Play yards are one of the most used nursery accessories on the market and provide parents with a convenient way to keep their baby or toddler safe. These portable play yards make a great place for your baby to take a nap while you are on outings, or a safe place to play while you are completing your chores. However, because of their popularity, new safety rules went into effect on February 28, 2013 to ensure that these convenient accessories remain a safe place for your baby.
New Safety Rules
These new rules state that:
• When folded, the side rails of the baby play yard cannot create a sharp “V.” This rule was created to prevent the child from strangling should the play yard accidentally collapse.
• Stronger brackets to be placed in the corners. This will help the side rails from collapsing and help prevent any rough edges from weak metal cracking.
• Mattresses must be sturdier and firmly attached to the floor of the play yard to prevent the child from becoming trapped underneath the mattress.
These regulations are in effect at this time and all manufacturers and importers of play yards must be in compliance before they are allowed to sell the product.
Keeping Baby Safe In The Play Yard
Play yards are perfect for many different situations in your life. However, just like any other baby accessory that you use, you must use the product with care. Even though there are many things that the manufacturer can do to make sure the product is safe, as the parent you must also take certain precautions.
When using a play yard, you should keep in mind the following tips:
• Do not over crowd the play yard. If you are using the play yard as a safe place for your baby to play while you are completing your house work, only place one or two toys in there at a time. Of course, since you will be moving the play yard around the house with you so that you can keep an eye on your baby, you can always change toys if they become bored.
• Do not place large quilts in the play yard for sleeping. Small babies and toddlers alike can easily suffocate if they get their face too near a large quilt or pillow in the play yard. This also applies to stuffed animals. Their sense of “danger” is not yet developed enough to distinguish that they are having a hard time breathing. Avoid anything that could be a hindrance to your child while sleeping.
• Always place the play yard in the center of the room. The center of the room is always the best option because it is usually a flat surface area that is far enough away from anything your toddler can reach. Never be amazed by what your toddler can reach when they are standing at the side of their play yard. By placing this item in the middle of an area, you eliminate any potential harm that could come to them if they grabbed something that was bad for them.
Play yards have been around for several decades and their popularity with parents has only increased down the years. Over time, they have developed to become safer and more convenient. However, it is always important to take the extra time and precautions necessary to ensure that your baby remains safe when using this type of accessory.
As a mother of 3, author Georgina Clatworthy loved her baby play yard because of its multiplicity and because it provided a safe and secure environment for her children when she needed to do chores around the home.
