A good playpen will provide you with precious minutes to get things all while keeping baby occupied. Whether you need to clean up a mess or just want to encourage some independent play time, playpens often serve as a multi functional must have. When testing playpens we look at value for money, size, ability to fold and ease of assembly as well as the material the playpen is made out of. Dimensions: H63 cm x W72 cm x L103 cm | Age: Birth to 15kg (approx 3 years) | Material: Sustainably sourced beech wood | Foldable: Yes | Assembly required: Yes (tools required) What we like The age you should stop using a playpen is when your child can climb out. Most parents find that when a baby can pull themselves up, they might start to get tired of being in the playpen if it’s small. How much does a baby playpen cost?

Overall, the BabyDan Deluxe Playpen is the best playpen to buy as it’s safe, attractive to look at, comfortable for your baby and incredibly flexible too. Whilst it’s not cheap, the ability to adjust and reposition the sides to suit your environment certainly makes it worth the investment. It can even be used as a room divider with additional wall fixings. How we chose our recommendations Recommendations from real parents Although the majority of the wall panels are made from mesh material, this playpen is reinforced with strong structural support, with adjustable feet in each corner. The zip-fasten hatches also allow for easy access for crawling infants.

Materials are also very important when it comes to selecting a playpen. Babies have a tendency to chew on anything they can get their hands on, so plastic should be BPA-free and non-toxic. Maintenance should also be taken into account. This square-shaped baby playpen from award-winning brand Venture is not only spacious and designed to British Safety Standards, but comes with cushioned jigsaw play mat and a bag of brightly coloured balls too.

Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 71cm | Age: Birth to 2 years | Material: Fabric (unspecified) | Foldable: No | Assembly required: Yes What we like Dimensions: 190cm x 150cm x 70cm | Age: Unspecified | Material: 210D Oxford Cloth + Iron + PE | Foldable: No | Assembly required: Yes (no tools required) What we like If you’re keen to embrace the modern and natural Scandi vibe in your child’s nursery or living space, or are simply looking for a more eco-friendly playpen, the Mokee Foldaway Playpen is likely to be a popular choice.Our Millhouse Playpens are fun, yet stylish and will allow your child to have an open play area without creating a mess. This playpen will allow your child to learn and have fun all in one open space. This playpen also has a fantastic folding feature, it is perfect for saving space as you can put it away when not in use.

Sturdy Steel Frame & Soft Fabric: Crafted with a durable steel frame and soft fabric with mesh sides, the All Stars JOY Playpen provides a secure and comfortable play space for your child. Fabric-sided baby playpens - Tends to be portable and easily assembled. Allows your little one to push and tumble without getting hurt or feeling too restricted. The soft play mat flooring also makes this a safe place for your little one to play. The padded base is also water-resistant, making it suitable for indoor outdoor use and easy to clean. Pros Gated playpens - Gated playpens keep your little ones safe and secure while you get on with other things around your home. It can also give your crawling baby or toddler a little freedom to come and go safely. Easy to assemble and disassemble, you’ll be relieved to know that the BabyDan doesn't need any tools to put it together. You can simply reposition and realign the pieces to suit your environment, even changing the location of the door.

I used ours for all three of my sons and all loved it. The large BabyDan one is great. It comes with a lovely, padded floor cover (my son used to always conk out for his morning nap!) and opens out to become a room divider, so is really, really useful” - tried and tested by Mumsnet user wildbhoysmama Our verdict Today's playpens are made to be safe, ensuring nothing but fun and comfort for your child, and peace of mind for parents. With so many available options on the market, there's no reason why you wouldn't be able to find the best playpen to suit your needs. What age is a playpen suitable for? Are you still too busy taking care of your baby to have time for housework and rest? This baby playpen can free your hands and give your children space to explore independently. The colourful panels will also stimulate young minds, while the interactive wall elements provide plenty of distraction. The reliable safety gate will also prevent little ones from wandering away form their playpen, providing parents with peace of mind. Pros Dimensions: How much space do you have for a playpen? Some playpens are extremely large and spacious whilst others have a smaller footprint. Consider whether the size is fixed or if the playpen offers some choice depending on the positioning or removal of panels. A larger-sized playpen is great if you want to get inside too, whilst a smaller playpen is ideal if you are limited on space.