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Our team of moms has tested and researched nontoxic kid gear for our little ones — these are our top selections for safe, nontoxic, and durable playpens across various price points. 

When your baby is scooting, crawling, or showing signs of walking soon, there’s a safe solution to facilitate plenty of playtime fun: A playpen. These gated areas create a secure barrier to let little ones explore their environment, while also giving you the opportunity to monitor and multitask. Whether you’re preparing dinner or answering a few work emails, the best nontoxic playpens offer peace of mind for parents and independent playtime for babies.

What should you look for in a playpen?

Playpens should serve the main function of providing a safe play area, but there are other benefits to explore. Below, a few nice-to-haves we’ve noticed in some of our favorite playpens:

• Measurements: According to the experts at KidsHealth, playpens should be at least 20 inches high, gaps between wooden slats should be no more than 2.375 inches wide, and mesh should be no larger than 0.25 inches. You should also discontinue use when your child reaches 34 inches tall or weighs 30 pounds, which is typically around the time they start trying to climb out.
• Bonus features: We’ve found dual-purpose playpens, including one with toys attached to the railing, and one that doubles as a Montessori-style bed.
• Certifications: When it comes to sustainability, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and GREENGUARD Gold certifications are the most common for playpens. FSC-certified playpens use responsibly sourced wood, and the GREENGUARD Gold certification—ideal for bedrooms and nurseries—means the product has met rigorous standards for low emissions.

Our criteria:

When you’re looking for a playpen, you want to be sure it is sturdy and safe — so we’ve pulled together a curated selection of the best brands crafting a safe, sustainable place for your child to explore and play. We update this list regularly to spotlight emerging standouts that go above and beyond.

• SAFETY | Each of these options is made with high-quality, durable, and functional materials that meet or exceed the highest safety tests and standards.
• NATURAL, NON-TOXIC MATERIALS | We’ve prioritized playpens with FSC and GREENGUARD Gold certified materials free from harmful toxins and chemicals that can leach into the air.
• LONGEVITY | We’ve listed the best playpens made with strong materials and offering extensive features so you can use them for years.

Looking to outfit your home with more baby furniture essentials? Our editors have curated guides to the best convertible cribs and travel cribs.

1. Matty’s Room

Best For | Alternative to wood
Size | 5 x 7 feet
Materials | Food-grade HDPE (high-density polyethylene), nontoxic vegan leather, glue-free polyethylene foam 
Price starting at | $399

Matty’s Room is a small business, started by a mom of twins who wanted a safe space for her little ones. After a trip to Korea, she came home with ideas for innovative playtime solutions and invented The Playroom alongside her co-founder. The company sells two products, The Pen and The Mat, which you can also purchase together as The Playroom. Unlike most playpens, this one is made from high-density polyethylene, or HDPE, a food-grade material often found in baby bottles. The idea behind the materiality was a long-lasting product that wouldn’t splinter and would be easy to wipe clean—a must for messy toddlers! 

Though it’s a higher price point compared to many of its competitors, the Matty’s Room playpen is designed to last for years. So even after your little one has outgrown the recommended height and weight, you can still use it as a cozy spot for reading and spending time as a family.

Customer Review | “The Playroom has truly been a game changer for our little one! We love knowing he has a safe, comfortable space to roll and explore, thanks to the extra-thick cushioned mat, smooth panels, and secure, easy-to-use door lock. It’s wonderfully spacious too – both my husband and I can comfortably hang out inside and spend time with him.” – Mimi Y. (Read more reviews.)

2. Harppa

Best For | Modularity
Size | 43.3 x 43.3 x 24 inches, 57 x 57 x 24 inches, 60 x 71.5 x 24 inches, or 71.5 x 79.5 x 24 inches
Materials | New Zealand pinewood
Price starting at | $198.99

Harppa makes a number of baby essentials, from cribs to strollers to their beloved Grovi playpen. Each wooden panel is handcrafted and derives from responsibly sourced New Zealand pinewood. The key material has received the FSC MIX certification, meaning it comprises “a mix of materials from FSC-certified forests, recycled sources and/or FSC controlled wood,” according to the FSC website. The playpen is GREENGUARD Gold certified, too, and made with almost no glue to make it a “chew-friendly” product for babies in the teething stage.

Want more room to play? Harppa’s playpen comes in four different sizes, but you can combine multiple playpens to make a larger play area. The modular design makes it easy to change its shape into anything that works for your family and your home, and you can fold it up and store it to free up more space post-playtime. For more reassurance, the playpen also comes with a 24-month warranty.

Customer Review | “We love our new playpen! It’s big enough for the baby to move around and hold all of the toys in one place, but compact enough to fit nicely in our living room. It’s sturdy and the door is easy to open. It took 20 min to build and was really easy. I highly recommend.” – Michelle-eve P. (Read more reviews.)

