Having gradually replaced the traditional playpen in recent years, playards, otherwise known as travel yards, can provide parents with a great deal of versatility at home or on the go.

Playards Buying Guide

Having gradually replaced the traditional playpen in recent years, playards, otherwise known as travel yards, can provide parents with a great deal of versatility at home or on the go. Most are constructed just like a playpen, with metal tubing and mesh, but they typically use lighter materials and fabrics, which makes them much more portable. Playards are generally smaller than the traditional playpen and usually come in a space-saving rectangular shape, in contrast to a playpen's larger, square dimensions. Although they can be folded up for compact storage and travel, most playards are small enough to be pulled and pushed through doorways without having to be collapsed, and many of them have wheels that make moving them around the house even easier. Available in simple, no-frills models, you can also purchase a playard with a wide array of optional features and add-ons that will increase their versatility, while also increasing the price considerably. Here is a list of the basic options and add-ons:

Bassinet: Some playards come with a bassinet insert that fits inside the larger unit--a handy addition for parents with a newborn or smaller infant. You can use the insert until baby weighs around 15 pounds and then simply detach and remove it. Canopy: Creating a little shade inside the playard and protecting baby from harmful UV rays, canopy attachments are a good choice if you plan on using the playard outside on a regular basis. Make sure it fits snugly into place on the playard, and never leave baby unattended while the canopy is attached. Changing station: Some playards come with a changing station, but these can also be purchased separately and installed. They typically snap into place over one half of the playard and act as a portable changing table.

Sheets: Most playards do not come with sheets or covers, but these can be purchased separately so you have a clean, comfortable surface for baby to nap and play on.

Netting: Baby will appreciate the protection from mosquitoes and other insects a cover of light netting over the playard offers.

Special Safety Considerations: Because they are designed specifically as a portable play and napping area, and because they have a frame that collapses, playards with faulty components or even those that haven't been set up properly can pose a serious and potentially life-threatening hazard to a baby. With that in mind, parents and caretakers should take great care to follow very closely the manufacturer's instructions for assembly and usage. This should be followed by a thorough inspection of the playard's components each and every time it is set up and used. Make sure there are no exposed or loose threads where the floor fabric and the mesh siding are sewn together. Almost all playards have a hard floorboard with a layer of padding over the top of it. This should be inspected carefully to ensure that it fits snugly against the playard's mesh sides, leaving no room for baby to become wedged or trapped underneath.

Playards double as playpens and portable cribs for naps away from home. They should never be used for sleeping at night, and parents should never leave a baby unattended while playing or napping inside. Try to find a playard that is easy to set up and take down, but never purchase or use one that wobbles or appears unsafe. All of the playard's latching features should be securely attached and work properly and parents should never leave extra padding or other objects inside the playard, as these could be used by little ones as a way to climb out while no one is watching. Here is an additional list of playard safety guidelines, as compiled by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA):

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when assembling and using a playard, and select one with the correct recommended height and weight for your child's size.
Always make sure that the playard is fully erected and secured prior to use.
Make sure all latching features of the playard are in place and secure.
Never leave baby in a mesh playard if its drop side is in the down position. The baby could roll into the space between the pad and loose mesh, causing suffocation.
Choose a playard with mesh holes no larger than 1/4 inch. Slats on a wooden playard should be no more than 2.38 inches apart.
Check vinyl- or fabric-covered rails frequently for holes and tears.
Don't tie items across the top of the playard, as they can entangle baby and cause strangulation.
Look for the JPMA Certification Seal.