The 14 Best Play Pen’s for 2024 – Reviews & Buyer Guide

The playpen for children is a very useful accessory considered a boon by many parents. Anyone is happy to see their child play independently, but it is impossible to constantly monitor it. With the advent of the playpen for children, this problem is now part of the past.

The playpens for children offer an area for children to play safely and comfortably, and parents the peace of mind knowing that their children have fun without taking any risks. So equipping the living room, baby’s room or playroom with one of these products is a wise decision.

Right here we are providing the Best Playpens for your children.

Buying Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Children’s Playpen

If we think that the box will be the place where our son will spend his moments of play, his purchase is not something to be taken lightly.

Also, if it’s the first time we buy one, we may find ourselves baffled by so much variety. To simplify your choice, in this article we answer the most frequently asked questions about children’s playpens.

What Are Children’s Playpens and What Advantages Do They Offer?

The playpens for children represent a space where our child can play comfortably and without risk. They are closed spaces but which offer sufficient visibility, so that the child can explore his surroundings and develop his skills without being afraid of the unknown.

The use of this type of product has numerous benefits for learning and the correct growth of the child: from his relationship with the environment that surrounds him to the development of his physical abilities, such as psychomotor skills, coordination and muscle strength.

These are the main advantages of children’s playpen:

• They fight the sedentary lifestyle and reduce the risk of childhood obesity.
• They stimulate the child’s physical development, psychomotor skills and muscles.
• They favor emotional development and autonomy.
• They develop creativity and strengthen self-confidence.
• They allow the little one to move, explore and play in total safety.

And if we talk about the benefits for parents, these too are not lacking. The playpens for children offer us the peace of mind of knowing that our child is safe and, while playing, we can take care of any other activity.

Furthermore, we can move the playpen to the area of ​​the house where we are, so that the child does not lose sight of us.

What Types of Playpen Are There?

Today, children’s playpens have evolved a lot from what could practically be considered a cot. Therefore we find a huge variety of types and models with specific uses. For our purchasing decision to be simpler, we can distinguish three main types.

• Children’s Cot-Box: it is the most common and widely used for its versatility. These boxes can also serve as travel cots. They offer a comfortable base, but are not recommended from eighteen months onwards, because the baby will lack space.
• Rectangular or Square Children ‘s Playpen: the base of these playpens is comfortable, resistant and raised. The structure can be in plastic or metal and the side parts are covered with a net. They usually have wheels and can be folded.
• Modular Panels or Safety Bars: these boxes for children have no base, but only sidebars. They offer greater durability since they adapt to the size of the child as he grows up. For the most part, they have attachments to which panels can be added depending on the space we want to limit.
  It is important to keep in mind that for each of these three main types there are many different designs. This is why we must, first of all, establish the type of playpen for children that best suits our needs, so that we can choose the most convenient model.

Of All the Types of Playpen for Children, Which One Is Most Suitable for Me?

As we mentioned before, the choice of one type of box over another will depend entirely on our needs and the use we will make of it. But what are my needs? This is a very common question among parents when buying a playpen.

Well, to find the answer to this question we will have to take into consideration several factors: the comfort of the child, if we will use the playpen in the house or if we want to take it with us on the go, space and durability.

What Are the Basic Requirements of Children’s Playpen?

Although nowadays most of the boxes for children are approved and these products are increasingly designed in such a way as to be as comfortable and safe as possible before use it is good to carry out some checks. For a playpen for children, we can consider the following aspects essential:

For added security, the box must be stable and durable.

The opening and closing joints must be able to be activated easily, but at the same time, they must be solid enough that they cannot be operated by the child.

1. The elements that come into contact with the child must be padded and comfortable.
2. If we exert pressure with one hand, the axis of the base must not give way.
3. The coverings must be washable.
4. If it has wheels, they must be equipped with independent brakes.
5. Once all the necessary checks have been carried out, we will be sure that the playpen is completely safe for the child and we can start using it. It is advisable to check all these aspects with some regularity, at least once every two months, since the box can wear out with use.

From What Age Can Baby Playpens Be Used?

Although it is not possible to determine a precise moment, given that each one has a particular and different development, most children learn to sit and begin to crawl between five and seven months. This would be the ideal time to start using the box, so that our son can start playing independently.

If we start using it before he knows how to sit up and has shown interest in crawling and exploring, the child may feel frustrated and not understand what is going on. In such a situation, he will be frightened and will not want to play in the box. We have to be patient and wait for him to get used to it.

What Are the Recommended Dimensions for Children’s Playpens?

