(HealthDay News) -- A playpen can keep baby confined, allowing parents to get things done around the home.

But a playpen doesn't guarantee your little one's safety. The Nemours Foundation says you should follow these precautions:

• Don't put multiple floor pads or soft blankets at the bottom of the playpen. Doing so could pose a suffocation risk.
• Teach anyone watching baby how to appropriately set up the playpen.
• Don't put baby in a playpen once he or she is tall enough to climb out of it.
• Never leave baby unattended in the playpen. Make sure you can see the infant at all times.
• Slats in a wood playpen shouldn't be more than 2 3/8 inches apart.
• If the pen is mesh, the holes should be no more than 1/4 inch, to prevent little fingers from getting stuck.
• The sides of a playpen should be at least 20 inches high.
• Make sure the top rails are padded.
• Make sure the hinges and supports are well protected.