Little kids are little troubles! And as the little man grows up, more and more problems arise. And one of them concerns a child who has already learned to actively move around the allotted territory and wants to expand the boundaries of his world. It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of the baby, and no one has canceled household chores.
This is where a playpen comes in handy. The invention is absolutely not new, but it is still in high demand. Moreover, the choice of all kinds of temporary “cages” for babies is amazing.
Brief overview of the article
Disadvantages of the playpen
A small or large playpen in a children's room limits the freedom of a small family member. Whether this is good or bad is for the parents to decide, but leaving the child alone in the pen for a long time is not recommended. And it won’t work: it’s rare that a child will calmly accept the news of temporary imprisonment.
The second disadvantage is the baby’s awareness of his own helplessness. Some psychologists claim that such a psychological state is permanently fixed in the consciousness or subconscious of a small person and negatively affects the rest of his life.
Meaning of crawling
Is it possible to find a positive aspect in the fact that a child’s freedom of movement is limited? Of course not. There are main stages in a child’s development that he must go through:
- Sitting.
- Crawl.
- Walking.
If you deliberately limit or speed up these stages, then, believe me, this will not lead to anything good. Nature has already thought through everything for us, and we shouldn’t try to change anything on our own.
Everything should happen gradually and in due time. The body must be prepared for walking. This function is performed by crawling, strengthening muscles and ligaments. It develops coordination of movements and a sense of rhythm.
If this stage of development is missed or not fully completed, then problems with the spine may arise in the future.
It is during crawling that the lumbar curve of the spine is formed. It is the lumbar vertebrae that bears the greatest part of the load throughout life.
They cushion the body, withstand the pressure of its upper part and are responsible for all movements - walking, running, jumping.
If this department is not formed correctly, it will lead to chronic diseases and poor posture. To avoid this, the child needs to constantly move and crawl.
How can he do this if he is constantly put in a playpen and limited in movement? No way.
Important! Crawling promotes the full mental development of a child. The brain grows and develops when neural connections are formed and strengthened.
The latter arise and are consolidated during the child’s experience. Moreover, the more times the baby repeats this experience, the better and stronger the neural connection will be.
Therefore, children repeat the same actions several times. If neural connections occur in both hemispheres, they are the strongest. It is crawling that helps synchronize both hemispheres.
The child gains the necessary experience by mastering new skills and subjects. To do this, he needs to move freely.
If the baby is in a limited space, he does not see anything new for himself, except for a couple of familiar toys lying in the playpen. Accordingly, he has no desire to get to an unfamiliar object in order to study it.
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If there is nothing interesting, then there is no need to move around. The child has no incentive to crawl, which, as I said above, is the basis for full physical and mental development.
Important! You should encourage and encourage crawling rather than restrict it, which is what using a playpen does.
Crawling gives the baby confidence in his abilities, develops independence in him - he can get to the right place or object without your help. This type of movement contributes to the correct formation of vision.
In addition, by keeping your child in the playpen, you have less contact with him. It seems to you that you are firmly in control of him. But this is far from true.
You need to start building a relationship with your baby from the very first days of his life. You need to constantly communicate with him, explain everything, and negotiate.
Your child will sooner or later leave the playpen and then it will turn out that he is completely uncontrollable. Your word will not be clear and meaningful to him.
I'm not even talking about the fact that at this age children need increased tactile contact with their mother, which is contrary to and cannot be provided by a playpen.
Conclusion - the child does not need a playpen.
Benefits of the playpen
A plastic or wooden playpen will allow you to leave the child alone if the parents urgently need to leave or do a rather dangerous task, which, if there is a small inhabitant of the apartment, will be the usual sewing on a button or cooking pasta. In this case, the playpen will help ensure the safety of the young creature and its environment.
A children's pen would be an excellent option when traveling to the country or visiting. In the first case, it will protect the baby from street dirt, in the second - from potentially dangerous objects that the apartment’s inhabitants did not even pay attention to.
A similar product will also be useful for helping a child quickly get on his feet and learn to walk. Mesh cells will perfectly help tenacious fingers to pull the body up and support it in an upright position.
