Because parents can put their baby in one knowing that their infant can’t drift, these high-sided, enclosed play areas are popular. Never leave a toddler unattended in a very playpen as playpens are not any substitute for adult supervision.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

• To imply that the playpen meets the security standards of the patron Products Safety Commission (CPSC) like ones from Playpen Elite, check the label for JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) certification.
• The sides should be a minimum of 20 inches (51 centimeters) high, measured from the ground of the playpen.
• To stay small fingers and little buttons on clothes from getting caught, the holes within the mesh should be no larger than ¼ inch (0.6 centimeters) if the playpen has mesh sides. The mesh should be checked regularly for breaks and tears and securely attached.
• The slat spaces should be not quite 2-3/8 inches (5.08 centimeters) in breadth if the playpen is wooden.
• To shield your baby from bumps, look for padding on the tops of the rails.
• At the underside of the playpen, look for a 1-inch firm mattress or pad.
• What should be out of your baby’s reach are the locks that allow you to lower aside.
• Well-protected hinges and supports are what you should make sure the playpen has.
• When lifted into the traditional position, look for a playpen with top rails that automatically lock.
• Check the ground of a second-hand playpen for wear and tear.

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SAFETY NOTES

• In a very mesh playpen with the side lowered, never leave a baby. The baby could get trapped between the mesh side and therefore the floorboard. Thanks to the danger of suffocation, just a one-floor pad (mattress) should be used.
• Don’t use soft bedding or pillows within the playpen at any time.
• Never replace the mattress or padding within the playpen, because it won’t fit the playpen well.
• Check all padded parts regularly for tears.
• Show babysitters and other caregivers a way to correctly founded the playpen and review the protection rules with them.
• On his or her back, always put your baby to sleep.
• The playpen mustn’t be placed near windows. What can strangle the baby is cording on drapes and blinds.
• As a baby’s head may get trapped within the large holes forming the diamonds, don’t use a hand-me-down playpen with large diamond-shaped openings.
• Never tie or string toys from the perimeters of the playpen.
• When he or she reaches a height of 34 inches (86 centimeters) or weighs 30 pounds (14 kilograms), stop using the playpen when your child can easily climb out.