Playpen: dimensions, height, types, pros and cons of use

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

As the baby gets older, it becomes more active and it is already dangerous to leave him unattended. You can equip a safe place for a child with the help of an arena, which can be of different shapes, heights and is made of various materials. In order to choose a suitable model of a playpen, we will consider the features of each type, its advantages and disadvantages, and also learn how to make a play corner for a child with your own hands.

First of all, it is worth determining for what purpose the arena will be used. It can be a classic game, be in the form of a bed, a screen or an inflatable version. There are many foreign and domestic companies on the market. Among them, Polish companies (Bertoni, Baby Design, Milly Mally), Italian manufacturers (Cam, Chicco, Neonato), Chinese (Geoby, Omfal, Intex) and German (Hauck, Geuther) stand out noticeably on the Russian market.

Form and types of childrenarena

Despite the fact that the playpen is not an essential item, for many parents it serves as a kind of lifesaver. This is the place where you can leave the baby, who has already begun to actively move and explore the space, for a while and not worry about his safety.

The shape of the arena can be square, angular, oval (round) or rectangular. It all depends on the availability of free space in the room. So, the corner arena is suitable for small apartments, it can even be placed in the corridor. A large playpen is best purchased for a large room, most often it is not a portable, but a stationary option.

Separately, as an arena, you can select options consisting of one fence. Sections can be plastic or metal, in a variety of shapes and sizes.

The size of the playpen for the child should not be small. There are miniature sizes of playpens-beds 80 x 100 cm, but they hinder the movement of the child and severely limit the space. It is better to choose voluminous models, more than 1.5 m wide. The most optimal and safe height for a child is 80 cm.

Playpens for children can be wooden. This option is considered the most environmentally friendly, but overall and heavy. It is important that natural wood be treated with varnish or paint. Thus, it will be safe for the child. If this is a mesh structure, then the width between the bars should not exceed 6 cm. Legs and handles in such spans are notget stuck and the head won't get through.

The most budget option is considered to be an arena with nets. It is lightweight, can be the most diverse in color and design. Also, most models of this type are folding. The advantages include convenience and ease of care and maximum safety for children.

Children's playpen

This is a playpen-net in which the baby can play. In form, they can be very diverse. Most often, a mesh wall is stretched over a metal frame, and the sides are made of soft upholstery (oilcloth, raincoat fabric or natural fabric).

The benefits of this option include:

• compact (almost all models are foldable);
• mobility, since the weight of such structures is light and can be transported if necessary;
• safety (the walls are soft, so even if you fall in it, the child will not break anything).

Despite the obvious advantages of such playpens, there are also disadvantages. The disadvantages include the fact that the baby sees the world around him through the grid. Therefore, it should not be too bright, as it will irritate the eyes of the child. There are also some inconveniences in care, neither the mesh nor the soft sides are removed, so this design is cleaned when unfolded. If the side is made of low-quality options, there is a chance that the baby, who pulls everything in his mouth, will bite off part of the fabric.

There are also plastic playpens for kids. They are easy to care for and havesmall weight, but such structures have a short service life and it is likely that under the weight of the baby it will simply roll over.

Choose a wooden model, which is often stationary, you should prepare a place for it in advance. This option, due to the large weight, can be used for a child to reach three years. But such playpens are expensive, especially if they are made of natural wood;

Playpen-bed

Most often, this option is chosen by the owners of a small room, where there is a choice to put a crib or a playpen. The size of the playpen, which is used as a place to play and sleep, can be 80 x 100 cm. It can be used from the very birth of the baby. The shelf life of such structures is up to 4 years.

Benefits of playpens:

• light weight and compact design;
• fixed corners and hard bottom (baby won't fall through when standing);
• safety (soft walls);
• it is possible to use additional accessories in the form of a musical mobile with toys in such a crib or play area;
• easy care.

Most often, such a playpen is square in shape, but it also has disadvantages. The disadvantages include the fact that the bottom of this design is low. It will be convenient for the baby to play, but not very much to sleep. Also, in this case, there is no clear separation of the playing and sleeping areas, which can have a bad effect.on the baby's daily routine.

