A playard quickly becomes mom's best friend when she discovers it amuses (and secures) baby in a contained area while she gets some quick chores done around the house. However, there are so many different types of playards out there, how is someone supposed to know what kind to buy? If you follow a few simple shopping rules, your hunt will really be quite simple, and you'll be as happy with your purchase as baby will be hanging out inside of it!

When buying a playard, or any product for a small child, make safety of the utmost priority. With playards specifically, you will want to check its level of sturdiness. It shouldn't tip over easily, and should be able to withstand a good shake from dad without losing any of its parts or collapsing onto itself. Many playards also feature mesh siding , which is a great idea. This prevents the littlest of fingers from getting caught during play time, and will reduce the amount of worry you experience once you place your child inside. Lastly, since many playards include wheels, make sure they also feature a locking mechanism or some other method of preventing roll-aways. The last thing you want is to catch a glimpse of your baby rolling down the hallway as you are making lunch in the kitchen. Safety involves stationary positioning, as wheels should only be used for deliberate transport from room to room while the playard is empty.

After safety, you'll be taking in different considerations of convenience. A playard is great to take along to grandma's house, so make sure you choose one that is lightweight enough to fold up, throw in the car, and then set up again with no brute strength required. Spaciousness is also an issue, as your baby will grow faster than you'll ever believe. Investing in a playard that has room to grow with your child is an ideal choice, as it's better to spend a little extra on quality and roominess, than to be constantly dealing with cheaper and smaller alternatives that will need to be replaced every few months.

Infants and young children love vibrant colors and contrasts, which always makes Baby Einstein a winning choice. Their portable Pack 'n Play includes a toy gym that can be removed for fun in and out of the playpen. Another fun option comes from Graco , which includes 4 toys to entertain baby over and over again.

If your playard will be used for nap time, keep up to date on safety reviews and any product recalls. Even the most reputable of brands make mistakes at times, and it's important you know as a parent what a risk is for your child.