Whether or not to buy a playpen and crawling mat together depends on your personal needs and preferences. Both are designed to provide a safe and comfortable space for babies to move around, but their functions and uses are slightly different.
A playpen is usually a structure that surrounds a baby's activity area and is used to limit the baby's range of activities and provide a safe space. They are usually used indoors to prevent babies from entering dangerous areas such as stairs, appliances, etc. A playpen provides a relatively small amount of space for babies to crawl, stand and play in.
A crawling mat is a soft mat that is usually placed on the floor to provide a comfortable space for babies to crawl and play. They are usually larger and provide a larger area for babies to crawl, roll and play freely on. Crawl mats are typically used indoors to provide a soft layer of protection on the floor.
If you plan to create a safe space for your baby indoors, consider purchasing both a playpen and a crawling mat. A playpen can be used to limit the baby's range of motion, while a crawling mat can provide a soft, comfortable area for movement. This way, the baby can move around freely in the playpen and crawl and play on the crawling mat.
However, buying one or not depends on your needs and budget. Some families may choose to purchase only one of these, depending on the actual situation to decide how to provide a safe and comfortable space for their babies.
Prices for playpens and crawling mats vary based on brand, material quality, size, and region. The following is the approximate price range for your reference:
Baby playpen:
Basic plastic fence: About $20 to $50.
Wooden fence: About $50 to $100.
High-end metal or adjustable fence: About $100 to $200 or more.
Crawling mat:
Standard size crawling mat: About $30 to $80.
Large or multipurpose crawling mat: About $80 to $150 or more.
It should be noted that these prices are for reference only and actual prices may vary depending on different brands and sales channels. Additionally, high-end products with special features, designs, or brands may be more expensive.
It is recommended that you conduct market research before purchasing, compare prices from different brands and retailers, and check customer reviews to help you find good quality and reasonably priced playpens and crawling mats.