And dissatisfaction with temporary confinement will be relieved by favorite toys placed in the playpen along with their owner. They will also help develop a sense of self-sufficiency.
But being in the arena should be an exceptional and temporary measure.
Types of playpens
Modern playpens from manufacturers can be divided into types according to:
- materials;
- functionality;
- folding capabilities;
- form;
- height;
- dimensions (weight and size);
- colors
Based on materials
There are several most popular options for the design of children's playpens:
- Initially, enclosing structures for children were made of wood. With the fashion for environmental friendliness, wooden models have also returned;
- folding plastic ones with fabric and mesh walls are lightweight models that serve as a temporary fence for the baby and are easily transported;
- standard playrooms with metal arches, mesh, plywood bottom with oilcloth and durable plastic handrails;
- popular transformers made of durable plastics and composites with fabric walls, mesh windows, a removable durable bottom, additional accessories for babies (mobile, changing table);
- lightweight fences without a bottom made of plastic, mesh frames or aluminum (fences).
By functionality
Manufacturers produce playpens of such a variety of designs that they perform the required tasks:
- just a play area, fenced with a portable and folding structure in the form of a fence;
- a stationary play area protected by a dense bottom and fabric/mesh;
- place for changing and sleeping;
- a guest or camp bed that is easy to transport.
The first playpens appeared by analogy with pens for young livestock, when the enclosure allowed them to be safe next to their mother. These were wooden stationary fences.
Foldable if possible
In any case, the playpen must be collapsible or foldable, because otherwise they would not be able to be sold in stores. But some models are distinguished by a more permanent nature of use for safe child play, and they are installed permanently for the entire period of operation. And other playpens are needed as temporary help for mom at home, at a party or in nature/in the country. Then the possibility of their quick folding and mobility comes first. In addition, the type of folding is also different: “book” (retains length, so the design is still bulky), “umbrella” (compact folding).
By shape
Manufacturers have provided a variety of shapes for playpen areas to suit all tastes and needs:
- round;
- oval;
- standard rectangular;
- square;
- corner triangular and trapezoidal.
Most often, standard-shaped models are found on sale, but on the Internet you can find and order all of the above forms.
By height
Nowadays there is a large selection of playpen structures; manufacturers are trying to cover all consumer niches and produce models with the following heights:
- 70 cm - low - for those who are capricious without their mother;
- 75 cm - medium;
- 80 cm - standard;
- 110 cm - high - good from a safety point of view.
The larger the child or older age, the safer it is for him to have a higher playpen, which is more stable due to the height of the walls. The more anxious the baby is, the more attached he is to his mother, the lower or more transparent the walls of the fence should be so as not to let the parents out of sight.
By dimensions (weight and size)
Stationary sleeping playpen beds and permanent play areas should be heavier for stability. Portable and frequently transported - easier, because otherwise it will be difficult to transport them. The sizes of modern models are very diverse:
- 96x96 cm;
- 118x110 cm;
- 102x70 cm and others.
The larger the playpen area, the better for the child’s development. Therefore, the more spacious the room in which the structure is located, the larger the playpen can be. A light and soft playpen, as a rule, is inferior in safety to a heavier and bulkier one.
By color
Child psychologists recommend bright, cheerful or neutral natural shades of children's furniture. But ophthalmologists believe that the playpen is a place to which the baby pays increased visual attention, because being inside, through it he carefully monitors what is happening outside. Therefore, in order not to overstrain your eyesight, we recommend gentle, light pastel shades that do not interfere with your vision or tire your eyes.
Clearance sizes
A plastic or wooden playpen should have a distance between slats of no more than 5-7 centimeters. In this case, the baby has virtually no chance of getting stuck in the bars, and his hand will be free to reach the toys that have fallen on the floor.
For mesh fences, you should not select too small cells. It is believed that this option will negatively affect the vision of a small person. But overly large cells can lead to injury. Therefore, the optimal choice would be a medium mesh size.
Advantages and disadvantages of using playpens
A playpen is a convenient lifesaver for parents, but for a baby it is more like a removable play area or a temporary restriction of his movements. The design was invented so that the mother could leave the child in a safe place for some time until she could look after him herself. This is where the advantages of playpens come from:
- a safe place while the baby is unattended;
- cozy play area (protection of walls, warm bottom, placement of toys);
- sleeping and changing room option;
- transportable fencing or guest/camping bed for trips to visit/outdoors/to the country.
