A good alternative for playpen is the Toddler Play Yard. They are available in many different make and design. There’s one which is made of all plastic material comprising of large blocks of colorful non-toxic plastic, others are made of wood or metal tubes with foam padding all around it and some are just plain thick foam joined together. You can also buy a portable one with small wheels like the “Graco Pack and Play” so you can use it both for indoors and outdoors. Like portable cribs, when you’re done with it or when it’s time to sleep you can just fold it into small unit for easy storage under the bed or behind the door. Below are some helpful tips on how to choose the right product for your needs.
Check the product’s specifications: pay attention to the recommended age usage, different age needs specific design, if you have a toddler who still crawls and is just learning how to sit and you are concern about affordability a cheap play yard will do. Most Play Yards or Play Gates are made of lightweight plastic material and if your kid is strong enough to lift it then it would be useless. Another thing is that light play yard can be easily pushed over and if your unit doesn’t have the option of an anchor and you have a large floor area then you need to find a way to anchor it.
Check the design structure: if your child has already learned how to walk and climb then you’ll need a heavy-duty one. Choose one with a sturdy base and with good workmanship or else it will break into pieces and might end up injuring your kid. Some play yards are fitted with a plastic meshed wire and horizontal grills that is easy to climb. If you are more concerned about safety you might want one with vertical grills only to avoid them from climbing it or if there’s no available one you can have one with horizontal grills but you need to put some interlocking floor mats under it to cushion them just in case they fall.
Check for functionality and overall look: Some brands has the capability of joining two units together like one big rectangular playpen so it can still accommodate your children as they grow older or if you are lucky enough to have a twins or even triplets you can just buy two or three units and joined them together into one large baby play yard. Some make like the plastic play yard usually have a built-in toys on them securely fastened to the side wall. For super active baby an extra tall panel is a nice thing to have, 30 inches side panel will do the trick. Choose one that complements your existing décor, one that matches the color of the surrounding walls and curtains.
Based on some customer reviews from people who actually bought and used them, most of the playpen or toddler play yard that are readily available in the market today are somewhat flimsy and easy for crawling infant to shift. Some requires anchoring to the wall which requires some additional work and purchase of materials like hook since they are not included in the package. And because of that, some individuals especially those with basic knowledge in carpentry and have the necessary tools are making them on their own. They use scrap woods from their previous projects and turned them into a unique and sturdy wooden play pen.
