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Playpen reviews

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Last updated: 24 August 2023
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Checked for accuracy by our qualified fact-checkers, verifiers and subject experts. Find out more about fact-checking at CHOICE.

When your baby starts moving, they need a safe place to play. Our experts lab test and review child playpens of all materials to help you find one that'll give you peace of mind.

Our testers assess:

  • whether the playpens pass key safety requirements, such as lack of footholds and strangulation hazards
  • ease of assembly and operation
  • whether the playpens pose limb or head entrapment risks.
 

In the absence of an Australian standard for playpens, we use international standards and in-house CHOICE methods (based on existing standards for things like cots) to test playpens. Some models may be worth considering if they only have minor hazards, while others may pose more serious risks.

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Our interactive comparison tool helps you find out dimensions and key features, and our Recommended list will show you at a glance which models come out on top.

This test includes some discontinued models which may still be available to buy second-hand. To include discontinued products in your search, select 'Discontinued' under the 'Related products' tab on the left of this page.

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CHOICE is an independent, nonprofit organisation dedicated to helping consumers. Clicking a link will take you to a retailer's website to shop. While we make money if you buy through some retailer links, this doesn't influence any of our rankings. 100% of the money we make goes straight back into our nonprofit mission. We're currently testing this service and will consider providing more shopping links in the future. Tell us what you think.

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Brand

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List of brands we tested in this review.

    Price

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    This is a typical retail price, but you may find it cheaper by shopping around.

    enter value/s in increments of 1 between 65 and 399

    Recommended products

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    Passed key safety requirements

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    Models that pass key safety requirements have no serious issues. Ones that score around 60-65% for performance may have minor hazards such as a door that doesn't self-close or edges/projections that could injure if a child runs into them. Serious failures include detachable small parts, snagging/strangulation hazards, climbing footholds or failure of the limb or head entrapment requirements of both Australian cot and European playpen standards.

      Performance score

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      Whether the playpen passes our safety requirements. We look at footholds, head/limb entrapment, security and more.

      enter value/s in increments of i between 0 and 100

      Ease of use score

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      How easy the playpens are to set up and pack up, and how easy it is for a carer to access a child in the playpen.

      enter value/s in increments of i between 27 and 70

      Weight including accessories (kg)

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      Overall weight of the playpen. Individual panel specifications may vary.

      enter value/s in increments of i between 3.2 and 18.3

      Included in this review

      Members-only access
      • CHOICE Expert Rating
      • Ease of use score
      • Passed key safety requirements
      • Country of origin
      • Good points
      • Bad points
      • Performance score
      • Price
      • Recommended
      • Shape
      • Material
      • Height (cm)
      • Width (cm)
      • Length (cm)
      • Dimensions when set up (cm, H X W x D)
      • Weight including accessories (kg)
      • Mattress
      • Gate

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