But for some children, any restriction is a minus. Therefore, playpen structures also have disadvantages:
- the playpen creates the illusion of safety, and a small child without adult supervision can harm himself even with a toy;
- walls create a situation of stress or aggression if the baby is kept inside by force;
- Manege games are suitable only for calm and contemplative children; active ones are enough for a maximum of 5 minutes;
- any model takes up a lot of space and is used for a short time.
As for the advantages and disadvantages of different types of playpens, absolutely all designs have them:
- wooden (eco-friendly, stylish, ideal from the point of view of ophthalmology, but they can be hit hard, do not fold, not for transportation, bulky);
- standard rectangular or triangular with mesh (safe, easy to clean, cheap, folds to the size of a flat bottom, the bottom is not removable, takes up a lot of space, only for stationary use);
- playpen beds (ideal as a multifunctional transformer in a small area, but it’s bad that the place for sleeping and playing is the same, difficult to wash, lightweight, folding, mobile, suitable as a guest and camping option);
- “fences” (suitable for small children up to 6-7 months, a large and adult baby can easily move or knock over a barrier, convenient as a mobile and quick fence for a short time or under close supervision, transportable).
You need to determine for yourself the main task of the fence and base your choice on it.
Foldable
Folding playpens such as “umbrella” or “book” are perfect for transportation if it is difficult for a young family to sit still. Their fairly compact size will allow you to move the pen to a new location almost painlessly.
Horizontal folding playpens will not provide such ease of transformation, so it is better to use them as a stationary element.
Who needs a playpen?
In general, it is advisable to make a decision about the need to buy a playpen long before it becomes vitally necessary for you, since you should accustom your child to it before he understands that he can crawl around the apartment without restrictions and take everything he can reach. Of course, many young mothers manage quite successfully without a playpen. It all depends on the child, on the conditions in which you live, and on yourself. In general, think for yourself, decide for yourself. We will describe just a few situations when a playpen can be very useful.
At home
A playpen will come in handy if you need to do a lot of things (clean up, cook dinner, take out the trash can) and, at the same time, keep an eye on your child. Of course, you can put all sharp, breakable and fragile objects on the top shelves, put protection on the corners, locks on cabinets, etc. But, believe me, if you go to the kitchen for a few minutes, you will not be able to calmly stir the soup if the baby is freely crawling around the apartment. Some mothers are afraid to even go to the toilet while the little explorer is awake. Of course, you can leave the room for a few minutes and put your child in bed, but most children perceive such confinement extremely negatively. And in general, according to experts, the bed should be associated only with sleep, but not with play. The rest of the space is for play!
At the dacha and while traveling
It is much more difficult to monitor a child in nature. It will no longer be possible to lower him to the floor and let him “freely graze”; there are so many interesting things in the grass: bugs, spiders, twigs, and the baby is trying to taste all of this. You will be able to move the playpen with your baby closer to your location without fear that the child will climb into the grill with burning coals or onto the compost heap, mistaking it for a slide. If you are one of the brave travelers for whom the birth of a child is not a reason to give up your previous lifestyle, you simply need a playpen. In addition, when traveling, the functions of the playpen expand - it is both a playpen and a sleeping place.
Material of manufacture
The wooden structure is environmentally friendly and sustainable. But this is perhaps all its merits. The structure itself is heavy and bulky, it is inconvenient to carry and transport, and you can hit hard on the hard slats.
Plastic has no such disadvantages. It is easy to care for without fear of damaging the rather sensitive wood. The playpen can be painted in various colors, it is easy to fold/unfold and carry/transport.
Inflatable playpen
Outwardly it resembles an inflatable pool, but with higher and more transparent walls. This product is distinguished by its bright colors and many educational games for the child.
The soft design of the playpen protects the child from unwanted falls and bruises, allowing him to jump and have fun. However, it is not very suitable for children who are just learning to walk; because of the soft bottom, walking in it is not at all comfortable.