There are boxes for children of various shapes and sizes, including some that allow you to adjust the dimensions themselves, adapting to the growth stages of the baby.

However, for safety reasons, the boxes must have minimum dimensions that guarantee that the child cannot get out.

For this not to happen, the minimum recommended height for a playpen for children is 60 cm.

Also, for convenience, the total area must not be less than half a square meter, otherwise the child will not have enough space to play. When buying, it is important to consider these dimensions.

What Should I Take Into Account when Using Children’s Playpens?

As parents, any advice regarding the use of the products for our children is welcome. This also applies to the box, especially if it is the first time that we use it. These are some of the indications that experts in the sector usually provide:

• The Adaptation Process Must Be Taken Into Consideration: the playpen is a new space for the child, and you have to get used to it. It is recommended to start by leaving the baby in the playpen for only a few minutes and gradually increase the time.
• We Must Not Abuse the Use of The Playpen for Children: it is certainly positive that the child learns to have fun alone and become more and more autonomous, but prolonged use of the playpen could make him feel neglected.
• The Playpen Must Not Be Used as A Place of Punishment: if we do this, the child will associate it with something bad and will no longer want to play.
• The Box Must Be Located in A Safe Area: in a room with sufficient lighting, a good temperature and away from objects that can be dangerous.
  It is advisable to regularly change the orientation of the box: in this way, our child will see different scenarios and will have more fun.
• We Don’t Have to Put Too Many Toys in The Playpen: two or three will be enough, because overstimulation is not good for the child. From time to time we can change the toys so that the child does not get bored.

If we follow these simple instructions, our son will have a great time in his playpen. Easy, right? Another thing we can do is discuss with our friends or other parents who are in the same situation, to exchange opinions on any “tricks” or comments on the use of playpens for children.

Are There Any Regulations Regarding Children’s Playpens?

As with toys, children’s playpens are also subject to legislation aimed at reducing the risks during their use. Specifically, the boxes must meet certain safety requirements, as indicated in the EN 71 of the European Standardization Committee (CEN).

Of course, it is also essential that the boxes have the CE mark (European declaration of conformity). Thanks to this brand, we will have the certainty that the product meets the current legislation on toys, that is, that it is approved and, therefore, safe for our child.

Purchase criteria

Once we have decided to buy a playpen for children, we are faced with an immense variety of products and choosing the most suitable is not always easy. To facilitate the choice, we can focus on some purchase criteria. Below we present the five most important.

• Size of The Child
• Box Dimensions
• Safety
• Use
• Versatility and Transportation

Size of The Child

The first and undoubtedly the most important criterion is the size of the child. We have to take into account that the child must feel comfortable in the playpen, so his height and weight are key factors when buying one. Also, a box suitable for the size of the child will be safer.

If we have decided to opt for a modular panel box, we shouldn’t have too many problems, since these boxes can vary in size according to the needs. On the contrary, for raised boxes, the weight of the child is fundamental. To avoid any type of risk, we must follow the manufacturer’s directions.

Box Dimensions

This criterion is closely related to the previous one, given that the bigger the child, the bigger the playpen must be. But beyond this aspect, we must also take into consideration the space that the box will occupy in the home. We will know how to place it in the most suitable place.

The ideal is to place the box in an open, spacious and sufficiently illuminated area. And, of course, away from edges or elements that can be dangerous for the child. So, the size of the space we have will influence the size of the box that we can buy.

Safety

As with any product intended for use by our child, safety is crucial. In the case of children’s playpens, this safety is based on two fundamental pillars. On the one hand, the playpen must be stable and resistant enough for the child to play and move without danger.

On the other hand, the box model chosen must have good ventilation and allow constant visual contact with the child. In this way, while letting the child play at his leisure, we will be able to control what he will do at all times and make sure that no problems occur.

Use

The use we intend to make of the playpen for children will be another of the essential factors when making the purchase. It is not the same thing to buy a playpen thinking that it will only serve to let the child play from time to time, or even thinking about the future.

In the latter case, it will be better to buy a box that can adapt to the different growth stages of the baby, for example one with modular panels. If, on the other hand, we only want to use it when we are on the road, cot or square or rectangular boxes will be the best choice.

Versatility and Transportation

As a last criterion, but no less important than the others, we find the transport and versatility of the box. These two aspects are not only fundamental to be able to take the box with us on the road or to use it as a cot or changing table, but also to simply move it inside the house.

Although the fact that children learn to play independently favors their development, they can end up getting bored when they lose sight of us. Therefore, the idea is to have a box for children equipped with wheels and that we can easily move from one room to another in the house, according to needs.