The pebbles are suppose to promote breathability which is a big reason why I bought it. With newborns during tummy time, they often drop they heads and face plant onto the ground while they are still building muscles to suppose their little heads. The pebbles in my opinion are more decoration than anything else. I received mine a week ago and its completely flat with pebble like pattern sewn on the top fabric. I thought maybe it was because it was squished flat into the tube that it came packaged in but after a week laying it out, it is still flat. My husband and I both ran our fingers across and placed pressure on it and it really is just flat. So, if you are buying based on the beathability factor, I don't recommend it.
The lilypad I received had so much excess fabric that it kind of seemed like a hazard for a newborn. Of course, the pictures of the product does not reflect that so I'm questioning if the item I received was defective. The top layer had so much excess fabric that if you were to pull it up, it could separate from the rest of the pad a good 6 inches. Seems more of a suffocation issue.
The packaging that it came with was questionable. I'm not going to put this on Nook because I bought it from one of their authorized online retailers, Albee baby online so it may be a returned item. I will never know because I'm not going to buy another one to see and there isn't a local store near me that carries it. Being that it's fabric and newborns will be using it, I expect it to be packaged a little bit cleaner. The lilypad came in a cardboard tube that was not sealed and the pad was inside just as it is. No pamphlet, no plastic wrap, nothing. I know I'm suppose to wash it prior to baby but at this point, I want to drench it is 409 and then wash it which is just not right. My organic detergent will not be able to get this clean enough. Who knows where its been and what has touched it. So, I won't be giving this to my baby to use. Probably use it as a very expensive bath mat.
The only thing that did meet my expectation with this is the thick cushion. So, it would have been great when a baby drops their head on the ground. However, due to sanitation and suffocation concren, I will not be using it and I do NOT recommend this product.
