Venture All Stars Joy Baby Playpen - Pop Up Compact Play Pen - 360 Degree Viewing - Fitted Floor Mat - Foldable & Portable

Product Information

Not yet fully crawling but getting more mobile by the day, I was keen to see if this playpen would be handy during independent playtime when I needed to get things done around the house or simply go to the loo undisturbed. Our verdict on the Venture All Stars Duo Baby Playpen Stylish Grey Colorway: The elegant grey colorway complements most home decors, ensuring that it seamlessly fits into your living space. The activity panel is varied enough to remain interesting even after six months of use and the play mat is comfortable for babies to play on. The play mat is the most likely element to become dirty, but again this is easy to wipe down with a damp cloth when necessary.

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." The neutral design was also a big hit with parents, and they loved how this could suit any interior. Some however did worry about getting stains out of the light fabric. All our testers were big fans of the excellent quality and feel of this playpen – something you don't always get with these kinds of products.These are better for smaller spaces and are very easy to keep clean. These tend to be durable, which is great if you're planning to have more than one child. Do I need a baby playpen? Our mum testers loved the Venture All Stars JOY Baby Playpen for this, and they found they used this playpen on a daily basis. Despite the large size, our parent testers loved how easy it was to put up and put down and it stored away nicely in smaller spaces when not in use. Baby playpens certainly divide opinion. Some parents rate them as being a safe place for babies to play for short bursts of time once they are rolling or crawling. Others think they are unnecessary and restrictive. Durrant adds that no matter what age your child is, they should never be left unsupervised in a playpen.

We know as with all baby-related items, like baby blankets and baby changing bags, there's tons to choose from and it can be hard to know where to start. Sturdy Steel Frame & Soft Fabric: Crafted with a durable steel frame and soft fabric with mesh sides, the All Stars JOY Playpen provides a secure and comfortable play space for your child. While some iterations of playpens for babies are suitable for newborns to sleep in, Durrant tells us that children aged six to nine months will find them most beneficial. 'It’s at this stage when they may be more mobile, starting to roll, crawl or even pull themselves up that a playpen is most useful,' Durrant explains. Instant Setup & Compact Design: This playpen can be erected and collapsed in seconds, making it the ideal solution for parents on the go. Its portable and compact design ensures it takes up minimal room in your home.

The item feels well made and high quality. I really like the fact it is an understated grey colour rather than lurid colours with garish patterns. Other than being quite large, it wouldn't be a huge eye sore if you are bothered about the aesthetics of your home. The material is wipeable and is also entirely removable so that it can be machine washed - I think this is invaluable. Size-wise, it is quite large and it is pretty heavy too (15kg), which is worth bearing in mind. Although it comes with a handy carry bag with strap I wouldn't really describe it as portable due to its bulk and weight." While the playpen is roomy enough for my baby to move about in comfortably, I do think it has a relatively short shelf life overall, particularly for larger, more active toddlers. While the playpen has been designed with holes in the panels, some of which allow the panels to be lifted easily for storage, these are too big for fingers to get caught in but too small for curious babies to escape from. The tops of the panels, which are around 25 inches in height, are rounded for extra safety and the hinges are well protected. Positioned in the corner of my living room, the Venture All Stars Duo has been a prominent, and now permanent, feature of my home for the last few months.

Is the Venture All Stars Duo Baby Playpen something that all families need in their lives? No. But it will be a good buy if you know you’ll need somewhere for your baby to play and explore safely, especially when they start crawling and moving around more independently. About the author Now in popping pink our All Stars DUO playpen is a great space for your little one to play and relax safely! The two tone design gives the playpen a more attractive look, meaning you can happily place it in your lounge or nursery without the concern of it overwhelming the room with garish colours. The soft EVA playmats perfectly compliment the pink and white panels to make the pen a fun and engaging place for your little one to play. I find it most helpful to put my baby in it first thing in the morning when I’m preparing breakfast or need to clean the house or do some laundry. But she’s only a fan of the playpen for short amounts of time. I don’t like to keep her in it for too long either (I restrict use to half an hour maximum each day), so it’s ended up functioning as a toy storage box as well as an indoor play space. I personally haven’t found the suction cups to be an issue, mainly because the rectangular shape of the playpen keeps all the parts firmly in place. The playpen is also positioned in the corner of my living room between the wall and sofa, which keeps it stable. Features: Some playpens come with toys attached, some with padded flooring and others with overhead canopys suitable for outdoor use. Consider how you plan to use your pen and what features you and your baby will benefit from most.Laura Westerman is an editor, writer and Deputy Head of Editorial Content at Mumsnet. Mum to a one-year-old, she’s always keen to make playtime safe and fun for her daughter, so is fully invested in finding the best and most affordable baby products on the market. Read next: The best toys for 9-month-olds Price and competition: is the Venture All Stars Duo Baby Playpen good value for money? Read next: The best baby walkers to encourage those first steps What do babies think of the Venture All Stars Duo Baby Playpen?