All parents know how dangerous it can be to simply leave a child playing in the living room while you are busy managing the chores.
However, using a good play yard gate can help create ideal barriers to protect the babies from harming themselves while playing. Play-yard gates are the best way to create a protected enclosure for your children to play inside.
Therefore, we shall tell you about the best baby play yard gates available in the market today.
The best thing about the Evenflo Versatile Play Space Yard Gate is the amount of space it offers. I personally feel that having more space within a play yard is a great feature to emulate outdoor settings, where children should ideally play. I found this particular model to be quite versatile, as it plays its role well, be it in the playground or in the living room. The best baby play yard gates are the ones that are completely adjustable and whose panels can be folded. As a parent, an adjustable yard gate like this is important to have so that you can protect the baby in all conditions.
What Else Is Good
When you put your child within a frame like this, it is important that the structure does not harm your child in any way because they will surely hit it at some point. To ensure safety, Evenflo Versatile Play Space Yard Gates have rounded edges and not the regular sharp corners.
Added safety is a big plus-point for parents like me and that’s why I love this product. Connecting the panels is quite easy as it works on the push-button, hinge design. Moreover, one can easily pull the panels apart to dismantle the frame by pressing the hinge button. The panels are compact and you can stack each panel over the other and keep the unit aside neatly.
Pros
Play space- 5 Stars
Safety- 5 stars
Versatility- 4 stars
Assembly- 4 stars
Adjustability- 4 stars
Cons
It’s built like a ladder. So some children can easily climb out of it.
The most attractive thing about the BABYSEATER Portable Playard Playpen is that it has a see-through mesh design. It is surely good for parents to keep an eye on the child, but having a breathable mesh framework makes it more comfortable for children.
While mesh play space yard gates or playpens are usually light, I found this one to be ultralight and very easy to lift and carry. Ultimately, it makes parenting easier as there is no stress whatsoever in taking this portable playard playpen to parks. You can simply relax on the grass while the baby has a fun time playing inside it. It is one of the best baby playpens you will find.
What Else Is Good
Another advantage is that you can wash it in a regular mesh bag. With the pandemic still looming around, this is a good feature that allows you to keep contaminants away from your child. Even though it has a super light design, there is not much compromise on durability. Of course, mesh being the prominent material, it is not as durable as plastic yard gates. I’ve received highly positive reviews from users saying that they’ve used the BABYSEATER Portable Playard Playpen for more than a couple of years now. For the kind of quality that you are getting, the price is reasonable as well. In all, it is a great product which is fast becoming the first choice of parents these days.
Pros
Breathable Mesh Design- 5 stars
Easy to Set Up- 4 stars
Affordable- 4 stars
Lightweight- 4 stars
Washable- 4.5 Stars
Cons
Mesh can tear if you don’t handle the playpen gently.
Being a freestanding 8-panel Play Yard, it is one of the most spacious yards I’ve come across till now. If you’ve got a couple of kids or more, this should definitely be your first choice. For at least one year or two, the kind of space that it provides will be more than sufficient for your kids to move around and play.
Personally, I’ve seen very few play yard gates that offer as much free space for older kids as the Toddleroo by North States Superyard Ultimate 8 Panel Baby Play Yard. If you do not have enough space to set up the yard in its maximum size, you can adjust the panels very easy to make the frame compact.
Besides offering a lot of space, the structure of these panels is quite firm too. Therefore, even three-year-old kids are unable to push the panels aside or open the gates themselves. If your kids like playing outside more than indoors, you will need a sturdy play yard like this.
What Doesn’t Work
This entire setup has only a single problem, which is the most common one highlighted by most users. It is meant to be a play yard gate and not just a simple panel. However, fixing the doors of this play yard is extremely difficult. Parents find it difficult to pull the hinges apart even after using a lot of force. Therefore, it is a good product as a divider for most people but not as a gate.
Pros
Spacious- 5 stars
Decent Height – 4 stars
Adjustable- 3.5 stars
Durable- 3.5 stars
Safety- 3 stars
Cons
The door mechanism is quite cumbersome to understand and use.
Essentially, this product is exactly the same as the one that we have discussed before. However, by introducing a colorful design and by removing all the hassles with the door mechanism, the brand has done a great service to its customers. Again, you get the same amount of space and a sturdy frame, but this time with a lot of colors and easy maintenance.
At a young age, life is all about colors and the Toddleroo by North States Superyard Colorplay 8 Panel Baby Play Yard takes care of it pretty well. Personally, I would even prefer such a colorful play yard for myself if I were to play inside it. But as a parent, what’s more, relieving is that the door mechanism has been made simpler in this model.
It is also easier to install this play Yard. Six panels out of eight come pre-connected and you just need to keep it wherever you want your child to play. When you want to increase the space, you will have to fix the other two panels in between. Making adjustments to the structure is pretty straightforward in the Toddleroo by North States Superyard Colorplay 8 Panel Baby Play Yard.
