Baby playpen: which one to choose, is it worth it? Opinions and advice of specialists

Toddlers are curious about the world, they want to touch and taste everything and there are lots of them everywhere. The first environment they get to know is home. Unfortunately, it is in this city that statistically the highest number of accidents involving children under the age of five takes place.

Many incidents can be prevented with proper protection and furniture. One of them is a children's playpen, which, however, has almost as many supporters as opponents.

A playpen for a child and opinions

Are you considering buying a playpen because your baby starts crawling or crawling and you can't let him out of your sight for a moment? When considering a playpen for a child and whether it is worth buying, parents usually focus on ensuring their child's safety. There are many products available on the market - find out which baby playpen to choose so that it is functional, has good opinions and is safe to use.

Baby playpen: pluses

The playpen separates the toddler from threats waiting for him at home, when the parent, for example, is cooking, cleaning, in the toilet or talking on the phone, which should be avoided when alone with the toddler. In such situations, placing the baby in the playpen ensures that he won't hurt himself wildly running around the house.

It is enough to prepare the toys so that sitting in the playpen turns into a time of independent play. In turn, the curious toddler will be able to observe the surroundings from a safe distance and without adult supervision. Proponents of the playpen use emphasize that it also teaches how to deal with brief separation from parents. A baby playpen can also be useful in learning to stand up and walk independently, because on its elements, the toddler can support himself while practicing these activities. However, is it really worth buying?

Baby playpen: cons

On the other hand, the disadvantages of the opponents of the playpen should be compared. According to them it limits the child and may, as a result, evoke negative associations in the toddler. The world under observation is behind rungs or a grid, inaccessible and distant. The child has a significantly limited learning function and is dependent. When sitting in the playpen becomes longer, it may increase impatience and a feeling of separation. The toddler begins to miss not only freedom, but also the household members from which he is separated.

When is it time to playpen? Is it worth it to buy it?

Inserting a playpen makes sense when we see that the child is self-active - begins to crawl, roll, crawl and walk. It is advisable, especially when the toddler cannot be overlooked, even for a moment, because he can hurt himself quickly. However, you can think about the purchase much earlier, not only for economic reasons (because, for example, we found a suitable playpen at a promotional price).

Before we leave a child in it for a long time for the first time, we should get them used to the new piece of furniture in which they will spend their time. At the beginning, you have to tame your toddler with a new place, so that later he can stay in it on his own. A few minutes of playing together in a playpen will help. With time, we systematically extend the stay in the playpen, leaving the child alone among the toys and watching his reaction.

Baby playpen: up to what age?

We have mentioned the difference between a cot and a playpen for a reason. Both pieces of furniture differ mainly in size. The playpen must be spacious, wide, give the child freedom of movement and play. When choosing a product, pay attention to the parameters that will determine both the age at which the child will be able to use the furniture and the comfort of use. Belong to them:

• width;
• height;
• size after folding; 
• the ability to move; 
• the hardness of the substrate used - the mattress. 

Are you wondering how much playpen to buy? 120 × 120 cm or 180 × 180 cm? 8- or 6-element? When choosing the size of a playpen for a child, it is worth considering what age it can be used for. It is better to choose larger models - a large playpen for a child, bought out of proportion, is a piece of furniture that can also be successfully used by a few-year-old child.

Check if the playpen selected by you has a mattress included in the set or if it can be purchased separately. A playpen with a floor is a good choice - a medium hardness mattress will allow the toddler to stand up freely and will also cushion the fall.

Playpen can perform various functions:

• a safe placewhen a parent needs to focus on another activity, such as cooking;
• play area;
• places for creative activities, e.g. drawing.

What a playpen for a child to choose? Opinions specialists

When choosing a playpen, make sure it is there functional, i.e. it provided the child with a comfortable, separate space, as well as safety. Wondering which playpen for a child to choose, we advise parents that there is a wide selection of different playpen models available on the Polish market. They can be divided into two main categories:

• wooden playpen for a child
• and a playpen with a net.

Wooden playpen for a child

Wooden pens, due to the material used, are stable, heavy and durable. Originally they can be large, but it is also possible to enlarge them by adding more rungs. For some, these posts may be a disadvantage, as a curious child may wedge a handle or a leg between them. Additionally, toys can fall out through the gaps. When buying a wooden playpen for a child, it is necessary pay attention to the elements of the structure and trim. Check if:

• the wooden rungs are smooth;
• there are no sharp edges or protruding parts.

When choosing a wooden playpen for a child, we should also buy a bumper that will protect against hard elements. This will significantly reduce the risk of skin abrasions or the proverbial lump.

Playpen built with a net

The second option are pens made of lighter material and finished with a net. They do not require additional protection of hard elements and are easier to move or fold. The net ensures that everything that we put in the playpen stays inside: the car will not go outside during play, and the toddler will not extend the handle beyond its border.

Looking for this kind of furniture, it is worth choosing a model with a uniform, smooth mesh. Colored or with printed patterns, it will make it much more difficult for the child to observe the surroundings and household members. Mesh models often also have soft handles to help you learn to get up. Their disadvantage, however, is their lower stability.

What a playpen for a child: opinion and advice

The time spent in the playpen should be attractive to the child. Therefore, we can try to diversify its interior. It is a good idea to install interactive elements, such as rattles or mirrors, that will catch the attention of an interesting baby. However, you must remember that the playpen should not contain small items that the child could swallow. Many models have additional pockets where you can hide his favorite toys. Finding them, moving them and hiding them again can become fun for the little one.

What other model of a playpen for a child may interest us? Parents will surely like the playpen models equipped with wheels that make it easier to move the furniture around the house. Tourist pens, which can be easily transported, are also very popular. They are lighter and quick to assemble. When assembling such a piece of furniture, make sure that none of the elements is torn off, so that the toddler does not put it in his mouth.