Playpens

When you’re traveling with a baby, play pens (or “play yards”) can be a Godsend. Among their many uses, they can serve as a temporary crib, making them ideal for everything from a visit to Grandma’s to an afternoon in the park or a lengthier vacation. Like strollers, car seats and high chairs, play pens come in a standard form, with lots of specialized accessories. Most consist of a padded floor, mesh walls, padded rails, and side, top and bottom walls that lock into place and then unlock and fold up for easy storage and transport. Many also have wheels, for easy on-site movement.

Today’s playpens come with a variety of features which may or may not be right for you. To decide, you’ll need to determine whether you’ll be using the play pen mostly at home or while traveling, and whether you’ll be using it outdoors as well as indoors. In addition to a wide variety of colors, styles and brands, some of the options available include:

• A removable changing station. These normally fit on top of the play pen, to be used for changing diapers, and then can be removed when not in use. This is one of the most popular features, and an obvious plus when traveling.
  
  
• A bassinet. Some models come with a removable, built-in bassinet which can be used until your newborn reaches about 10 to 15 pounds.
  
  
• If you plan to use the play pen outside, look for models that come with a canopy to protect your baby from the sun and provide shade.
  
  As with all major purchases concerning your baby, safety is paramount when choosing your play pen. Holes in the mesh sides should be no larger than ¼-inch. Look for a model that carries a JPMA logo. This means the product has been independently examined and found safe by the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association. If you’ve purchased or been given a new play pen, be sure to send in the product registration card, so you’ll be notified if there are any recalls. If you’re purchasing a secondhand play pen, you can check for any recalls through the Consumer Products Safety Commission.
  
  Finally, as a parent, there are some precautions you should take when placing your baby inside the play pen. Specifically:
  
  
• Always make sure the rails of the play pen are in a firmly locked position before you put your child inside.
  
  
• Never leave your baby unattended.
  
  
• Don’t put boxes or toys inside the play pen that the child can use as a way to climb out.
  
  
• If your baby isn’t yet able to crawl, avoid putting loose sheets or extra bedding inside the playpen. Infants can smother if they become wrapped up in the bedding.
  
  
• Don’t tie toys or other items across the top of the play pen; a baby may be strangled while playing for them.
  
  
• Check the play pen frequently for any tears or rips in the mesh.