Let's be honest - we can't hold baby 24/7. There will be a time when we need to put baby down to do other chores, such as when you cook in the kitchen, shower or even just a brief trip to the toilet.
A playpen (or playard as it is more known about nowadays) lets you do just that. Here are some of the best Boxing Day Sales we've found for you from leading brands in the market!
1. Top 5 Best Baby Playpen (traditional)
First on the list is this Baby Care Play Mat Playpen (no surprises there actually, considering how much we love the brand's play mat as reviewed here) that is made up of 10 panels to enclose 31.6 square feet of space for baby to play about.
Selected as the "Best of the Best" playpen by Amazon Verified Expert, this playpen is completely free from any harmful materials like Phthalate, BPA, Lead, Latex, Formaldehyde and EVA, making it a non-toxic and safe play space for your baby.
To add to this, it has thick, rounded/curved edges and double-lock holders lock on top and bottom for added stability.
The unique panel-by-panel design makes it possible to arrange Play Pens and Playmats side-by-side for an even bigger play space for babies to explore.
Unlike other playpens that are easily pushed and moves around, this one here stably keeps its shape and position thanks to its strong non-slip pads and place holders.
Don't underestimate the importance of this - your baby will be leaning onto it very often as they learn to walk so it is important that the playpen stands strong without collapsing onto them.
Works well with all Baby Care play mats such as this non-toxic baby playpen mattress here
, this playpen is waterproof for you to wipe it down and keep it hygienic always.
This is very important because it is vital that you keep this area always clean.
Hands down one of the best baby playpen in the market, the Baby Care Play Mat Playpen is very easy to assemble and disassemble with no tools required.
Being made of top quality non toxic materials, it does come slightly on the pricier side but we think it is worth the investment made to provide a safe environment for your little one.
Available in four colours including pink for those that want a feminine baby girl playpen for their little princess!
Coming close in second is the Kidzone Baby Playpen. Parents who are looking for a baby playpen 8 panel - this is for you.
We love the flexibility of this playpen in that the 8 panels are interchangeable to increase or decrease its size or shape.
You can use all 8 panels or less (it’s up to you) and shape it to be square, rectangle, hexagon or octagon.
This gives you full control to create any size play space for your child that will fit anywhere in your house, be it in the middle of a room or in a corner.
Works great on a carpet or hardwood floor, the Kidzone Baby Playpen comes with a locking gate that is very secure, a great feature to walk in and out of your toddler in the playpen.
If you place it on hardwood floor, there are suction cups provided on each panel to stick better for stability.
A built-in activity board that features a picture house, spinning balls & play phone are educational and great for children to work with and enjoy. It will keep your little one safe while they learn and explore
Overall, the Kidzone Baby Playpen is a good choice for those that'd need a more flexible playpen for their children. Like Baby Care, it is very easy to assemble and disassemble too with no tools required and while it may not be as non-toxical as the former, it is also BPA and Lead free.
Priced lower than Baby Care, this is a more affordable high quality baby playpen for those that have a tighter budget.
With 14 panels that cover up to 26 square feet, the Gupamiga Baby Playpen Kids Activity Centre is one large baby playpen that is designed with a rubber base underneath to keep it standing sturdy on the floor and not be pushed or dragged by children.
Which is a very important feature if your little one is learning to stand or walk inside the enclosed area. You don't want the playpen to slide around because your baby will be leaning or gripping very often to the panel as s/he work their way balancing themselves.
This leads to our next point - the height of the fence is just long and tall enough for baby to hold onto and walk about without being too much.
Made of BPA free, non-toxic and non-recycled materials with HDPE, you can be sure there is no odor to it which can be present in some other plastic baby playpen.
The moulding technique makes the structure stronger and more durable for years and each junction where the panels are joined has an anti-clip design to safeguard kids from the danger of being stuck by the playpen.
It also has safety locks to give you a sense of assurance that your children are playing within an enclosed limit.
If you don't already know, children are psychologically attracted to colours and animations which spontaneously makes them cheerful and turns on their mood.
The use of professional colour design makes this yard eye-catching and gives children a sense of protection while they are playing.
If you are looking for a big baby playpen, you will not be disappointed with the Gupamiga Baby Playpen Kids Activity Centre
.
