Bought a playpen for the baby

[Babyzoo]

What's your view on playpens? We've bought one for our youngest, never seemed to need one for eldest.

Youngest is 13 months and can't keep out of trouble. We've baby proofed as much as possible but for example, one of our sofas means he keeps climbing up onto the arm and onto the window sill. There's nowhere else we can move it as we have two sofas and the layout of the room means one has to be near a window. Another example is he climbs onto the sofa and gambols around so it's not safe to leave him in the sitting room.

He won't tolerate going in his highchair while I cook and he's even trying to climb out of that. He's got a chair but he can climb out of that too and hates it anyway.

Some people think playpens are cruel but can't think of another way.

[AbsolutelyIDo]

We had a playpen. There was no way of fully childproofing our living space and it was a necessity for me to be able to do anything at all. Not cruel imo.

[NeedACleverNN]

Play pens are fine in small doses

It's when they are used 24/7 that it becomes more of a grey area

[Ilikesweetpeas]

My DD loved hers! Whenever we had visitors she would go and sit in it until she had sussed them out! It's not a punishment, it's "their" space with toys, books etc. Hope your little one has a similar experience!

[JustHappy3]

For short bursts on time while you do something that has to be done - no problem. Sensible to keep them safe.
Like above poster says - extended use for hours is where the problems start.

[bitemyshinymetalass]

Some people think playpens are cruel but can't think of another way

People always have opinions but why should you care what anyone else thinks? Plus allowing a child to hurt themselves and be in danger is crueller. If he will go in a playpen, use it. My youngest screams blue murder if you put her in hers, its not worth it! I wish she would though.

[Atinybittiredandsad]

Some people think reigns are cruel these are usually the parents who constantly loose toddlers and let them run amock.

Play pens are what responsible parents buy if they have children who need keeping safe.

[nocake]

We had one. Our 4 year old would shut herself in it to get away from the baby :-D

[Floggingmolly]

There isn't a baby alive that would tolerate "extended use for hours".
Mine wouldn't tolerate them at all. If yours will; good luck to you

[LouSavage]

I personally wouldn't but if your baby is happy in there and it's safer then it sounds like the solution.
My daughter is also 13 months and a bit of a climber but I don't worry too much. She's never fallen off the sofa, she climbs down backwards but she doesn't really jump around on it anyway, I can see it would be a worry if she did.
I think just be mindful on the length of time it's being used for and it's okay.

[Atinybittiredandsad]

We used it for the baby chair to protect dd4 from the constant cuddles and pick ups from her older siblings.

[bumsexatthebingo]

I don't see a problem with playpens being used for short periods. Though if he's a climber and not happy in his highchair he may well not be too pleased at being confined to a playpen.

[Babyzoo]

It's an umbrella fold pop up one so I'm thinking it will be used mainly when I'm cooking but it won't be left up all the time, it is just for safety really.

[Cheerybigbottom]

I wish I'd had one, our living room was too wee so when son was under 1 I'd put the pop up travel cot in dining room so I could watch him safely playing about while cooking. I don't actually think he'd have come to much harm but I was so worried about being more than arms length from him if he hurt himself. PFB

[Primaryteach87]

We recently bought one and my son is very happy for about half an hour with his toys/books/me talking to him. As others have said its not a punishment! He can say "out" now and I always take him out when he asks so I'm not 'forcing him'.

I basically use it for making lunch and making dinner. It's not a lot of time but it's invaluable!

[ateapotandacake]

Someone saw mine and called it a 'baby prison'. But we've a pond and I don't want him to drown!

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

They're great!

[ChipsCheeseandIrnBru]

My son liked his. It was huge, toys, books, musical instruments, pots and pans at tea time. Saved him from being prised off my legs several times a minute as I juggled hot water and knives. He was only closed in at cooking times and I was there speaking to him so he never took issue with it. Will use it again when next son gets mobile.

[BackforGood]

Invaluable. As others have said, you use them at specific times for a specific reason. Not sure how keeping your LO safe can be seen as being 'cruel'
Is it 'cruel' to restrain your dc in the car?
Is it cruel to restrain them when by a road (or water or of course a train line?)
Why is keeping them safe in the house / garden any less important ?

[smellsofelderberries]

Does this playpen have a lid?

If so, YABU. If no lid, YADNBU!

[busymummy3boys1girl]

Couldn't be without mine! Make life so much easier x

[MrsPeel1]

A friend of mine put all the fun electronic type toys in hers, so it was seen almost as a treat rather than a prison.
No matter what you choose to do as a parent, someone will disagree!

[DoveBlue]

We use two baby dans linked together to provide a safe area 1.5m x 2m it has toys, ball pit etc in it. It is great for keeping my two safe. I don't think it's cruel they seem to love it (most of the time). Its walk in so I can get in with them and play. Keeps them and dogs seperated and keeps them safe when I'm in kitchen or go to the loo. You can get all sorts of playpens would you be able to have half the room babyproof and get a baby gate that goes across the room? But whatever you choose YANBU to keep DC safe while you are unable to watch them.

[OhSoggyBiscuit]

I had a playpen as a baby, I don't remember ever having any sort of objection to it. (of course, I also don't remember BEING a baby) Had my toys in there, kept me out of trouble. I used to like gnawing the bars.

[MrsJoeyMaynard]

We used a playpen a lot for DS2 - he also tended to climb around unsafely.

As pp say, they're fine provided you don't overdo it. We always had a selection of toys and books in ours to keep DS2 amused. They've got more room in a playpen than a chair too.

But I didn't even try putting him in a highchair instead of a playpen after the DD of one of my friends managed to topple herself headfirst out of her highchair when she'd been put in that while my friend was cooking dinner (fortunately the DD wasn't seriously hurt).