Buy a Safe Portable Playpen for Your Baby.

 

Lots of parents use a portable playpen for infants to both play and sleep. They use the playpen as a substitute for a full-sized crib.

Portable playpens can be a big help for a mother. You can cook dinner and clean your home and at the same time your baby is in a safe spot.

Many parents see their playpens as a babysitter but they should never leave their baby unsupervised in a playpen.

 

Since 1988 200 babies died while in playpens. Half of these deaths where caused by improper or extra mattresses and the babies died of suffocation or SIDS.

 

How to keep your baby safe in the playpen.

• Babies under 12 months should be put to sleep on their back.
• Don't use any soft bedding, like pillows or quilts in the playpen.
• Make sure the sides of the playpen are locked into place. Infants can suffocate if they roll into a pocket formed at the bottom of a mesh playpen side.
• Never use additional mattresses in the playpen. Your baby can get trapped between the mattresses and suffocate.
• Using a modified or improper repaired playpen can create hazards.
• Playpens should not be placed near to windows. Drapery or blind cords can become a strangulation hazard.
• The mesh of a portable playpen should be no more than ¼ inch in size and should be securely attached to the top rail and floor plate.
• Wooden playpens should have slats that are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart.
• Check if there is not a recall on your playpen.

 

Portable playpens come in different sizes, but most can be collapsed into a small roll for easy storage and transport. Modern playpens are made of metal and plastic support system and mesh.

Traditionally a baby playpen was made of wood. The earliest use of the word playpen cited in the English dictionary is 1902. They have also been called play yards.

 

A large baby playpen like the Aosom Baby Kids Wooden Playpen is ideal for outside in the garden. Remember to put it in a shady place or under an umbrella. Your toddler will be able to play outside and he cannot get into things that may hurt him. Large baby playpens are also great if you have twins.

Most babies refuse to stay for too long in a playpen because they get bored. Babies need some time on the floor to be able to crawl and explore.

A smart alternative to the traditional playpen is Little Playzone with Sounds and Lights. It resembles a playpen when you look at it, but it also has neat activity board with play phone, spinning balls and a musical keyboard. Your child will love this educational play area and it will keep him occupied for hours.

It is important to check the playpen being used is safe for your child. Especially cheap baby playpens or when the playpen has been bought second hand which may have been subject to a product recall.

A highly rated portable playpen is the large and roomy Graco Pack 'n Play Playard with Carry Bag that sets up and folds in less than a minute. Durable frame and airy mesh on all sides provide a safe environment for your baby. This palypen is spacious enough for twins.

 

'Baby Trend' crib recalled

The defect: Top rails can collapse if not securely locked into position.

Baby Trend portable cribs have continued to harm children long after being taken off of store shelves. Because these products are passed down among friends and families, parents may not be aware the product was recalled.Read the full story...

 

You can check on a recall on your playpen with CPSC. Contact CPSC at 1-800-638-2772 or visit CPSC's website. If the playpen has been part of a recall, take advantage of the remedy provided by the manufacturer.