Our mum testers loved the Venture All Stars JOY Baby Playpen for this, and they found they used this playpen on a daily basis. The game panel can not only stimulate children's imagination but also exercise their cognitive ability and motor skills.

There's a wide variety of playpens from travel cot playpens to plastic panelled playpens, gated, wood, metal, multipurpose and activity playpens - most features depend on what age your child is at.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.

Any well-made playpen should last for as long as you need it – although you should monitor it for any signs of damage such as tears to mesh sides or chips from the bars. In general you might want to stop using a baby playpen when your little one starts to get big enough to walk and work things out (like how to open a play pen door or gate!) or is able to climb over the walls. There is no set cut-off point but you might want to stop using one by the time your child is 18-24 months old. How big are baby playpens? 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. One tester said, "My little one loved the playpen - he can be incredibly fussy and doesn’t like to be left alone for too long, but the netted sides and peekaboo hole meant he never felt that mum and dad were too far away. I loved how big the playpen was as it meant I could fit lots of his toys in there to keep him busy while I could get on with my mummy duties." A baby playpen gives your baby a safe place to play, while always under your watchful eye. The self-contained units are usually made from wood, plastic, or metal. Most baby playpens are lightweight, so they can be easily carried around the house and stored.

Can I use a second-hand play pen for my baby?

Foldable - Designed with a simple fold-and-go design, which is easy to set up and dismantle within seconds. If you also want to transport it, they tend to come with a carry case with an arm strap. Now if you're looking for the perfect gift for an expecting mother, why not treat her to a restful night's sleep - all thanks to a body pillow. Whether her bump is still growing or needs the extra support when it comes to feeding - we've found the best body pillows. They are also great when it comes to needing extra joint support at night. Make sure there are no large items inside the playpen that your baby can step on to and use to climb out