 years old). The memory foam is incredibly comfortable, which, as someone who remembered the hard plastic containers we had growing up (I’m looking at you sand pit), was a happy surprise. 

I chose the tiny triangles pattern with a cream color background. Now, I may be all about fun colors (see rant in the next section), but I appreciate that the actual pit looks stylish in my home. I do believe if it were any obnoxious color or pattern, I would be less likely to buy it. 

The pit itself is pretty deep, at about 16 inches tall. This makes it great for your little one to feel totally immersed in the balls when playing. However, I have a significant issue with said balls.

The Elephant in the Room (The Balls)

First, let’s talk about quantity because this is the most important thing to mention. If you’re looking for the iconic “drowning in plastic balls” feeling for your kids, you will be disappointed. The memory foam ball pit comes with 200 balls, which sounds like a lot, but I can assure you it’s not. I mean, it’s probably enough for a kid not to think twice about the quantity. But I know. It’s just not enough. The worst part is that I can’t find anywhere on the brand’s website to purchase more of the balls. Note: I did find one listing, but it was a particular, sad beige color.

So if you want more balls, you’ll have to buy some, and it probably won’t match the ones in the pit. 

Next, the color. Why is everything so dull these days? Were we so overstimulated by color growing up that we decided we needed more peace and tranquility? I absolutely hate these greyscale balls. They come in two different shades of grey, one clear one, and one a silvery-white. I can completely understand some parents don’t want their home to look like a fun house, but kids need color. And what would be more fun than jumping into a colorful ball pit?

I took it upon myself to purchase some colorful balls and threw them in the pit. It looks a bit pitiful, but my goal is to buy more and really fill it with color. The second I added the balls in primary colors, I felt so much better about the pit. I even noticed my daughter will specifically reach for the colorful ones over the gray ones. It’s almost like kids are attracted to color. 🤷

I do love the nostalgia. I bet you can remember the sound the balls made when they would hit each other. Well, I’m happy to announce that these balls make the same sound. I love watching my daughter flail her limbs to make the balls fly across the room. I almost wish the pit were a bit bigger, so that I could get in there too.

Is it Kid-Approved?

Absolutely. I would be surprised to find a kid who didn’t think this ball pit was the most fun they’ve had in their entire one year of life. It’s the perfect size in height and diameter for one or two, maybe even three kids to have fun. The high walls mean you can either fill it with more balls, or keep it with the 200 provided so the balls aren’t as likely to fly out. 

My daughter absolutely loves this ball pit, and she’s only four months old. They do recommend it for six months and up to five years, but because my daughter can sit up on her own, she’s just fine in it.

Memory Foam Ball Pit

$224.00 from Little Big Playroom Visit Amazon

Final Thoughts

Despite my extreme opinions on the lack of color all of their ball pits have, I do love this memory foam ball pit. The material of the pit is so comfortable and makes me feel like my daughter will be safe playing in there as she gets older. The patterns available for the pit itself are all beautiful and complement many home designs well. I do loathe the ball colors, but the balls themselves are sturdy, well-made, and crush-proof. This would be a fantastic addition to your kid’s playroom. Just consider getting more balls, especially colorful ones.