Portability: Does the playpen come with a storage or carry bag that enables you to take it with you when travelling or visiting family? More portable playpens tend to be a little less sturdy, but are ideal for occasional use. For those concerned that a playpen is a big investment, why not get your money's worth by opting for one that can be used in a variety of different ways? Our parent tester, Beccy, says, "Beyond its safety accolades, I love the BabyDan Deluxe Playpen for several reasons. Its design is sleek and modern (unlike some playpens which, IMHO, can be ghastly), and personally suits our home decor. The fabric play mat itself is detachable and easily washable, and the playpen itself can be easily cleaned with a wipe. I also love the fact you can attach things to the bars, like toys and a baby mobile, to create your own makeshift playden to suit your baby’s age."

Dimensions: ‎22 x 66 x 130cm | Age: Six months to 24 months (or 35 inches tall) | Material: Mesh sides and metal frame | Foldable: Yes | Assembly required: No What we like She used the Pop N Play to keep her baby and dog separate and felt confident leaving her daughter to play in it safely during the day.The mesh sides of the Costway Baby Playpen ensure complete visibility, allowing you to see your baby at all times even if you haven’t opted to climb inside yourself. The Z Fold 5 prioritizes being a tablet, so if you're looking for a big screen that you can carry anywhere, this is the phone for you.

Without question, baby playpens need to keep your little one safe. However, they also need to be easy to set up and easy to maintain. The Regalo My Portable Play Yard Indoor and Outdoor Playpen is water-resistant for both indoor and outdoor use and is super easy to clean. All you need to do is wipe it down with a damp cloth to keep it looking its best. You can even remove the bottom and netting for a deep clean when required. The wipe-down base is suitable for use indoors and outdoors and will keep bottoms dry even when the grass is damp. Indoors, you may want to place a mat or rug underneath for additional padding as the base material is relatively thin. First up, it’s hard to not comment on the baby blue design of this playpen, making a really unique choice compared to other playpens on the market. Dimensions: ‎81 x 65 x 16 cm | Age: Unspecified | Material: Metal | Foldable: Yes | Assembly required: Yes What we like I had the Summer Infant Pop N Play, which folded really easily when we weren't using it” - recommended by Mumsnet user Swearwolf Our verdict

9. Best playpen for travel: Koo-di Happy Home Foldable Playpen

Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 71cm | Age: Birth to 2 years | Material: Fabric (unspecified) | Foldable: No | Assembly required: Yes What we like If you’re bored with the incremental updates and minor tweaks you got with your last new phone, the Razr Plus will shake up your expectations for what a smartphone can be.

Dimensions: ‎36 x 33 x 12.5cm | Age: From birth to 2 years | Material: Polyester | Foldable: Pop-up design | Assembly required: No What we like We used this one. We filled it with ball pit balls and toys and popped my daughter in it for toilet trips, getting stuff in the car etc. I also used to bring it into the kitchen when I was cooking so I could chat and play while making dinner (well away from the job or any surfaces!)” - recommended by Mumsnet user MindatWork Our verdict

Ease of assembly: How easy is the playpen to assemble? Does it require tools to put together? If you’re not keen on sacrificing a whole section of your living room, you should consider how easy it is to fold down and store when not in use. We don’t live in a big house, so it’s great that you can take the panels out to make it smaller if need be" - recommended by Mumsnet user Pixiefringe