Is There Any Difference?
While shopping for baby products, it is not uncommon to see the words playpen, play yard, and pack ‘n play pop up every so often.
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These are the names of popular must-have baby items.
Any person who has raised or taken care of a child will recommend any one of these products.
The three names tend to be used interchangeably by almost everyone.
It is not strange to see a playpen being marketed as a play yard and vice versa.
The interchangeable use of these words is not shocking.
This is because the three products are designed to perform the same basic function.
A playpen, play yard or pack ‘n play is generally a piece of furniture made of wood, metal, or plastic.
When the piece of furniture is set-up, it creates an enclosed space within which a child may be placed to safely play.
This enclosed space, allows a child to safely play away from danger.
It allows the child to be unmonitored for a while, giving its caregiver, a moment to perform house chores or to just take a breather.
The mixed and varied use of these words always makes shopping for baby products a little bit confusing.
One may end up purchasing a playpen, when they instead intended to buy a play yard and vice versa.
This article will seek to alleviate this confusion and definitively distinguish the three words, once and for all.
What is a Playpen?
A playpen is a piece of furniture that when setting up, creates an enclosed space, within which a toddler may be placed to safely play.
The playpen has walls on each side.
The walls surround the baby and can be made out of metal, wood, or plastic.
These walls are designed to be much higher than the baby.
This makes sure that the toddler will not be able to climb out of the enclosure.
So basically speaking, a playpen is just an enclosure that keeps a baby within a given space.
It is a baby fence that a caregiver can use to secure the baby.
What is the playpen used for?
The playpen serves one main purpose.
This purpose is to keep the baby safe while its caregiver is away and the baby needs to be left unattended for just a little while.
Young babies need to be constantly supervised by their parents or caregivers all the time.
A constant, round the clock surveillance, may prove unfeasible.
Over and above taking care of the beloved babies, parents also need to work, rest, and perform house chores.
In doing this they need to place their children down for a little while.
The playpen provides a safe space to do this.
Caregivers need only to safely put up the ‘baby fence’ and put a few toys within the enclosure.
After ensuring that the playpen is safely set-up, the child can then be placed within its boundaries.
The playpen allows the parent to leave the child unsupervised for a while.
This allows them to conduct other businesses around the home or just simply relax and read a book.
Parents are at peace knowing that while they do dishes in the kitchen, their beloved child is in the living room within a safe enclosed space free from danger.
The playpen is an affordable must-have item for a toddler.
Moreover, it is extremely versatile.
One can easily add a flat, firm mattress or mat on the floor of the enclosure.
Such an addition makes the playpen a more comfortable space for a baby to spend time in.
It can even be used as a sleeping space for the child.
During naps, the baby may be left to sleep in the playpen.
It is extremely convenient to use this product.
This is because of its compact and collapsible nature.
The playpen can be easily collapsed and folded up into a small neat mass.
It can then be carried and easily set up in any area of the house or packed away to be used another time.
Parents can therefore, easily set down their children in the playpen anywhere in the home.
Tips for using the playpen
When using the playpen however, caution must always be taken.
Never should the baby be left unsupervised in the playpen for long periods.
The playpen is not a substitute caregiver.
It is only an aid designed to make parenting easier.
Monitor your child while in the playpen and ensure that they are entertained and comfortable.
It is also important to ensure that the playpen is safe to use.
Set up the enclosure carefully.
Make sure that all rivets and screws are tightly secured and out of the baby’s reach.
Doing this, ensures that the playpen will not collapse, fall on the baby, and hurt it.
Babies who are big enough to stand and crawl should not be placed within a playpen.
This is because, babies at this age are adventurous.
Their curious spirit will cause them to attempt to climb out.
That in trying to attempt a prison-break like an escape, a baby will end up hurting himself.
What is the play yard?
A play yard is an improved version of a playpen.
Just like a playpen, a play yard is a piece of furniture that when setting up, provides a safe enclosed space, within which a baby may be placed to play or sleep.
The play yard can be made out of wood, metal, or plastic. Some play yards are hybrids.
This means that they have some parts made of wood and others made from plastic or metal.
The main difference between a playpen and a play yard is the fact that the play yard, apart from being a safe enclosed space, also comes with many features and accessories.
The playpen is just but a simple fence, within which a baby is placed.
The play yard is a fence that comes with cool accessories such as a bassinet, diaper changing area, mattress, and storage drawers.
