By Lisa Mulliken

Look around any infant or toddler classroom, and you will usually see a variety of equipment used to “contain” infants in sitting, standing, or back-lying positions. Containment equipment includes any device that restricts children’s movement in specific areas or situations. This can include a variety of items such as baby seats, exersaucers, supportive pillow devices, and swings. In childcare settings, containment equipment is often used to keep infants safe while teachers attend to other children or tasks or to separate infants from more mobile toddlers in mixed-age groups.