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

Overall score consists of 70% performance score (including safety tests) and 30% ease of use score.

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.

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, clmbing footholds or failure of the limb or head entrapment requirements of both Australian cot and European playpen standards.

Products we've recommended have passed all our safety and durability tests. We sometimes find that no products pass all our safety tests, so that we can't recommend any, but usually find some models with only minor failures that are still worth considering.

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

The main shape of the playpen. Some can be configured into different shapes. We generally test with the largest shape.

Our measured dimensions, which can vary if the playpen has multiple configurations.

A padded base adds comfort and may be an optional extra.

A gate is handy to avoid bending over to take your child out. Unsafe playpens don't have sufficiently childproof gates.