My daughter was born with a genetic condition that causes severe developmental delays and physical disabilities. She is also blind and non-verbal, which means most products were never designed with her in mind.

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When someone from the school for the deaf and the blind came to our home and helped us understand how important sensory environments were to her, everything shifted. We started creating different spaces throughout the house where she could safely explore and get the input she needs. One of those spaces has always included a playpen.

My daughter is non-mobile, but she can scoot on her bottom. She is developmentally around 12-18 months and sensory seeking -which means she rocks, throws her weight, and tosses everything within reach. A regular playpen was never going to cut it.

Finding the right one took longer than I expected. We tried styles that ended up tipping, styles that were too small or styles that she figured out how to unzip.

Here’s what I was looking for

• Extra large sizing — room to move without being right against the edge
• Sturdy enough to withstand leaning and rocking — not just sitting
• Actually washable — not ‘wipe clean only’
• Portable — folds down, goes with us
• Breathable mesh — visibility and airflow
• Affordable — under $100 if possible
• Easy to open and close — one person, no tools

I wasn’t looking for something “medical grade”. I needed something that would fit in my budget , keep my daughter contained and not tip easily.

Playpens come in a lot of styles: square, octagon, rectangle, snap together panels and popup yards.  Most of what you find is either designed for infants or built for kids who aren’t going to test the walls.

We liked the concept . Modular and arrangeable in different shapes. The problem was it didn’t hold up to leaning. And she figured out how to unzip the front panel. We could only use it with very close supervision, which defeated the purpose.

This one is genuinely a great playpen. It’s sturdy, large, and never tips. If portability isn’t your main need this might be your answer. But we needed something that could come with us to the beach, to family’s house or wherever we went. So we needed a second option that could travel.

This one hurt a little. It was $700 and I really wanted it to work. The panels are a soft snap-together material, not wood. I specifically chose it because of its size, the open close door panel and the thought that it would be safer if she fell over against it. The panels just unattached too easily and after coming back from the bathroom to find my daughter scooted across the room, this was no longer an option for us.

What I will say is that the mat that comes with it is the thickest play mat I have ever come across. We still use it today under our current playpen and it . If you have a child on a hard floor or even carpet over concrete foundation like us, that pad alone is worth looking into. But the play yard? I’d skip it.

The Regalo 8-Panel Extra Large Play Yard is playpen we keep repurchasing. It’s large enough that when she rocks against the side the opposite panels only lift 2–3 inches off the ground and never tip over. It collapses down into a compact bundle you can carry in the long handled sleeve that comes with it. It washes, and it’s consistently under $75.

We get so much use out of this playpen. She’s in it daily and after about a year or two the fabric starts to feel thin, like a well worn sheet would. We’ve tried enough options to know that this playpen works perfectly for our needs, and repurchasing this one makes the most sense. Honestly , I’ll probably keep buying this model until they stop making it.

After years of daily use I know this playpen well. Here’s everything I’d want someone to know before buying it.

• Extra large sizing, room to move without being right against the edge
• Sturdy enough for a child who rocks and leans from the floor
• Breathable mesh on all sides, full visibility and good airflow
• Actually washable, machine wash, just don’t put it in the dryer
• Collapses down into a compact bundle you can carry with one hand
• Affordable, consistently under $75

• Not tip-proof for standing children. If your child can pull to stand and lean against the wall this will tip
• The bottom pad is thin. Add padding underneath. We use the Wunderkids mat under ours and it makes a big difference
• Do not put it in the dryer. It will shrink just enough that it won’t fit the frame properly. Air dry only, or use a fan underneath
• 6-panel vs 8-panel matters. If your child rocks or leans go straight to the 8-panel

This playpen works best for kids who are non-mobile or low-mobility. It holds up well to sensory seeking behavior like rocking and leaning as long as your child is not standing and pushing against the walls.

• Is non-mobile or low-mobility
• Scoots, rolls, moves on the floorIs sensory seeking but not yet standing
• Needs a contained safe space for independent floor time
• Tends to toss toys and needs them to stay within reach
• Uses multiple safe spaces throughout the day

• Can pull to stand or stand independently, this will tip
• Needs a permanent fixed structure, look at the pole-assembly styles
• Needs medical grade containment, this is not that

This is not a permanent structure. We use it under supervision. It’s one of several safe spaces we rotate throughout the day alongside her medical bed, stroller, and car seat.

This playpen is one of her favorite spaces. It keeps her safe in an enclosed area where everything she needs is within reach. She can scoot around, toss her toys, and find them again on her own.

When she tosses something it’s still within reach. For her that’s everything

We keep the Regalo in our bedroom because it collapses down and doesn’t take up much space when she’s not using it. We also have a larger pole-assembly playpen in another room that stays set up permanently. Different spaces for different times of the day.

We also take it to the beach.

If your child needs a safe contained space and you need something you can wash, take with you, and afford to replace when it wears out, this is the one I’d point you toward.

You can find the Regalo 8-Panel Extra Large Play Yard on Amazon.