What Age Is Playpen For?
Table of Contents
What is a playpen?
A playpen is usually a small portable enclosure which has bars or a net on the walls with an opening on the top whereby a baby or a child is put to play and keep distracted especially when the parent or guardians are busy or not close for supervision.
Most playpens are made of wood furniture so that they can be easy to move around or change the location.
Also, wood is mostly preferred due to its weight’s nature, more flexible in decorating and safe.
It is a creative safe space for a child to play and amuse itself away from the artificial world.
A playpen should not be confused with a crib because a playpen is usually made of lighter material hence is more portable than a crib which may be located in one designated area in a room.
Various ages that are suitable for playpen;
- Four to six months; a baby should be introduced to playpen not later than four months so that the baby grows up knowing that the playpen is secure for play. In case of later introduction, the baby might feel insecure being left in an enclosed space.
- Six to eight months; at this age the baby is learning some milestones and a playpen is the ideal place to do so since it is secured and will give a sense of security. When in it one needs to introduce new toys so that as they stretch to get them, they can learn to stand or sit on their own.
- Eight to ten months; at this age the child is able to crawl or stand up. Putting them in an enclosed space might seem to limit their adventurous spirit. It is advisable to give them space to explore and the playpen may not be the best option.
Different uses of a playpen
Napping
A playpen comes in handy when a toddler needs to nap.
Here the advantage is that a child can adopt to sleep anywhere since he/she is not limited to his/her bed.
Playtime
There are sometimes when a child engages in his/her independent playtime and so a parent/guardian can avail some toys in the playpen for the child to play with.
Travel
When in transit, a playpen will come in handy since it will ease the task of carrying the baby in your arms.
It helps the parent to free up their time, and allow one to perform other duties while the baby plays or naps in the playpen.
Playpens will also ‘act’ as a bed where sleeping quarters may be small and so the parents/guardian may utilize the bed while the baby uses the playpen.
It is advisable to use a playpen in places that are dangerous in the household such as places with exposed electrical cables or outlets and places where pets are kept to prevent children from the pets’ harm or contamination (infections).
There are several factors to consider before the purchase or acquisition of a playpen such as the weight of the baby.
One needs to choose a playpen that will be able to support the weight of the baby and not collapse while the baby is playing or napping.
Another aspect to look into is the size of the baby.
A playpen should have ample space for the child or toddler to be able to play with minimal restrictions
The construction of the playpen should ensure that it’s easy to handle.
In instances when the playpen is not in use it should be able to fold or hang for storage.
The size of the enclosed area where the playpen is designated is also another major factor to consider.
One should not purchase a big (large) playpen when his household has limited space as this would hinder the movement of other parties in the household.
The other factor to check on are the extra features that may come with the playpen package such as attached wheels that facilitate transport, features such as diaper stacks or a space for storing the baby’s essentials.
A rocking attachment can also be very useful incase you want to lull a baby to sleep.
When planning to buy a playpen one should also consider his/her budget and buy something which is pocket friendly since it is not for long-term use.
There are some different types of playpens
1) Standard playpen
This is for indoor purposes of child entertainment which consists of a raised floor and open sides so that the child can interact with its supervisor.
2) Playpens Gates
There are also some playpens that don’t have floors and are also called playpens gates that can be set outside in a lawn or in a house corner.
It is more spacious though it cannot be used for travel.
3) Travel playpens
These are able to fold and more compact.
They are used mainly for baby naps while traveling.
The ideal age for a child or baby to start using a playpen is above six months when the baby starts to crawl.
It is also advisable to buy or acquire one before the baby starts to move around so that it does not feel confined or restricted in one specific place.
Playpen should not be used in case its broken or damaged in any way, has holes or is dirty.
Avoid putting items that a baby can use to hurt itself such as dangling ropes or ribbons so as to avoid accidents.
Playpen has its pros and cons;
Advantages.
It creates a safe haven for a baby to reside without fear of being hurt when the parent or guardian is not around.
It gives the parent/guardian ample time to conduct his/her household chores without hindrances.
If the child becomes tired and has had enough of play, the playpen can double up as a napping place for it to rest and slumber.
The playpen also helps train the baby in sitting skills since it has walls to support the back of the baby.
A baby learns to walk very early when growing because the baby can walk along the hand-holds, enhancing and improving his/her steadiness.
Disadvantages.
Playpen brings about detachment between parent or guardian to its baby, whereby the parent may in turn become lazy and deprive the child the parental love that it deserves when leaving the baby in playpen for long.
There are some arguments that suggest that prolonged stay in the playpen can affect the physical development of a child but is yet to be verified.