Playpens
Wesco's range of playpens is designed to encourage babies to spend some time in quiet play and rest. Each playpen is square in shape with four, shaped sides and a base that is attached by Velcro. The playpens are made from vinyl-covered foam that can be easily wiped clean. Available in three 'themes': Countryside; Sea and Four Seasons, the playpens come with a set of accessories appropriate to the theme. Each pen measures 100(l) x 100(w) x 12cm thick, with a minimum height of 25cm and comes with a two-year guarantee. Priced from Pounds 265.40.
Telephone 0115 986 2126 www.wesco-group.com
Graco's PNP Sport is a playpen and sun cabana in one. This playpen has 'an all season aluminium frame', is hexagonally shaped and is designed to pop up and be ready for use in under 10 seconds. The base of the pen is water-resistant and the sides are mesh to aid air circulation. The pen includes a lockable hatch to keep babies secure, but this can be left unlocked if you wish to use the pen as a playhouse for older children. The PNP Sport has a removable sun canopy and is made from UV resistant material (50+UPF). It also comes with a storage holdall and weighs 5.2kg. Available in 'Cascade', which is blue and grey with an orange trim, and 'Olympic', which is blue with a navy and green trim; the playpen measures 99(l) x 99(w) x 71(h)cm and is suitable from birth to five years. Priced 99.99.
On a slightly smaller scale, the Compact Pack and Play, also from Graco, has a patented folding system that takes less than a minute to complete.
This playpen-come-travel cot measures 104(l) x 73(w) x 78(h)cm and weighs 9.1kg. There are three liveries available: Jean Jeanie, which is denim and red; Primary, which is blue, yellow, green and red and Toy Trucks, which is yellow, black, green or with a truck pattern. Suitable for birth to three years, priced 49.99.
Telephone 0870 909 0501 www.graco.co.uk
Another quick and easy set up is Early Years Resources' new Plastic Playpen. This consists of eight moulded, round edged panels that slot together to form a corral that measures 110 x 110 x 58cm. This playpen is available in primary colours, priced 79.95.
Telephone 0161 873 8181 www.earlyyearsresources.co.uk
Quiet spaces
The HideAway Cube is specifically designed to enable children to have a space where they can play or rest quietly. The cube has one solid wave panel and one clear wave panel, a mirrored wall and an entrance arch. The panels measure 24 x 32in and the arch measures 3ft x 24in. A Flowie (the soft netting cover, shown left) is designed to allow the child to feel secure while carers can still see in. The Hideaway Cube, with Flowie, as shown, is priced 370 and comes with a 10-year guarantee from Community Playthings.
Telephone 0800 387 457 www.communityplaythings.co.uk
If you want to make a space for younger children or babies to play safely without interruption from older ones you could simply fence off an area indoors or when you are all spending time outside. The Play Fence & Gate Set from Early Years Resources is quick to set up and put away again. The set comes with three fence panels that have two solid beech connecting feet to provide good stability; the play gate has a fitted latch and a castor for ease of movement. The fence panels and gate are made from MDF in bright red, yellow and blue. Each piece measures 600(h) x 1200(w) x 15(d)mm. The set is priced Pounds 199.95.
Telephone as above.
OUT OF THE SUN
It's not so easy for babies to move themselves out of the sun when necessary and so it's vital if you're going on outings, or playing outside, to provide a safe shelter for the youngest in your group.
The Pop-Up UV Sun Shade from Letterbox can provide shade for two babies at a time and is made from fabric that protects from UV rays (up to factor 50). The shade has a ventilation panel to keep air circulating and a door that flaps down to provide a ground sheet. The Pop-Up Sun Shade is igloo-shaped and comes in bright blue and red with a yellow trim, measuring 96.5(h) x 107(sq. base)cm. A carry bag and four ground stakes for sand or grass are also provided. Priced 19.99.
Telephone 0870 600 7878 www.letterbox.co.uk
Great Little Trading's Sun Cabanas come in two sizes. The Family Cabana measures 140(h) x 220(w) x 130(d) cm, which provides enough space for three to four people. The Baby Cabana measures 90(h) x 130(w) x 100(d)cm and has a built-in floor. Both shelters provide 50+ UV protection from the sun and come with flexible aluminum frames that fold into carry bags. The shelters also have two ballast pockets that can be filled with sand to keep them stable or they can be anchored with the plastic pegs included. Priced 29.99 for the Baby Cabana and 49.99 for the larger model.
Telephone 0870 850 6000 www.gltc.co.uk
HEAVY-DUTY AID
The Baby Evacuation Cot is not, strictly speaking, a playpen but it is a useful piece of equipment to have. Following on from the popular three-compartment Evacuation Trolley, this new cot has a single compartment and can be used as part of evacuation procedure and also as a heavy-duty cot. Constructed from the same heavy-duty steel frames and fire-retardant PVC and mesh fabric, this cot can be folded against a wall. The cot measures 135(l) x 65(w) x 85(h)cm, priced 249.95 from Active Learning.
Telephone 0115 9606111 www.activelearning-uk.com