3. ZetyProducts

Best For | Toy attachments
Size | 63 x 63 x 24 inches or 63 x 95 x 24 inches
Materials | Pinewood, nylon
Price starting at | $199.95

There’s fun built into this BPA-free playpen by Etsy seller ZetyProducts. Choose between eight or 10 panels, which feature integrated “toy panels,” including adorable shapes and activities to promote more developmental learning. The main structure is made with pine wood, and you can pair it with the compatible mat, a colorful foundation made from polyurethane (PU) leather. Measuring 63 x 95 inches, it’s one of the largest playpens you’ll find on the market.

ZetyProducts sells three items on Etsy, but the small business has received the most praise for the playpen. Another design made with modularity in mind, it is easy to fold and reconfigure into a variety of shapes. Most happy customers rave about the easy assembly process and high-quality materials.

Customer Review | “This playpen is such great quality and was easy to put together! My daughter loves the toys on the walls and it is sturdy enough that she can use it to pull herself up to standing. Would 100% recommend!” – Jackie (Read more reviews.) 

4. HappyGira

Best For | Wide variety of styles and sizes
Size | 60 x 50 inches, 70 x 60 inches, 80 x 60 inches, or 80 x 70 inches
Materials | Oxford fabric, cotton, steel
Price starting at | $229.99

HappyGira, founded by stressed out parents, has resolved a lot of common child-related issues. One of their most notable achievements is the adult-accessible playpen, which comes in four different sizes and two styles (foldable, for easy storage, or standard). This is one of eight playpens sold by the company, and it’s received rave reviews for giving parents the opportunity to join in on the fun. The brand adds that all playpens are BPA-free and tested to meet the safety standards outlined by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Most HappyGira playpens feature mesh paneling, but if you want a wooden option, they make one with natural pine wood as well. For even more variety, it’s available in a whopping 12 sizes.

This small business gives back, too. HappyGira donates up to $1 per item sold to charities located in each shopper’s country. You can see more details about the donation plan here.

Customer Review | “When our little guy started crawling at lightning speed, I was constantly torn between chasing him around and making dinner. This adult-accessible playpen has been a lifesaver. The side gate swings open easily for me to step in and scoop him up, yet locks securely so he can’t escape on his own. The mesh walls give me full visibility (and airflow!) while I’m cooking in the kitchen.” – Adelia (Read more reviews.)

5. Busywood

Best For | Bed conversion
Size | 52 x 27.5 inches, 75 x 38 inches, 75 x 54 inches, 80 x 60 inches, 80 x 76 inches
Materials | Alder wood, water-based paints and varnishes
Price starting at | $433.33

When one dad turned his passion for building furniture into an Etsy shop selling Montessori- and Pikler-inspired designs, European small business Busywood was born. The Platform Playpen Bed is a two-in-one product made for both sleep and play. You can select one to accommodate a U.S. mattress (crib, twin, full, queen, or king), and U.K. and E.U. sizing is also available. The natural wood finish is one of several colorways, so you can customize the design to match your child’s playroom or bedroom.

If you’re ready to move your little one from the crib to a toddler bed, many parents turn to a Montessori-inspired floor bed like this one for the smoothest transition possible. This can also extend the life of your playpen, which is generally used for a shorter period of time. Keep in mind that pricing does not include wood slats to go below the mattress, or the mattress itself.
Customer Review | “Such a well made bed. I feel so much ease at night knowing my baby is safe on his floor bed. Definitely recommend 100%!!” – Caylee (Read more reviews.)

6. Comfy Cubs

Best For | Ready-to-use design
Size | 57 x 57 x 25 inches
Materials | Pinewood
Price starting at | $249.99

Founded by “dadpreneurs” Jacob Sufrin and Mendel Eichenblatt, Comfy Cubs is all about giving back to parents and the environment. Take this playpen, for instance, which is made from natural pinewood and doesn’t use any varnishes or chemicals in the production process. And if there’s one thing all parents can get behind, it’s easy assembly. Comfy Cubs takes this one step further by delivering a pre-assembled product. You can use the playpen right out of the box, which saves parents time and stress from reading through a lengthy instruction manual. Simply arrange it in your desired shape, and then lock the switches in place. It’s also foldable and portable, making it easy to store or bring over to Grandma’s.

If your family outgrows the playpen, you can reconfigure it as a baby safety gate that extends up to 228 inches, ideal for blocking kids from accessing not-so-safe spots like the kitchen.

Customer Review | “I’m genuinely so impressed with this playpen/gate. It has made our living room feel safer and more organized without being an eyesore. The wood panels look clean and modern, and the structure feels very sturdy — it doesn’t wobble or slide around even when my baby pulls up on the bars.” – PC (Read more reviews.)

Featured image is from Harppa

Blake Bakkila is a freelance writer and editor with eight years of experience covering topics including baby and parenting, food, health, pop culture, and interior design. In addition to The Good Trade, her work has appeared in the digital publications of Architectural Digest, Sunset, Good Housekeeping, and more. She highlighted the best, most game-changing baby and parenting products as the former senior commerce editor at What to Expect and BabyCenter, and she’s also held editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, Health, Real Simple, and People. Blake holds a bachelor’s in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. When she’s not typing, you can usually find her watching anything on Bravo, entertaining her son Rhode, and conducting field research on the best ice cream in Southern California.