Manege screen

This is a universal fence, with which you can both create a full-fledged play area and close the dangerous area from the baby (stairs, walkways, fireplace). Barriers can be made of plastic, wood or metal. The set also comes with a mat on which the baby will be located. In size, playpens in the form of a screen can be very different, depending on the free space in the room. The main thing is that the height is at least 80 cm.

Inflatable playpen

It is often used in the warm season, because the baby in such an inflatable "house" can even take a walk outside. Some models are even designed to be used as a pool. The height of the playpen in this case should be large, since it can be used by the child as a trampoline and it is important to observe safety measures.

Inflatable Model Benefits:

• affordable price;
• light and easy care;
• compact (when deflated, it can easily fit into a purse);
• safety.

The disadvantages include a short service life and the inflatable version can be pierced with a sharp object by negligence.

Baby playpen dimensions

Regardless of the type, shape and variety of the playpen for a child, you should first of all pay attention to the height of the structure. Models are now being produced in which the height varies from 70 cm to 110 cm. Someoptions, the position of the bottom, and, accordingly, the height of the walls can be adjusted. Thus, the playpen can be used not only when the baby is still sitting, but also when he is already on his feet.

There are options for combining the arena with a crib or changing table. These are removable structures that consist of two tiers. At the top there is a place for sleeping or swaddling, and at the bottom there is a play area. This option is most often used when there is little free space in the room.

Standard dimensions of the playpen: 118 x 110, 96 x 96, 102 x 70 and others. They primarily depend on whether it is a folding structure or a stationary one. It is better not to opt for an easy option, as it can roll over under the weight of the child. The larger and more stable the design, the safer for the baby. But here it all depends on the availability of free space in the room.

Selection criteria

Choosing a playpen for a baby is not an easy task for parents, especially when there are a lot of all kinds of options on the market that differ in shape, size and material of manufacture. There are a few things to keep in mind here.

What to look for when choosing a playpen for a child?

1. Sustainability.

This is the most important criterion on which the safety of the structure depends. It is important that the base is wide so that the baby cannot turn the playpen over when swinging.

2. Dimensions.

It all depends on the availability of space inroom. For example, the dimensions of the square of the playpen "Fairy" are 90 x 90 x 79 cm, its weight is 13 kg, so although it is small, it does not belong to the light version. It will not be easy for a child to turn the structure over. It stands on legs, does not take up much space, and the mesh is easy to clean. The cost of the model is 3250 rubles.

3. No sharp corners.

When buying, carefully inspect all corners, they must be rounded, the sides are rubberized or upholstered with soft fabric.

4. Type of construction (folding or stationary).

For a small apartment, a folding option is suitable, most often the playpen is folded in the form of a book. For a large room, you can choose a stationary option made of wood or metal.

5. Colour.

Kids love everything bright and colorful. But if the playpen is made of a mesh through which the child contemplates the world around him, this can adversely affect his vision. When choosing such an arena, it is worth using it for a short time.

Safety Tips

When choosing, one must take into account not only the size of the playpen, but also its level of safety for the baby. The height of the walls at the level of 80 cm is considered the most optimal, but this depends on the height of the child. The bottom and sides should be padded with soft material.

If you prefer a playpen made of mesh, then you should give preference to small cells through which a button on a child's clothes cannot get stuck. There are rods in wooden structures, the distance between them should be 5-6 cm.such a hole will not fit through.

Buying a model with legs and wheels? Check how well the latches work, otherwise the arena will be unstable. The materials from which the sides are made, as well as the mesh, must be made of hypoallergenic compounds. When purchasing a product, ask for a quality certificate for the product.

Conclusion

Manufacturers of playpens for children offer the Russian consumer a huge selection of goods for every taste, color, size and design. Despite the fact that you can get lost in such a variety, when choosing, it is worth considering many factors, ranging from materials of manufacture to safety and stability of the structure.