Childhood Safety - Choosing Playpens The purpose of playpens Playpens are meant to be used for short periods at a time. They can be really useful when your child is just beginning to crawl, right up till he or she is about 2 years old, when he or she is able to run about. It allows your child to play in a relatively safe environment, while you tend to other matters like answering phone calls, household chores or even just taking a short break from looking after him or her.
Playpens have come a long way from the time when they were made of metal frames with wide meshing or exposed hardware and had a disturbing tendency to collapse inwards onto the child. There are now many types of playpens available in the market, with most of them folding quickly and compactly and coming with lightweight tote bags for easy transport.
However, not all playpens are equally safe, with some styles of safety barriers being responsible for the deaths of children. It is important to choose one that is age appropriate. Note that most infants can pull themselves to their feet from 9 months of age and begin walking at around 12 months.
What to look for in a playpen
Heavy playpens are safer than lighter models; lighter models may tip over if a child leans against the sides.
The sides of a playpen should be more than 50cm high and the spaces between the sidebars should be between 5cm and 8.5cm. If the spaces between the sidebars are too large, a child's head may become trapped between the bars.
All locks and catches on the playpen should be hidden.
Safety in the playpen Do not place any object inside the playpen, or against the sides, as a child can use this to climb over the sides of the playpen.
Useful tips
Use the playpen for short periods of time only.
Keep your child's favourite toys in the playpen so that your child associates them with being in the playpen.
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