Playpen
Playpens which are also known as play yards are mostly used to place the baby as the adult gets a little break.
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When the baby is in it, the caregiver gets some little time to do other chores or rush quickly to another room in the house.
They are convenient for letting the baby be independent playing with toys or just relaxing.
Playpens are good, and they give the caregivers a little break.
This is especially when there is no other adult to assist in keeping an eye on the baby.
However, a baby should not be left in the playpen for long while unattended.
The caregiver should always be around keeping watch on the bay to prevent any injuries or possible deaths.
In the past people used to leave babies in a playpen without much thought.
This became dangerous when there was a rise in cases of accidents and deaths of children who were left unattended in the playpens.
Reasons why you should never leave a baby unattended in a playpen
It is a playpen, not a baby sitter
Leaving a baby in a playpen deprives them of stimulation.
A baby needs to explore other environments and not just to sit and entertain themselves in a playpen.
At times a caregiver needs to go to the washroom or change up the laundry and the best choice at this point is to put the baby in the playpen.
However, this does not mean that the playpen should take the responsibility of an adult.
A baby still needs to interact with the adult and other things around them.
Do not interfere with your baby’s development for letting the playpen act like a babysitter.
Toys in the playpen can cause a danger to your child.
Playpens are mostly filled with toys that are meant to entertain your baby.
Ensure you are around when the baby is playing.
Do not fill the playpen with toys to entertain the baby as you are busy doing other things.
Toys can be dangerous and cause a lot of damage even death.
They can suffocate and chock the baby.
For the babies who can stand and move around, some toys can cause them to hit themselves or fall as they try to escape from the playpen.
Assumptions
At times an adult can assume that the baby is safe and well entertained in the playpen and go for longer than expected.
Dashing to the other room for a second to pick something may not necessarily cause harm to your baby but at times you may be tempted to go take a shower and finish up other chores that may take longer than seconds.
A lot can happen in that span of time and your baby ends up being hurt.
The playpen has signs of being worn out
Playpens that are damaged should be let go.
If your playpen is beginning to show signs of wear, you should not leave the baby unattended even for a short period of time.
Any hardware item that is damaged can cut the baby and end up injuring them.
The toddler can also tear any worn coverings and end up eating them.
If unsupervised this can lead to harm.
You are asleep
Do not leave your baby in the playpen if you want to sleep.
This can end up causing a lot of harm.
When exhausted and asleep even in the same room you may not hear your child crying in distress or being chocked.
This can lead to a nightmare for any parent.
Your baby can climb out
When your baby can stand and look for ways to climb out, it is time to either remove them from the playpen completely or never leave them without an adult to keep an eye on them.
The baby can climb out and fall or go and find another disaster in waiting as they escape.
Playpen safety measures
Playpens can be dangerous in some circumstances, especially when the baby is unattended.
To prevent such mishaps from happening take these precaution measures.
- Remove any large toys and boxes in the playpen when your child becomes old enough to stand. These toys can help the child climb out and in case of a fall they will end up injuring themselves.
- If your baby is below twelve months, put them to sleep in the playpen on their backs. There should be no soft beddings or pillows or soft toys. This will help in reducing the chances of the child suffocating and Sudden Infant Death syndrome.
- Do not have an additional mattress in the playpen. The spaces formed in between mattresses can be dangerous for your child. They can suffocate in that space. They can also suffocate in the spaces formed from mattresses that are not fitting well.
- Ensure that you have set up the playpen well before putting a baby in it. Check the sides to see if they are locked into place. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to do this well. If the playpen is not set up properly it can end up harming your child. For instance, if you leave the mesh lowered, your child can roll into the pocket created by the slack mesh and get trapped. They can end up being suffocated
- Ensure your child does not have any clothing with strings around their necks when you put them inside the playpen. Such strings can catch on the playpen when your child is playing and end up strangling them.
- Keep checking if your child is biting off the chunks of the vinyl that covers the top rails of the play yards. This is mostly for children who have reached the teething stage. If they are doing so replace the affected areas with cloth tape.
- Remove any toys that are across at the top of the play yard when your child begins to sit or go on fours. This is to avoid him/her getting entangled as they play in the playpen.
Conclusion
As with many things in life.
It is important to strike a balance.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a playpen and using it.
That said, it is not okay to confine your baby in the playpen for long periods.
Doing this deprives them of simulation.
In addition, leaving your child unattended in the playpen is dangerous.
It can cause a lot of harm and even lead to death.