It covers such a large amount of space, you can even lie in it with baby during play time or keep extra toys and colouring books for children to make their time more productive in the playpen.
The North States Superyard Colorplay 8 Panel Playard is another baby playpen 8 panel that can be reconfigured to different shapes and sizes to fit a variety of spaces.
The Colorplay 8 panel can be used on any surface in your home including: carpet, tile, hardwood floors, etc with non slip, skid-resistant pads to prevent the panels from scratching and slipping.
Setting it up is easy - the eight interlocking panels are pre-connected. Simply pull the panels out of the box, unfold and connect them together like a puzzle.
The pin on either end of the panel will sit perfectly in the plunger for a secure fit.
One tip: as you unfold each panel, you will hear a clicking sound which is the self-locking positioning feature. This intended feature gives the play yard added strength and stability.
The weather resistant material means that this can be an outdoor playpen too.
Weighing less than 30 pounds, the lightweight panels fold up easily for you to take it anywhere.
Simply fold the panels in alternating directions and slip one end of the carrying strap through the mesh of each outside panel.
This high quality, eight-panel brightly coloured playard encloses up to 34.45 square feet and has a free standing height of 26 inches.
Proudly made in the USA by a company that offers the largest assortment of gates and play yards, all come with a limited full-year warranty and are certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) in the market.
You can be sure that the North States Superyard Colorplay 8 Panel Playard is one baby playpen that you can trust.
If all of the above playpens are still considered small for you, the Ashtonbee Playpen Activity Center will be your best choice with its 16-panel structure.
With this extra large playpen baby, you can build a play area that is large enough without worrying about cramped space anymore.
If space ever becomes limited, you may adjust the panels to make a smaller playpen. It is easy to set up and assemble this play center without a need for fancy and complicated tools.
Once you have it up, your kid/s will not be able to remove the panels on their own, especially when there is a rubber base underneath to keep it standing sturdily.
There are also safety locks that will make sure your baby won’t be able to go out of the playpen.
The Ashtonbee has different eye-catching panel colors with different shapes and designs as well as textures for your kids to enjoy while learning. The easy-to-clean material also makes it a good baby outdoor playpen.
The Ashtonbee Playpen Activity Center is released only quite recently but parents who have bought it have unanimously given it a 5 out of 5 rating so you know this is one top rated baby playpen.
It is covered by 100% lifetime warranty so in the event you'd ever regretted your purchase, you're in good hands with the brand's no-risk, no-questions asked Money Back Guarantee.
2. Top 5 Best Baby Playpen (modern/ multifunctional)
You know we love the Summer Infant portable high chair / booster seat as reviewed here so it's no surprise that the brand's Pop N' Play Portable Playard make the top of our list of modern baby playpens.
As you can tell from its appearance, this is a portable playpen that can be used both indoors and outdoors.
It is ultra lightweight (12lbs!) with its minimal structure and mesh material (that provides added visibility) and it is very easy to set up and take down with its pop-and-use feature.
As the folding metal frame comes fully assembled and unfolds in seconds, it is perfect for you to bring it out and about besides using it at home.
The water resistant canvas floor helps keep baby dry even on damp grass so you can bring it to a day at the park or a weekend at the beach.
And for even more convenience, a travel bag with shoulder strap is included for traveling.
Measuring at 14 square feet (48" wide and 26" tall), the freestanding Summer Infant Pop N' Play Portable Playard is of a good size that is not too big nor too small for baby's play space.
If you foresee you'll be using this outdoor a lot, we recommend getting a corresponding canopy to keep baby sheltered from the harmful rays as well as from any rain.
Another portable baby playpen that we are really liking is the Babyseater Pack and Play Portable Playard.
Very similar to the Summer Infant Pop N' Play, this baby playpen opens and folds up easily too - something you can do with just 1 hand so that your other hand is free to hold your child.
What's different is that the Babyseater has an opening that baby can crawl in or out - don't worry, you can lock up this opening if you're not present to supervise baby so that baby is completely secured inside it.
Not just that, there are 2 safety locks to keep your baby completely secure so that you can have peace of mind that baby is always safe.
This small portable baby playpen is easy to bring about anywhere as it is made of durable, lightweight metal and comes with a convenient carrying case.
