which playpen should i get?  

there are things that are like baby gates that circle around where you would like to keep your child. They will give her a lot more space to crawl arund than a playpen so she isn't confined to pretty much sitting in one spot. I think you can look thenmm up in babysrus or something

I myself never used a playpen, I was more fond of the bouncy chairs that they sit in with a tray all around them. This way it strengthens there legs. My children all walked early. I always attribute this to the work out they got in there legs.

They now have play yards. We wished we could have gotten one for our son since they were quiet a bit bigger than a play pen and you can buy extra pieces to expand them. We had a play pen given to us and due to the 2 surgeries my fiance had after our sons birth could not afford to get the play yard. We loved the idea that it could also be used at Christmas time around the tree to keep him out of it.

I don't think a playpen is really necessary. I used a graco pack n play as a portable crib. My son slept in it when we went camping and when we were away from home.

What I did was completely baby proof one room in my home. The living room. It is central and I could see in from the kitchen and bedroom. My son was able to move around freely, and I was able to let him play without constantly telling him No. I put up gates to keep him from wandering out of the room, and he was able to climb and cruise around and he had a great time.

A play yard will be easier, but only for a short time. Soon he will not be happy being so confined and will not want to be in it.