High-sided, enclosed play areas or play pens offer a
relief to the parents for they allow the child to play in the safety of
the area especially made child safe for them without letting them wander
off into hazardous places such as stairs or kitchen. Mesh sides of the
playpen should not have holes larger than ¼ inch so that a baby
cannot poke fingers in them and get trapped. The sides of the play pen
should be at least 20 inches high from the floor so that baby cannot
climb off them.
The top of the rails should be padded to protect the baby from
accidental bumps. Sides that can be lowered should have locks that out
of the baby's reach. The latches of hinges and supports should be
secured properly. Use only one floor pad that is firm and not too soft
to prevent suffocation. When a child can climb out of the play pen, it
usually goes out of use. You may want to use play pens that are easily
foldable and lightweight, so that they can be easily stored and can be
carried on a trip.
Wheels allow easy maneuverability. Some play pens offer a built in
bassinet and changing station for newborns that can be removed later. If
you choose a play pen that can be used outdoors, you may opt for one
with a canopy to shade your baby from harmful sunrays outside home. Many
playpens can also double up as a portable crib at night. So go to your
nearest departmental store to get the best playpen for your infant!
