Playpen Safety

What every parent needs to know about playpen safety

Considering that your little one will spend a lot of time sleeping and playing in his or her playpen, it’s important that you know how to make it as safe as possible.

Shop around

Playpen safety begins by purchasing one that is in proper condition. If you plan on purchasing one used or borrowing an old one from a friend, be sure to carefully inspect it before using it. As well as inspecting the playpen’s overall condition, you will want to look for any tears, holes, or loose threads in the meshing or the top railing cover. If the playpen is more than a couple of years old, you may even want to contact the manufacturer to ensure there haven’t been any recalls and it is still safe to use.

Read the manual

Once you have borrowed or purchased one, you should take a few minutes to review the playpen safety portion of the manual. This may help you determine if the particular style you selected presents any health or safety risks you weren’t aware of before.

Putting it together

Be sure to follow the assembly instructions carefully. A big part of playpen safety is simply making sure that the unit has been assembled properly. Be sure to use a firm, tight-fitting mattress and fitted sheet. Just like cribs, part of playpen safety is not filling the unit with stuffed toys, pillows, or blankets. If you do use a blanket, experts recommend using a thin one that can be tucked into the mattress.

Location

While you want the unit to be in a convenient location in your home, you also want it in a safe place. Remember, playpen safety involves reviewing the location of the unit and looking for potential health hazards such as blind cords, lamps, access to shelves, or anything that may cause the baby harm.