The features of a playpen
Concerning the features of the play yard, there are so many to point out.
First, this baby product comes with a mattress.
This feature makes the enclosure much more comfortable for the baby.
The mattress is flat and firm and thus conforms with the safety standards set by the Academy of American Pediatrics.
A baby can therefore be put to sleep in the play yard without fearing the risk of SIDS.
This cool feature allows the play yard to double up as a crib.
This crib is light and portable and can be carried anywhere quite easily.
Second, the play yard is portable.
It can be picked up and set elsewhere without breaking a sweat.
The portability stems from the fact that the play yard is designed to be convenient and multifunctional.
It puts all the baby’s items in one space.
It can be easily taken apart, folded and carried in a bag pack, ready to be set up anywhere.
This makes life easy for the traveling parent, who worries about the baby’s sleep.
With a play yard, one need never worry again.
The play yard can be picked in a bag and the baby’s bed will always be close by.
Third, the play yard comes with a changing station and storage drawers.
Changing a baby’s diaper has never been more convenient than with the play yard. One can keep extra diapers in the storage drawers.
Changing the baby’s diapers can be done at the play yard without needing to go elsewhere.
This is a very useful feature especially when parents have decided to travel with the baby.
The play yard is designed to be a store for all the baby’s products and this enhances its convenience.
What is the play yard used for?
The play yard is a multi-functional, versatile piece of furniture.
To begin with, it can be used as a safe playing area for your child.
Just like the playpen, parents may use the play yard as a safe playing area wherein they can place their child.
The child may be left unattended as the caregivers/parents work or attend to house chores.
The play yard, comes with high walls that keep the child inside and safe.
It is however imperative to reiterate that just like the playpen, the play yard is not a substitute caregiver.
It is only an aid that lessens the work of being a parent and makes life more convenient.
Babies cannot be left unattended within the space for long periods.
The parent/caregiver should be close by and check up one the child now and again.
Secondly, the play yard can be used as a crib.
Most parents purchase the play yard in a bid to maximize this feature.
This baby product is designed to be a portable baby crib that comes with a bassinet, diaper changing area, and storage drawer.
It is small and compact.
This means that it does not take up a lot of space.
This incredible feature makes it possible for parents to place their young ones near them and share rooms during sleep time.
This feature comes in handy for parents with fussy or sick children.
Being able to sleep near their babies gives them the chance to monitor them as they sleep and attend to them when they wake up.
All these features make purchasing this product an investment.
Buying a play yard does not just benefit the baby but the parent as well.
What is a Pack ‘n Play?
The word “pack ‘n play” is very common among the many parents who have raised toddlers.
It is a word very often used interchangeably with a playpen and play yard.
However, a pack ‘n play is not a product category on its own.
A pack ‘n play is the brand name of a particular play yard. This play yard is manufactured and sold by the company Graco.
The company is registered and managed in the United States of America.
Just like ‘Kodex’ and ‘Q-tip’, the word ‘Pack ‘n Play’, is just but a famous brand name that has become famous and gained notoriety to be used in common parlance.
Therefore, when one speaks of a pack ‘n and play, one is simply talking about a play yard.
Which is the better option between a playpen and a play yard?
When purchasing anything, it is best to pick out a product that gives you value for your money.
Both the playpen and the play yard have their perks and downsides.
Each of the products is fairly straight-forward to use and set-up.
Both of these products take up little space, are foldable, and can be easily packed away in storage spaces.
Above all of these features, both products are portable.
However, the play yard has cooler and much more useful accessories.
Apart from having similar advantages as the playpen, it comes with extra features such as a bassinet, diaper changing area, and multiple storage drawers.
The play yard can double up as a portable baby crib, and thus when traveling it becomes possible to carry the baby’s bed anywhere one goes.
Though it may come at an extra cost, it will prove to be of more use than the playpen.
Conclusion
This article has laid bare the fact that the words playpen, play yard, and pack ‘n play are not the same.
They cannot continue to be used interchangeably.
They are simply not the same thing.
A playpen is an enclosure within which a baby may be placed to play.
It is a fence, enclosing the child in a safe arena.
The play yard is designed to be used as a portable crib and an enclosure.
It is a playpen that comes with extra features such as a mattress, bassinet, and diaper changing station.
It gives more value for money since it can be conveniently used in many different ways.
The pack ‘n play is just a very famous play yard brand name.
There is no longer reason to be confused since the differences have been laid bare.