It takes up little space and when deflated fits into a small bag. Another disadvantage is the fragility: possible damage from sharp objects or drying out of the seams over time.
Fencing
Such a playpen is suitable only for very calm children. The structure is mounted directly on the floor, and the fence can be given any shape and enclose a fairly large area. But the instability of the structure will not allow you to keep the baby in a given area for a long time.
Photos of the playpen will provide an opportunity to admire these items to keep the child from being too active in research activities.
Types of playpens
Let us dwell in more detail on the types of play equipment for children; their photos can be seen below. Having visually decided on the model you like, it will be easier to make a choice regarding its functionality and purpose.
Mesh playpens
Such structures consist of an oilcloth bottom and a metal frame with a mesh stretched over it. A huge advantage of a children's product is its maneuverability and lightness. If you purchase a triangular-shaped mesh play area and place it in a corner, the room will be quite spacious and it will not interfere with play. Any woman can easily move the mesh playpen and put it in the right place without much effort. Another advantage of a mesh playpen is its compactness.
The playpen folds like a book and can easily fit into the luggage compartment of any car.
Due to the mesh walls, the design will not cause much harm to the child if it falls. Such children's products come in various shapes: triangular, rectangular, round and oval. The disadvantage of such a children's fence is that the mesh and soft parts are quite difficult to clean. When choosing a playpen, you need to pay special attention to the size of the mesh, since very small cells negatively affect the baby’s vision and do not allow you to see small details in the room. Another disadvantage of a mesh playground is that a child’s finger or a button of his clothing can get stuck in its cells.
Wooden playpens
Wooden playpens consist of side wooden slats and a flat bottom. According to their shape, wooden playpens are divided into hexagons, squares and ovals. Wooden structures are more suitable for older children who are trying to stand up on their own, because wood is easier to hold on to and maintain balance. Wooden play fences are not compact, they are quite bulky and require a lot of free space, even when unfolded. The advantage of such fences is their environmental friendliness, good visibility for the baby, stability, reliability and structural strength.
The advantage of this model is the variable bottom height. Such playpens are usually suitable for children under 3 years of age. One of the main disadvantages of wooden playpens is the high risk of injury to the child, because the baby will have to fall on hard wooden slats. Also, the disadvantage of such products is the lack of mobility and heavy weight, that is, movement can be carried out within the same room. Another disadvantage of such fences is the difficult maintenance of the product. When cleaning, you will have to wash each slatt separately, and, as a rule, there are not so few of them.
Plastic models
The plastic playpen consists of separate plastic parts that resemble a construction set and are connected to each other by special grooves - latches. Depending on the model, the product package, in addition to the side walls, includes a door with a reliable closing mechanism or a soft oilcloth bottom. Parents can independently decide what shape and size the baby fence will be for their baby.
The advantage of plastic products is their lightness, mobility, and maneuverability. Since the side walls are made of plastic, caring for the playpen involves washing it in regular water and using liquid detergents. Such collapsible fencing can easily be taken out into the yard or taken with you on a visit.
Today in stores you can find plastic models with built-in music and educational toys. The disadvantage of such models is the bright colors of the design parts. If you stay inside the playpen for a long time, bright colors will unnecessarily tire your child. Plastic fencing is not stable or durable. A restless baby can easily overturn the playpen and hit himself when he falls. As a rule, plastic parts are short-lived, so the service life of this product will be very short.
Playpen bed
In essence, this is an ordinary bed designed for a child to sleep, but if necessary, it can be transformed for the period when the child is awake. Unlike a traditional crib, this one is not made of wood, but of environmentally friendly, easy-to-clean materials. These are walls made of durable material with mesh inserts designed for greater air circulation, as well as for monitoring the child.
Such structures are easy to move around the house and take outside. They enable parents to safely leave their child in the fresh air for a few minutes. Easy to fold, allowing you to take the bed on a trip. This crib for a newborn is a great option for a train. Transformable cribs with cradle function can also be used as high chairs. At the same time, you don’t have to worry about where your child will sleep or where he needs to sit so that he has a tasty meal. Its frame is made of durable lightweight aluminum frames. Along the perimeter of the structure there are many convenient pockets designed for things, toys, diapers. The bottom of the product has two levels, a high position for small children who cannot stand up and a lower position for older children. These beds are equipped with many additional features, including:
- Changing table. It is securely attached to the sides, and helps the mother to easily change the diaper or change the baby's clothes.
