HOW DO I CLOSE THE PLAYPEN.?? - Cosco Beatrix Potter Playard Crib

A pet playpen is a place where small pets can play safely in an enclosed space. Here is an example of what a standard pet playpen looks like -

Try getting an animal playpen mat cover at the Ferret site -
http://www.ferret.com/item/marshall-small-animal-playpen-mat-cover/650280/

or at amazon -
http://www.amazon.com/Marshall-Ferret-Animal-Playpen-Panel/dp/B0009YHROE

You can buy protection mats for your pet playpen without having to replace the whole thing. Here's a link to the Amazon site where they have one for sale for $18 although obviously you need to buy the right for your playpen. http://www.amazon.com/Marshall-FC-261-Small-Animal-Cover-Colors/dp/B001GIGRRA

Yes. You can put your pet playpen wherever you like. We keep our rabbit in a playpen outside when we go to work but if the weather isn't good we move it indoors (but not on our carpet!)

I found two great used travel playpens on eBay. Check them out here:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dog-Playpen-/140753791332?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c5946964http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRE-OWNED-2-Door-Soft-Playpen-Dog-Crate-Cage-Kennel-MEDIUM-45-x45-x24-H-/170833661976?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c67ad018

with the bottom still collapsed, straighten the sides, then they will stay. the bottom has to be the last part of the assembly.hope this helps ;)

ihave a Avalon on the move series playpen model AP11 and i can not get it to close for traveling

If you take the mattress pad out and collapse the base, you can then lock the sides. I was in the same boat as you. Very frustrating. Hope this helps.

My wife and I have the same model for visits by our granddaughter. She was having the same trouble as were you and, like you, we did not have instructions.

I'm happy to share with you what I found to close the model up for storage. It may not be the same as what the manufacturer envisioned but it worked for us.

-- With the pad removed from the inside of the Pack n Play, pull up on the red handle so as to loosen the legs;

-- Next, you will find there is a big button in the middle of each of the long sides of the Pack n Play. Start with either long side. You will have to press very hard on either side of that button; I found it helpful to use both hands, one pressing on the outside of the playpen, the other hand pressing on the inside of the playpen. Pressing these together will loosen the long support arm at the open top of the Pack n Play.

-- Do the same for the opposite long side.

-- You will also do the same, one button, one side at a time, for each of the two short sides of the Pack n Play.

-- Now pull up on the red handle in the middle, and guide the four corners so they meet and close.

-- Cover.

I found the buttons may not have fully allowed the support arms to collapse, thus blocking the Pack n Play from folding down completely. If so, try pressing the button again (both the outside and the inside at the same time).

By the way, I've found it to be an exercise in frustration in trying to obtain an instruction manual from the manufacturer. I'm very disapopinted with this purchase and in particular this company.

Hope this helps!

The sides are like elbows. You have to hyper-extend the elbows upward to get them to lock. It took my husband's strength on the longer sides.