How to Select a Playpen

A playpen provides a safe place for baby to hang out while Mom and Dad are busy. Depending on the model, it can also double as a travel bed, bassinet, changing table or outdoor activity center. Here's the information you need to select the best playpen for your child.

Instructions

1

Think about whether a bassinet feature is right for you. If you plan on having baby sleep in your room as a newborn, it makes sense to purchase a playpen with a bassinet instead of paying for a separate bassinet. Some playpens have bassinet attachments, which last until baby is three months old. The bassinet platform allows baby to sleep about a foot below the playpen's top ridge, so it is very easy to lift baby in and out of the playpen. If you are putting baby in his or her crib early on, however, a bassinet feature may not be the right choice for you.

2

Decide if you need a changing table facility. Playpens that are more expensive have an attachment across the top that acts as a diaper changing station. These changing tables are often part of or work with the bassinet feature. Often there is a basket on the side for diaper and wipes storage. Many couples with a two-story house like having the diaper changing facility because they can keep the playpen on a different floor from the nursery-changing table.

3

Consider extra features for your playpen. Some have music, nature sounds, lights (for visibility during night time diaper changes), canopies and vibrating bassinets. Many of these features are unnecessary but can be nice to have. A canopy is especially useful if you plan to take the playpen outside. Some parents report the vibrating feature helps very young infants to relax.

4

Measure the playpen you are considering. One of the benefits of a playpen is that it is supposed to be portable; indeed, many models come with wheels. Some models with the bells-and-whistles may be too large to fit through the doorways in the house, requiring complete disassembly to move it from room to room.

5

Purchase or register for the playpen that meets your needs. Often a cheap, bottom-of-the-line playpen will suffice just as well as the most expensive one if all you plan on doing with the playpen is using it occasionally or taking it to Grandma's house to serve as a portable travel crib.

6

Read reviews of playpens online or in an impartial source such as Consumer Reports or Baby Bargains (see resources below). Other parents' opinions and feelings about their playpens can help you make an educated decision.