What Doesn’t Work
Safety has been a big concern for all parents who have used this play yard for their kids. They say that the panel has sharp edges and the sidewalls are excessively flexible, making them incapable of blocking the child effectively. Several kids have had cuts and bleeding due to the sharp plastic edges as well.
The best part here is that the manufacturers have made an effort to make a gate and not a playing enclosure as such. The gates are tall, stylish, and strong enough not to let your child cross over. It is a pack of 4 walls or panels that can block a horizontal length of about 192-inches. If you don’t know how much that actually is, trust me, it is long enough to cover the entrance of any room whatsoever.
That way, it is also the most effective baby play yard gate. Not just for babies, I have seen people use it for their puppies and dogs as well. So, if you have those kinds of requirements, you can think of buying the Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard. Although it is not written in the product description, whether it can be used outdoors or not, people have had great experiences using it in gardens or even in balconies for that matter.
So, it is a versatile product that can be used as fencing for your little garden too. If you can buy two of these units, you will be able to make a huge play yard enclosure for your kids. It’s super fun to play inside it!
The setting up of this panel is also quite easy. You just need to follow the instructions in the manual, and your job is done. However, do not experiment on making different kinds of enclosures such as square or circular ones. That way, the structure will be weak and you will not get a strong frame. Otherwise, installation is not a problem and the panels are strong enough to withstand a regular amount of wear and tear.
What Doesn’t Work
Most of the play yards that you come across these days are having some really serious safety concerns. While all the focus is on increasing the space and the durability of the panels, I think the safety issues are being gravely neglected. The same is the case with the Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard. It has small circular openings inside the side walls where children tend to put in their fingers. Apparently, the holes have sharp plastic borders that can cause cuts and bleeding.
Another possible safety hazard is the small door piece that comes with every package. The door piece is a small cylindrical block, which has to be fitted to complete the door setup. However, children can end up swallowing such tiny pieces, which will eventually lead to choking. So, the company needs to provide some safety warnings on the box or the manual so that parents are aware of such things beforehand.
Other complaints of missing essential parts in the box, or the color fading away very quickly are also common amongst consumers. However, I did not face any of these difficulties myself. Just keep an eye out for such things if you plan to buy the Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard.
North States is certainly the brand that stands out in this review. Another great product with high utility, the Toddleroo 3 in 1 Metal Superyard: 198″ Long Extra Wide Baby Gate is capable of offering several great benefits. One can use it as a simple playard. It is portable and can be carried along to parks as well. The product works equally well as a simple gate.
A great 198-inch length makes it one of the best play yard gates in the market. Lastly, you can also use it as a fence, fireplace, or small house garden. Overall, the versatility of the Toddleroo by North States 3 in 1 Metal Superyard: 198″ Long Extra Wide Baby Gate is what made me fall for it. Besides, the kind of area it covers is also fascinating in itself.
I was also happy to see the special efforts they have made to increase the safety of this play yard gate. The lock mechanisms or the edges are adequately designed keeping in mind how babies may interact with them. The self-closing mechanism is unique, and the foldable nature of the panels makes life easy for the parents too.
Adjustability is an important factor to consider before buying a play space yard gate. It allows you to customize the yard and the enclosure size depending on the kind of space available. Especially for indoor environments, adjustable panels and 3-in-1 benefits are wonderful things to have.
What Doesn’t Work
While the adjustable nature of the panels is a great feature, it is also a big source of the problem when it comes to the Toddleroo by North States 3 in 1 Metal Superyard: 198″ Long Extra Wide Baby Gate. The instructions given in the manual are not clear. So, if you can figure out how to set up the entire play yard gate, you will have no trouble with the product.
However, for first-time users or even for some experienced ones, the absence of important information from the manual is a big letdown. For instance, it does not mention that you can only set up the play yard gate with an even number of panels.
If you are not in a position to set up the entire structure with six panels due to space constraints, you will have to purchase an accessory separately from their website to be able to set up the gate with an odd number of panels.
I even noticed some problems with the sturdiness of the panels. Firstly, it was hard to attach it against a wall. When I actually managed to do that, it seemed as if all panels would fall apart instantly. No doubt Toddleroo by North States 3 in 1 Metal Superyard: 198″ Long Extra Wide Baby Gate scores well on other parameters, but considering the performance of its competitors in terms of durability, the manufacturers should think of a new design soon.
The first thing that I noticed about this panel that compelled me to purchase it was that it is a really cute fence. The design is attractive for kids and colorful enough for them to enjoy playing around it. It has got these fancy knobs and buttons, which the child can press and play with very easily. The door panel of this fence is quite good and easy to install.
The gate mechanism is simple and does not involve any complex setup or instructions for installation. The size is decent enough to cover large areas, and therefore, you can create a big-sized enclosure for your child to play in.
The panels are quite adjustable. You can add or remove any panel from the frame as per your requirements. Moreover, it is very easy to mount the entire frame against a wall. The product is quite versatile as you can use it in both indoor and outdoor settings. Superior materials are used to make these panels that are completely safe for kids to be around.
