Baby's First Year by Sandy Jones

Author:Sandy Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Sterling
Published: 2010-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

Unlike cribs, play yards are narrow enough to roll through doorways. The hinged sidebars and folding floorboards are padded for your baby’s safety and comfort.

For safety’s sake, it’s important to study the manufacturer’s directions about how to fold and open the yard before your baby uses it for the first time. Most models squeeze shut like the ribs of a travel umbrella when you release the sidebars using a button and twist and pull up on the handle of the flat hub in the center of the yard (under the floor’s padding).

Opening the play yard is a challenge—the hinged sidebars must stand nearly upright before the yard will open completely so its sidebars can be firmly locked into place.

While some play yards feature open mesh on all four sides, others have fabric panels on both ends, with a storage pocket sewn on the outside. The fabric on the sides and floorboards can be damp-mopped with a mild soap and water solution for cleaning.

Some models offer an optional bassinet feature that fastens to the frame’s sidebars, and most companies also offer models with a small, diaper-changing station that fits over one end of the yard’s frame.

Safety issues

More than a million portable play yards manufactured in the past decade have undergone federal recalls or corrective actions when the sidebars of some models failed to completely lock in the open position. A V shape was formed when the sides were left limp instead of being locked firmly into place causing babies to strangle when their necks got caught.

The recalls have provided repair kits or other remedies for older models—but, for maximum safety, we recommend purchasing a new model if you’re not sure about the safety status of an older version.

Don’t use a portable play yard as a substitute for a crib. Its loose mesh sides and puffy quilting can be dangerous for unsupervised sleeping. Babies can get entangled in loose sheets and bedding, too, so don’t add a sheet or pillowcase as a cover for the floor or bassinet section. Remember, all babies should be placed faceup and not belly down to lessen the danger of suffocation. (See the sudden infant death syndrome discussion in 1. Baby’s First Half-Year.)

Older-model play yards may come with a ribbed dome that fits into small holders on the top corners of the yard. The dome comes with warning signs not to use it in direct sunlight because of the danger of serious heat buildup inside. Most manufacturers have discontinued making the domes because of the danger of babies getting heatstroke.

Portable play yards are lightweight, have wheels, and fold compactly for storing or carrying in the trunk of the car. Their dimensions allow them to be rolled from room to room. The mesh sides let babies peer out. The bassinet feature allows small babies to snooze, but only under close supervision. Some models come with a carry case that makes porting easy.

Opening and folding it may be a hassle, and if the sidebars don’t click into place, as with some older models, a toddler’s life could be in endangered.

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