It’s the duty of every parent to ensure the safety of their children whenever indoors or outdoors. One way to achieve this is through the use of playpens to restrict baby movements, especially when you are busy with other household chores. While some babies might find it a little bit difficult to adjust to their new playing environment at the beginning, some instantly grow fond of their new haven. They enjoy playing, watch adults go about their activities and take a nap whenever tired.
When buying your baby their first playpen, here are the key features you should place into consideration;
The Material used
The ideal classic playpen is usually made of wood. They have managed to pass the passage of time due to their durability, reliability, and sense of elegance. There is no doubt that the wooden playpens fit easily with all types of decor hence, giving the room a boost in its general room outlook. If you settle for this type of playpen, then it’s important to ensure all the nails and other screws are well hidden to avoid harming the baby. However, if wood isn’t your cup of tea, then you can always go for fabric or steel playpens, which are equally durable.
Canopy And Detachable Lid Features
Canopies allow easy movements of outdoor playpen for babies. What you have to do is move it around with you as you about your duties and let the baby enjoy the warm feeling of the sun. The good thing is that they won’t allow any amount of sun to penetrate and disturb the baby on their outdoor adventure. This also offers protection against the wind and other natural environmental disturbances.
When it comes to the security of your baby, you will depend a lot on the detachable lid. With it, you can safely lock your baby inside the playpen and be confident that they wouldn’t jump out. Also, it offers you ample time when placing your baby inside and taking them out of the pen. So choose wisely as convenience comes in handy in any form of a baby product.
The sides
These are the walls of the playpen. Ensure they are a little bit higher than your baby’s height while standing. Remember babies are adventurous beings and might want to know how it feels to climb through the walls. You don’t want them injuring themselves or finding their way through the dirt especially when outdoors. Also, for support purposes, ensure the sides have vertical bars or a piece of clothing that your baby can use to support themselves while moving around.
Consider The Size And Shape
Your baby might seem tiny at the moment but they aren’t going to stay that way forever. They will continue growing over the next couple of months and that means they need a playpen that they can grow with. Choose one with a rectangular shape as they are normally spacious and accommodating even for toddlers. The vertical bars in the playpen you select should be at most 2 inches wide to avoid trapping your baby’s fingers. And if you can get a foldable one, the better it will be for you as you can easily compact it and store it in a small space when not in use.
Ease Of Cleaning
Maintaining high levels of hygiene is very important when it comes to your baby’s general well being. Their immune system is still delicate. This means that you have to clean the playpen frequently to avoid accumulation of germs. In the selection process, avoid models with complex structures as they tend to give a hard cleaning time. The same case applies to fabric ones as others tend to take longer to dry.
Entertainment Features
The main reason as to why you will be buying a playpen for your baby is to give then some secure “alone play time.” But that doesn’t mean that they will comfortably entertain themselves throughout your busy schedule. At some point, they’re bound to get bored and get fussy. Having a design that includes music and lighting, will ensure they stay entertained for long. They might even get soothed to sleep without your assistance.
Additionally, some models, especially the fabric-made ones tend to come with interesting colorful pictures on the walls to catch the baby’s attention. Choose something that will amuse your child while you’re busy.
Infants and toddlers need playpens as a way of developing their muscles and maintaining an active lifestyle. And even if babies can comfortable spend their time alone in this playing companions, you shouldn’t leave them unattended for long. At least keep checking on them from time to time to ensure they are safe. Also, ensure the playpen you select has all the necessary security, comfortability and entertainment features in place.