What Doesn’t Work
The problem is that they are excessively flexible. So, they bend quickly whenever you put some force on them. Moreover, they have a ladder-like design on which kids invariably try to climb upon. Therefore, even though there are no sharp edges, the panel becomes quite dangerous for children. If you have older kids, like three or four-year-olds, you should not purchase the Toddleroo by North States Superyard 6 Panel Baby Play Yard/Barrier with Wall Mount Kit because the panels are not strong enough to block or bear the weight of your kids.
Pros
Cute Design- 4 stars
Wall Mounting- 3 stars
Adjustable- 3 stars
Safe- 3 stars
Cons
Over flexible
Ladder-like design on which children can climb easily.
It’s a large play fence with panels being foldable. It is easy to fit the panel in your car and carry it along on a picnic or any outing, for that matter. The Fortella Cloud Castle Foldable Playpen, Baby Safety Play Yard with Whiteboard and Activity Wall has well-curated round edges that ensure the safety of the child. Moreover, there are some cute toys and a whiteboard on which children can scribble and enjoy. Parents do not need to step over the fence to get in or out. The door works perfectly well, making it one of the best baby play yard gates.
The fence is sturdy enough to remain upright when your child leans against it. It is an important feature to help children balance themselves when they are learning how to stand or walk.
What Doesn’t Work
The height of the fence is quite low. It will be suitable for kids who are very young but for two or three-year-olds, it would be too easy to climb and topple over. It might also be difficult for some parents to adjust the frame as per the space that they have in their house. It is almost impossible to arrange the panels in a square or a circular pattern. Customers do not get the option to buy extra panels, which is a problem because sometimes you fall short of panels while preparing the play yard, especially outdoors.
Safety is the most important factor to consider before buying a play yard for your child. The first thing you should ensure in this regard is that your play yard has a secure door panel.
If the door mechanism does not work well, the baby will simply crawl off the playpen and the whole purpose of buying a play yard gate will be defeated. The door lock should not get opened very easily and the safe zone should be adequately guarded.
Take safety precautions in terms of the making of the play yard gate. Ensure that there are no sharp or pointed edges. There should be no detachable parts of the panels that the baby might end up ingesting.
Also, the sidewalls should be tall and should not have anything to climb upon. This way, the child will remain within the enclosure at all times. There are special safety regulation certifications that such baby products need to have. So, check that the play yard that you are about to buy has a safety certification seal.
2. Design And Style
The design of the panels should be bright and attractive. It should have some small toys or buttons to intrigue children. Colorful panels work best for small kids. Select panels that have a mix of soft colors like pink, white, etc.
They make the room look lively and thus, you can use the playpen as a decor item as well. The style should also be taken into consideration. Some traditional designs are still preferred by many parents. Among the modern ones, go for those that have a good height and can be arranged in different shapes like rectangle, square, circle, etc.
3. Portability
Portability is also an important factor to check before buying a play space yard gate. The best baby play yards are the ones that can be carried to different places easily and which can be assembled or disassembled instantly. You can choose the latest play yard designs with rollers or wheels beneath the panels if you need high portability. Otherwise, simply select a lightweight play yard that is easy to set up and install. You can simply lift it and place it anywhere you want.
4. Cleaning And Maintenance
It is important to keep every item used by a baby clean. So, choose play yards that are easy to wipe, and do not require much maintenance as well. The parts of the playpen should be simple to attach and detach so that you do not face any hassles while taking them off to wash them separately. The amount of cleaning and maintenance that a panel would need also depends on the materials used in making it. Generally, play yard panels made with polyethylene or other common plastics are the easiest to clean. These are filled with air inside them so it is not difficult at all to remove and clean their parts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Should I Place My Baby's Play Yard Fence?
It is important to select versatile baby play yards to ensure that you can use them in both indoor and outdoor settings. Inside the house, place the enclosure at a place where you can easily keep an eye on your child while doing the housework. For outdoor settings like parks, choose those places where other people are not walking around or playing.
What Materials Are Best For A Play Yard
Before you consider the durability of the materials used in making the play yard, check whether they are safe for your baby or not. Commonly used materials like polyethylene wood, and metal, are the safest options for a play yard gate. Otherwise, you can check the website of the certifying authority for these products to check which all materials are good enough for a play yard.
What Should Be The Size Of A Play Yard?
The size of the area that a play yard should cover depends on the space available in your house. Ideally, a 180-inch gate is suitable to form a good play yard gate inside the house. Moreover, if you want to use the play yard outdoors, go for a large-sized play yard with more panels.
Conclusion
So, these were the best playpens for babies available on the market today. In my view, the Evenflo Versatile Play Space gate is the best play yard gate to buy at this time.
However, if you find any other play yard from this review to be more suitable for your needs, simply go for it. At all times, keep the safety of your baby above everything else. A good play yard gate will protect the baby and allow him or her to have fun at the same time.
Carly Link, a 33-year old mother of two toddlers. She is a parent and goes through a lot of the usual parenting difficulties herself. Carly shares all her experiences and knowledge about the best baby products through this blog.
