The Basics: Baby Activity Centers, Swings, and Play Yards

For many new parents, play seats or baby activity centers, swings, and play yards and portable cribs are lower on the priority list. But when parents need to do six things at once, these handy tools can be worth their weights in gold.

Baby activity centers, also known as play seats, come in many shapes, types and styles, but all serve one primary purpose: to be the ultimate entertainment center for little children. They also serve a wonderful secondary purpose: to give moms and dads a much-deserved break! They usually come fully loaded with accessories such as easily washable snack and drink trays, play things that glitter, dangle, and beep, and comfortable, washable seat fabrics. They always offer tons of kid appeal, and most include at least one battery-operated thingamajig.

Swings can be lifesavers. Many parents plop them in the bathroom when showering or the kitchen while cooking; many babies prefer the swing to almost anything else! You can find manual crank or battery-operated swings. Features might include music, timers, recline options, several speeds and various rocking motions (side to side, like a cradle, or back and forth, like a park swing). Most can serve as feeding seats, and many include accessories such as toy bars and easy-flip snack trays. Fabrics are usually nicely padded and removable and machine-washable. Open-top models allow for easy entry and access to the baby.

Play yards, known as play pens to your parents' generation, are especially great for outdoor time and for containing your young child safely in friends' homes that aren't child proofed. Most are lightweight and sturdy, and many come with features such as storage pockets, a sunshade, bug netting and rolling casters for easy portability when set up. Some offer the option to either take advantage of mesh sides for visibility or cover them to avoid drafts and harsh sunshine.

Portable cribs are play yards that contain bassinet attachments for newborns (which can be used for sleeping and diaper changing). Especially handy for travel or overnight visits to friends and relatives, they're also great for those with two-story homes who like a convenient changing or nap station downstairs. Portable cribs should not be used on a permanent basis in place of a full-sized crib, however. Most portable cribs are rectangular and have sturdy metal or plastic frames, firm mattresses covered with padding and fabric sides with mesh panels. Generally, these cribs fold down into a compact package that fits inside a carrying tote. Features might include storage pockets for diaper-changing accessories, a sunshade, bug netting and rolling casters for easy portability when set up. Some offer the option to either take advantage of mesh sides for visibility or cover them to avoid drafts and harsh sunshine.

How to Shop

Buy a baby activity center when your child is ready to use one; that way baby can help you choose the one that she finds the most captivating. Look for a five-point harness, if available, and height adjustment options so the seat will grow with your child. Look for a steady base and sturdy fixtures. Opt for snack and drink trays with few nooks and crannies--damp Cheerios inevitably find their way most anywhere!

When you shop for a swing for your baby, stability should be the most important concern. After that, you want to consider the ease of setting up and taking down, the padding and comfort of the seat, power needs (wind-ups or battery), and possibly the portability or adaptability of the swing. Nice features include volume control on musical swings, a five-point harness, recline options and a quiet crank or motor. (Note: If you go with a battery-operated model, expect to go through batteries!)

When purchasing a play yard, first make sure that it's sturdy. Give it a shake to see whether it will tip over or accidentally collapse. Look for tightly woven mesh, so small fingers or buttons on baby clothing can't get caught. Also be sure that the mesh is securely attached to the top rails and floor of the unit and that any vinyl on the unit is sufficiently thick. Watch for sharp points or edges and exposed seams or hardware. Look for a roomy play yard appropriate for indoors and outdoors, and one that is manageable for carrying and compact for storing when collapsed. A nice carrying tote with handle is ideal. Most are awkward, at first, to set up and take down; you will become more adept with practice.

Bassinets for portable cribs may be large or small--select the one that seems most convenient to you. If you intend to roll the unit around your house, opt for one narrow enough to fit through standard doorways.