And you don't have to worry about wet grass or the like - the playard base is made of padded, water-resistant fabric that is removable for machine wash.
Many parents have expressed their amazement as the high quality of the Babyseater Pack and Play Portable Playard, considering it is priced at such an affordable range (below $100).
If you'd want more versatility in that baby is allowed to crawl in and out of the playard when supervised, then you will certainly love this mesh baby playpen.
If the Babyseater is a small baby playpen, then the Regalo My Play Portable Playard is exactly the opposite.
This 8 panel baby octagon playpen is one large outdoor playpen that you can easily accommodates children between 6-24 months.
Boasting an all-steel construction, this attractive play yard measures 62" wide and 26" high and was built with durability and strength in mind.
Equipped with soft, ventilating mesh sides, the fully assembled yard is designed to set up instantly and fold down compactly with a single motion.
To secure, push down on the foot locks - it's that simple. It also includes a carry case with arm strap for travel, on the go or storage.
As mentioned above, the Regalo is made with an all-steel frame that has reinforced stitching and a double locking system for extra safety. The nylon bottom provides protection from rough surfaces, as well as water-resistant for easy clean up.
What we really like about this type of baby playpen is that you don't have to worry about weight limit since it sits so closely to the ground so you don't have to worry about it toppling over.
If you think such a big portable playpen will be expensive, you're wrong.
Backed by a manufacturer's limited 90-day warranty, the Regalo My Play Portable Play Yard has a safety gate that has been certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and is overall a very affordable piece.
Moving away from hexagonal and octagon outdoor playpens, let's now look at the Joovy New Room2 Portable Playard, a modern playard with over 10 square feet of space.
There are many playards like this in the market but the Room2 is our favourite because it is much bigger (nearly 50% more) than many others.
This is important because baby will not be as crammed and will have more space to play.
Same as the playards mentioned above, the Joovy Room2 can be moved outdoors as well so that is another plus (two wheels are provided for portability).
One thing worth mentioning is that the Room2 has a very reliable and durable built to that it can endure multiple kids. It can even be used in playgroups, in other words, it can withstand the use of growing families.
The low center of gravity as well as heavier footprint made this possible, but don't think its weight will restrict its portabilitity.
The Room2 can be folded in a traditional playard manner and a travel bag is included to facilitate trips so this is definitely a good baby travel playpen to have.
For families with twins, the Room2 is an essential piece as it offers abundant room for two babies.
Simply add the Twin Nursery Center to your Room2 and you'll get a bassinet that holds two babies up to 15 lbs each (including a divider for two separate napping areas) and a changing table that holds baby up to 25 lbs.
Other features include a heavy duty padded mattress that can support a baby from 0M+ up to 35” and a 100% cotton fitted sheet that is waterproof to help keep the playard dry and tidy.
It is more expensive than the above 3 modern playards, however, the Joovy New Room2 Portable Playard offers a 2 Year Warranty - double that of many contenders'. You can be assured that your satisfaction is guaranteed with this one.
The Baby Trend Deluxe Nursery Center is a 3 in 1 baby playpen that gives so much convenience to your daily lifestyle!
Similar to the Graco Baby Playpen or Disney Baby Playpen that many of you are probably very familiar with, this baby crib playpen has a removable full bassinet with canopy, flip away changing table, parent organizer, toy/storage pocket and travel/storage tote bag.
It also comes with large wheels with brakes with one-hand locking mechanism so in the event you need to move it from room to room, you can do so with ease.
In bassinet mode, an electronic music center with volume control and night light is provided to soothe and lure your little one to sleep.
When awake, simply remove the bassinet, flip the changing table to the side and voila, you have an enclosed playpen with mesh sides for baby to play in.
While the baby trend playpen is definitely very convenient by being a 3 in 1 baby playpen, it does have its limitation - specifically, age.
The bassinet/changing table is limited from birth to 4 months or 15lbs/25inches whichever comes first, whereas the playard's from birth to 30lbs or 35 inches.
Unlike all the playpens that we've reviewed above, your baby does outgrow this one in a much faster rate.
Otherwise, the Baby Trend Deluxe Nursery Center is certainly one of the best playpen bassinet combo we'd highly recommend to those that are looking for one.