- Mat for games. The set includes special arcs with many bright toys that are attached to the playpen. This device is necessary for infants, as it attracts their attention with bright colors and helps them get acquainted with the world around them.
- Insect mesh. An indispensable item when using the playpen outdoors. It will reliably protect the child in nature.
- Audio block. It will calm an angry baby with a calm melody and make his sleep healthier and more sound.
- Vibroblock. Designed for rocking the baby to sleep before bed, freeing up the mother some time for herself. The downside is the high cost of this option.
When choosing this design, you should pay attention to what loads your chosen model is designed for. Under no circumstances should the maximum load value be exceeded; the crib becomes unsafe for the baby. Basically, such beds are designed for the weight of a child up to 5 years old.
Screen playpen
It is a structure made of plastic or tubular panels fastened together. This design is installed directly on the floor, enclosing the child’s access area. The child will play only where the playpen is installed, without being able to get out of it. In essence, this is an ordinary improvised wall, which can reach quite large sizes, protecting the baby or children from injury and injury. Due to the fact that the panels are made of light transparent material, the child will not be alone, watching what is happening around, and the mother can always monitor what the child is doing.
The only disadvantage of the screen playpen design is that it is intended for young children, because for children older than 8-9 months it is unlikely to become an obstacle. A matured and stronger baby will easily tear down such a fence.
Photo of a playpen
Choosing a safe playpen for a child - tips
The choice of model depends on the family budget.
Products costing up to 4,000 rubles are suitable for young parents; high-quality, safe playpens are produced by companies
- Baby Care,
- Capella,
- Bestway.
In the mass market ( 4000-9000 rubles ) the leaders are:
- Happy Baby;
- Selby;
- Lionel.
In the premium price category (over 9,000 rubles ), manufacturing companies are popular
- Geuther Lucilee,
- Hauck,
- Edu-play.
Bestway
Chinese inflatable playpens, 52056 - the most popular model. In it, children from 0 to 6 years old play safely in the countryside. A round product made of inflatable sections is used as a trampoline.
You can make a play pool out of any playpen
Fairy
The Russian company produces children's furniture, its classic playpen is popular among young parents, the reviews are positive . All mothers include the following parameters in the list of advantages:
- stable;
- compact;
- does not scratch the floor;
- easy to wash.
The model has a fine mesh, the child sees everything through it, which is important for his mood, toys do not fall out, which is convenient for parents
Baby Care
The Korean company is known to mothers from many countries. The folding Rainbow model is ergonomic and has a zippered opening. When traveling out of town, the product is used as a crib; for this purpose, a mattress is purchased.
Geuther Lucilee
The products of the German brand are worth paying attention to. According to this year's surveys, playpen-beds from Ge uther Lucilee occupy the top line of the rating. The models are equipped with swivel wheels with a parking brake, made of natural wood, the bottom is easily adjustable in height (3 levels).
Model for children from 0 to 24 months
The size and shape of the Geuther playpen allows the child to crawl, walk and play freely. The hinged bumper transforms a safe play area into a cozy sleeping area.
Which playpen to buy for a child
First of all, the choice depends on the purpose of the product: whether the playpen will be used for sleeping, playing at home, or being outdoors. The models required in each case are different. But there are also general requirements.
Safety of the materials from which the playpen is made. Preference should be given to natural wood or metal, not coated with toxic varnish or paint. The plastic used must not contain harmful components.
There are more requirements for design safety:
- The playpen should not fold spontaneously;
- Fastening elements are only recessed and not protruding above the surfaces;
- Fencing mesh - with small cells so that children's fingers do not get stuck;
- Availability of wheel locking;
- Soft edges and smooth corners.
The playpen should fit freely in the room, so before purchasing it would be a good idea to measure the free area allocated for it.
For those who are not strapped for cash, it is better to choose a model with additional functions: shelves for toys and bottles, rings or loops that help the child learn to walk, as well as game or music panels.
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