With parents today constantly multitasking, juggling parenting with working from home, household chores, and a million and one other things, playpens are often a boon.
Playpens are basically an enclosure, a space with high sides that prevent young children from wandering off when the parent’s back is turned.
Many playpens available these days in today’s market are versatile in the sense that they can be transformed and used as multiple useful pieces of baby gear.
Playpens are often transformed into a baby gate or a changing station, depending on your child’s developmental stages.
Playpens are great in that they provide a space for children to play independently in a secure environment.
All parents know that children can get up to the most unexpected misadventures in the blink of an eye, and these enclosed play areas allow parents to put their babies and children in them with the assurance that their little one is safe.
While a good quality toddler playpen can be indispensable, playpens are not intended to be a substitute for adult supervision, and parents should be mindful of playpen safety.
Read on to find out how you can ensure your child’s safety while in a playpen.
Selecting a Playpen- Safety Features to Look for:
- Select a play pen appropriately sized for safety. Optimal height of the sides is at least 20 inches or 51 centimetres from the floor of the playpen.
- If you are choosing a playpen with mesh sides, make sure that the holes in the mesh are smaller than ¼ inch or 0.6 centimetres. This is important so that tiny buttons and fingers can’t get snagged on the mesh.
- If you are selecting a wooden playpen, make sure that the slats spaces are no more than 2.4 inches or 5 centimetres in width.
- The tops of the rails of any playpen should have adequate padding to protect young children from accidental bumps.
- The base or floor of the playpen should ideally have a firm pad or cushioning sheet no less than 1 inch thick.
- Make sure that any locks, hinges or fastening mechanisms are baby proof and out of their reach. Ensure that the playpen you are purchasing meets safety standards such as CPSC. This certification means that the playpen meets the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards.
Playpen Use- Keeping Your Child Safe While Using a Playpen:
Once you have selected a good quality playpen that meets safety standards, it is also essential to assemble the playpen correctly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
You should also be mindful of the weight and age restrictions outlines in the instruction manual.
Here are some useful dos and don’ts to keep in mind while using a playpen that will ensure that your child remains safe.
- DON’T use a playpen to put your child down for a nap. They are not as durable as cribs and are not built with the safety standards of a crib, so they should not be used for unsupervised sleep.
- DO follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter while using any accessories provided with the playpen, like bassinets or changing table.
- DON’T put your child inside the playpen if accessories like the bassinet are already in place. The gap created between the changing table or bassinet and the playpen is a high risk spot where a child’s head may get trapped causing them to suffocate or strangled.
- DON’T put an infant to sleep on top of the changing table accessory regardless of whether they can roll over or not.
- DO lock the sides of a playpen securely while using.
- DON’T ever leave the side lowered when a baby is in the playpen. They could roll and get stuck between the mattress and mesh side and suffocate.
- DON’T put additional blankets, cushions or mats inside the playpen without carefully selecting these as they could cause suffocation.
- DO replace worn out floor pads with a new one of the same size and specifications as the original. While worn down could be a suffocation hazard, the replacement mattress or padding should fit the playpen well.
- DO check the mesh, vinyl rail coverings, and the mattress pad regularly for wear and tear and holes and rips. Babies and toddlers could bite off tiny pieces and choke on them.
- DON’T leave your child in a playpen unsupervised.
- DO demonstrate to any babysitters or other caregivers how the playpen should be set up and secured properly. Review all the safety rules with them.
- DO ensure that the sides of the playpen are raised completely and locked into place before placing a child inside. Loose sides that aren’t locked in can create a “V” shape which can strangle a baby.
- DON’T put scarves, necklaces, cords, or loose sheets in the playpen as they may get wrapped around your child’s neck.
- DON’T position the playpen near any window or door where the child may reach the cords for blinds or curtains, or anything else that might be a strangulation risk.
- DON’T use a playpen right next to the stairs, electric appliances, doors, or furniture for obvious reasons.
- DO uninstall and remove any toy mobiles from the playpen once your child can push up their hands and knees.
- DON’T put any large stuffed toys inside the playpen as your baby can climb on top of them and fall out of the pen.
- DON’T tie or string toys from the walls of the playpen.
- DON’T use a playpen once your child is tall and mobile enough to climb out of the playpen.
Playpens provide your child a safe area for your child to play in while you take care of other essential tasks, like taking care of household chores, folding laundry, going to the bathroom, preparing dinner, or making important calls.
Although they are extremely useful, it is essential that we as parents do not abuse or overuse this resource.
It is not healthy or advisable to confine children to a playpen for extended periods of time as doing so can inhibit essential development and confidence growth in your child.