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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder why playpens seem so unpopular

276 replies

Housewife2010 · 22/11/2010 14:38

Why do playpens seem so unfashionable? We have one & I wouldn't be without it. I have somewhere completely safe in which to put my 18 month old while I answer the door or do a few jobs. He's never left in there for long. I seem to be in a minority though as so few of the other parents I know use them. How do you manage without one?

OP posts:
faverolles · 22/11/2010 14:41

I loved mine. Couldn't have gone to the loo in peace without it.
YANBU

HecateQueenOfWitches · 22/11/2010 14:41

No idea. I bloody loved mine. So great to be able to shove pop the children in there while I cooked, or hoovered or just wanted to be able to rush outside and scream out loud for a moment Grin

Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 22/11/2010 14:42

I had a baby dan playpen with bars. It was great. Don't take any notice of anyone else. If you like it, use it.

anonacfr · 22/11/2010 14:43

YANBU. They're very popular in France.
It's such a safe environment for a little one if you have something to do that requires hands/attention.
My nephews loved theirs- they have cushions and toys and generally had a ball!

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 22/11/2010 14:43

I don't know. We didn't have one with DS, but DC2 is due in March and we will be getting one so that I have somewhere safe to leave the baby where DS can't cause them any damage!

Lots of people I have mentioned it to think it's a great idea, but I have had a fair few Hmm type looks as well.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 22/11/2010 14:43

I've no idea either. DD2 loved hers - she used to ask to go in it and would climb in herself if it was near enought to the sofa.

DD1 never had one and DS refused to go in one.

Will think about introducing it to DS2 when born (I think in the early days when I need to go to the loo - at least I can be sure that DS1 won't be poking him in the eye or trying to make him eat lego).

Original poster
Housewife2010 · 22/11/2010 14:43

They are brilliant aren't they? Just like reins they seen to be out of fashion but I wouldn't do without either. Its so handy to be able yo put my little boy in there when I get in so I can bring in the pushchair & unload the shopping and know that he's totally safe.

OP posts:
WowOoo · 22/11/2010 14:44

Perhaps it's because I called mine the kiddy cage!

Very useful place to put all the kids' crap children safely. Ds who is 4 likes to get in still.

PhishFoodAddiction · 22/11/2010 14:45

YANBU. Oh how I loved having the playpen up when my 2 were little. What's not to love about a safe place to leave a LO while you go for a wee in peace or do a bit of cleaning?

My auntie said playpens were like 'a prison'. This is the same woman who strapped her DS into his buggy for 2 solid hours, in the front room about 2 inches away from the telly so she could have some 'peace'. Shock

I think playpens are really handy, as long as you don't plonk your baby in there all day long and ignore them.

starlingsintheslipstream · 22/11/2010 14:45

I bought one for my pfb - biggest waste of money ever. She screamed blue murder when she was put in it - but, then, she was a screamer generally! Two of my sils borrowed it afterwards and loved it, though.

PonderStibbonsandHex · 22/11/2010 14:45

We had one with ds1 for the purposes of keeping him contained whilst answering the door etc. However, it almost did not get used and was sold on ebay in a condition which was basically as new.

Hardandsleazy · 22/11/2010 14:46

Are they? Had one in sitting tmroom and still have one in kitchen that dd loves as full of toys. If they aren't in there all day I don't see what issue is - good safety device

nigglewiggle · 22/11/2010 14:46

I wouldn't like to put my children in one. If you make sure your house is child-proof you shouldn't have to put your child in a pen to answer the door!

BuntyPenfold · 22/11/2010 14:46

I couldn't go to the loo or put washing on the line without a play pen.
DS could vault the top bar by 18 months though.

c0rns1lk · 22/11/2010 14:47

I used one for ds2 when I had to sort ds1 out. Peace of mind.

SacharissaCripslock · 22/11/2010 14:47

I had a giant wooden one for my DS3 (it literally took up most of my living room as it was so big) and it was great to use so that I could cook in safety. And because it was big I didn't feel like I was caging him. Grin

It was also good to lock MYSELF into to get some peace. Wink

BuntyPenfold · 22/11/2010 14:49

Agree you should not need one just to answer the door.

I had a very steep hillside garden, not one a toddler could safely roam in and 'help' me.

I didn't use it all the time and he isn't agoraphobic now :)

scotsgirl23 · 22/11/2010 14:51

easier said than done in some houses nigglewiggle - it's absolutely impossible to baby proof our lounge/dining room/kitchen, so once dd starts moving then playpen will be absolutely necessary

TeddyBare · 22/11/2010 14:56

I would guess at least some of the Hmms are due to the amount of space they take up. I couldn't fit a playpen anywhere except the front room and that's not much use as we spend most of our time in the kitchen. I would probably Hmm if someone told me they were using one as it seems like a waste of precious space in my house. But, in my ideal house I'd have a mahoosive kitchen with a playpen which I would shut dh the dc in while I'm cooking.

fedupofnamechanging · 22/11/2010 14:57

I used to use a large travel cot as a playpen when mine were younger. It was nice and soft, they could nap in it if they wanted to and I had somewhere safe to put them while I answered the door/went for a wee.

I think they are fine, so long as the baby isn't in them all the time. It was also a great place to put all the cuddly toys.

Original poster
Housewife2010 · 22/11/2010 15:12

Re nigglewriggle, how can you completely child-proof your house? Also far easier to have one totally safe place. I have left my 18 month old by himself in the sitting room for a couple of minutes while I've answered the door & found he has squeezed himself behing the tv or tried to climb from the ooffee table onto the fireguard! I have also heard horror stories of toddlers being crushed by tvs. His safety is of paramount importance to me. Also how can you get any jobs done when you have your toddlers next to you all the time? I am with him most of his waking time, but sometimes I do need to just do some housework.

OP posts:
Gargula · 22/11/2010 15:16

We had one we never used with DS, but it has been very useful with DD. I put her in it while cooking as it keeps her safe from the not-so-gentle hugs and kisses from DS - though he has started putting a stool right by it and dropping things on to her.

LaWeaselMys · 22/11/2010 15:17

Most mums here have tiny living rooms like ours. There's just no space! And because the rooms aren't very big they are pretty easy to baby proof too.

So that's why I didn't use one.

I can imagine it being useful if you have one of those sprawling houses.

earwicga · 22/11/2010 15:19

Nope. Playpens are brilliant. I had two when my twins were small. Sometimes they were in one together, and sometimes in their own. They were the travel ones so I could collapse them when not needed.

Ditto reins - brilliant.

borderslass · 22/11/2010 15:22

I had a combi playpen/travel cot for DS and when DD2 came along it kept her safe from DS when I wasn't in the room.

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