The Best Play Yards

Types of Play Yards Available

• Parents can be overwhelmed by the plethora of play yards that are available. There are the basic play yards, portable play yards, play yards meant strictly for play and play yards meant for play and sleep. And then there are the many different varieties of those basic play yards. On top of all that is the issue about safety. You want to buy the best and safest play yard that meets all of your and your child's needs. Luckily, there are online resources that list baby and toddler product recalls. "Parents Magazine's" website provides a current list of recalled baby and toddler items and you can also research recall information at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website.

Best Portable Play Yard

• Parents need play yards to provide a safe, contained area for a child. The play yard can be used for play and/or sleep and excellent play yards should be portable for whether you are going on vacation or spending the afternoon at grandma's house. Aircrib makes a portable play yard that is comprised of a foam mattress and mesh side panels. The play yard comes with an air pump, which pumps the mattress up in about two minutes, a mattress sheet and a carry bag. The Aircrib can also be used outdoors and is safe for newborns and toddlers up to 1 year old.

Best Play Yard for Play

• Sometimes a mom needs a safe place for baby to play so that she can get something done, such as tackling the ever growing mountain of dirty laundry. Graco's Pack 'n Play TotBloc Playard in Bug's Quilt suits that need. The play yard, according to Consumer Search.com, provides "10 square feet of play space" and, should floor space be an issue, is "easy to set up and tear down." The play yard is made to stimulate baby's imagination for it comes in a variety of bright colors, and each side of the play yard features toys that make a squeaking, crinkling or rattling sound.

Best Play Yard for Sleep and Play

• If baby's room is on the second floor, but you spend the majority of the day on the first floor, consider purchasing a play yard that can used for both sleep and play. This way, baby can either nap or play while you can tend to other tasks at hand, such as finally getting the chance to look at the millions of baby photos that you have taken over the past months. Chico makes the Lullaby LX Play Yard which has an attached bassinet for the newborn to sleep in, a changing area and, as pointed out by Consumer Search.com, " a toy gym (that) doubles as a play mat." The play yard also has electronic features with a remote control that play music and vibrate. It comes in 12 different color combinations, which means you are certain to find one to match your decor.

Shopping Considerations

• Play yards can be an essential piece of baby equipment. Not only can it entertain your baby, but also it can provide a safe place for your little one to sleep. There are key factors to consider when purchasing your play yard. Note how much weight the play yard can hold, if it can be collapsed for easy transportation and if it can assembled and reassembled quickly and easily. Consumer Reports.org urges parents to select their own play yard and to buy a new one that has a Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association certification sticker, which means its meets safety standards.