Need to Get Rid of Your Rock 'n Play? Here Are 5 Safer Alternatives
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The recall of Fisher Price's Rock 'n Play after more than 30 infant deaths were reported, sent shockwaves through the parenting community. Though Fisher Price issued a warning to consumers that they shouldn't use the product after the age of three months, or without using its straps, they issued the recall soon after, definitively prompting parents to put the sleeper away for good.
I was one of the parents who loved the Rock 'n Play for its versatility — my baby could nap or just hang out in it — and its seeming magic properties: for some reason, it could calm or put my daughter to sleep almost instantly. Since many parents felt the same way about the Rock 'n Play but now need a replacement for its many uses, we have a few suggestions for baby products that can take the place of the recalled sleeper.
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Graco Pack 'n Play Portable Playard
The Graco Pack 'n Play Portable Playard ($90) replaces several of the most enticing functions of the Rock 'n Play, like being an easy, portable place for your baby to nap during the day and a good place to simply set them down. It's safer than the Rock 'n Play to sleep, since it's a flat surface, and folds easily for travel.
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BabyBjörn Bouncer
The Rock 'n Play was my favorite piece of lightweight baby furniture — I could take it into whatever room I was in and set my baby down in it. The BabyBjörn Bouncer ($186) is similarly lightweight to grab and place the baby in around the house. It's also on an incline, if your baby has reflux and you need to keep them upright after a feed.
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BabyBjörn Cradle
With a firm, flat surface, the BabyBjörn Cradle ($325) offers a safe sleep option, if you were using the Rock 'n Play for nighttime sleeping or naps. Though it's pricey, you can let your baby sleep in this anytime, and it's light enough that you can move it around the house.
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4moms mamaRoo Baby Swing
If the Rock 'n Play's a-rockin' soothed your baby, then the 4moms mamaRoo Baby Swing ($250) might be the perfect replacement. It's Bluetooth-enabled, so you can control the motions with your phone (much easier than tiredly rocking with your hand or foot).
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DockATot Deluxe+ Dock
The DockATot Deluxe+ Dock ($195) also provides a place to just put that baby down. The raised sides are similar to the coziness the Rock 'n Play provided, though you should use the manufacture's precautions for safe co-sleeping if you choose to let baby sleep in it.
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