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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to put my 2.5 year old in a playpen?

21 replies

garrowismylaw · 29/12/2010 13:13

Basically he is hell on wheels.
Went into kitchen this morning to make a cup of coffee. In that time (3-4 mins) he took a dump on the floor, smeared it all over the carpet, settees, and his new train track.
I walked back in to find him smearing it in his hair. WTF!!!
After spending the last hour washing the carpet stripping the settee covers and scraping poo out of train tracks (Ugghh) and of course bathing DC, am wondering if I should get old playpen out again, as I can't turn my back for a minute these days, or AIBU?
BTW his older siblings NEVER did anything like this.

OP posts:
charliesmommy · 29/12/2010 13:14

YANBU if anything for his own safety as well as your sanity!

VallhalaLalalalalalalalaaaaaa · 29/12/2010 13:15

You wouldn't be unreasonable but the problem is that at that age the buggers an climb out of playpens!

borderslass · 29/12/2010 13:16

ball and chain!

mitochondria · 29/12/2010 13:21

When mine was that age he would go in the playpen willingly to escape from his crawling baby brother.

But he might be able to get out.....

APixieInMyMulledWine · 29/12/2010 13:23

I wouldn't all the time no.

Maybe keep it in plain sight all the time though and use it as an incentive for him to behave? As in, he will have to go in there when you leave the room if he can't play nicely?

Note: my ds1 isn't even 2 yet and we don't use playpens so I have no idea if this would work or not??

Chil1234 · 29/12/2010 13:25

YANBU and I hope you told him off severly for that little lot! Back on with the nappies for starters... Playpen probably won't work because he'll climb out of it and, besides, it sounds like he's trying on some extreme form of attention-seeking for size.

compo · 29/12/2010 13:27

Ew!
I'd go back to bribery
so if he does a poo on the loo he gets a chocolate button

Rindercella · 29/12/2010 13:28

My 3 yo DD1 regularly dives in and out of the playpen put out for her baby sister Hmm Shame she wasn't quite so keen on it when she couldn't escape.

I have a feeling your DS will be able to break free too, so am not sure if a playpen is a solution to your problem.

However, YANBU to try and contain him to give you a moment's peace.

ILoveItWhenYouCallMeBoo · 29/12/2010 13:29

YANBU if it is as you say just while you nip out of the room, for the loo or the front door ormaking a cuppa. a few minutes wont do him any harm at all aslong as he definitely can't get out and you leave a book or toy for those few minutes.

i have noticed, that my ds2 (18 months) has started asking to get into teh playpen because that is where i store his toys when not being used. so an idea would be to start leaving his favourite toys in the playpen and when he asks for them, lift him in, so he will start to associate teh playpen with good things.

littleducks · 29/12/2010 13:34

I'm sorry but you child really is 'hell on wheels' i think you are being naive and optomistic to think a play pen can contain him

I never used a playpen at home, but both my kids always opened these and stairgates as toddlers if a grown up was struggling to do it Hmm and they didnt even have the benefit of practice

I think the poo thing, is a natural, exploratory stage that certain children (ds) are compelled to do at least once or twice

That doesnt mean i dont punish though, i wouldnt let him have his train track back for a good while and everytime he asked for it I would say its 'still all dirty' and it takes along time to clean all the germs off

Hope your day gets better though, days like this are horrendous, make sure you get coffee and cake as a reward for cleaning up all the crap!

MadamDeathstare · 29/12/2010 13:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skyswept · 29/12/2010 14:03

Freud said making poo is a child's first creation and should be celebrated. He wasn't a SAHM was he.

SkyBluePearl · 29/12/2010 14:26

2.5 is older enough to know better - poo spreading seems somehiting that a one year old would do. I wouldn't put my 2.5 in a play pen tho but instead keep a closer eye on him. Kids that age need to be moving around and playing. Maybe you should get him some finger paints and get creative on paper?

jellybeans · 29/12/2010 14:32

YANBU I know how you feel, have a 2 year old who is into everything!

thumbplumpuddingwitch · 29/12/2010 14:34

I think it would be dangerous - he'd probably try to climb out of it, might fall and hurt himself. He is also strong enough to move it around, which could be destructive.

:( for you though - that is a terrible mess to have to deal with! I think I might have thrown up over him if mine had done it...

MadamDeathstare · 29/12/2010 15:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
garrowismylaw · 29/12/2010 15:32

Thanks all, feel better knowing it's not just me this has happened to, ha ha.
Think playpen may be a bad idea as you say, he may be able to climb out, but I def have to try something, even if it's only for his own safety.

OP posts:
Rindercella · 29/12/2010 15:41

"Freud said making poo is a child's first creation and should be celebrated. He wasn't a SAHM was he." Must surely be a contender for quote of the week?! Grin

Megletitsnow · 29/12/2010 15:44

yanbu.

I would love to put my 2.4yo base-jumper DD in a playpen but her older brother learnt how to break her out of it Angry.

FWIW I know children older than 2 who have been poo-spreaders, it's not unusual.

welshbyrd · 29/12/2010 15:45

All these YANBU"s, im tempted to put my 7yo in one, he is driving me nuts Grin

soccerwidow · 29/12/2010 15:58

On the poo-spreading issue, my friend's child has an issue with poo-spreading.

She was told that it was a sensory thing, so to discourage it had to provide lots of sensory play, like dried lentils in a tray, shaving foam, cornflower, that type of thing. She still not sure if it helped or ig her DC just grew out of it.

My mum said that my brother was the same. He would be in pants in all day, then have a nappy on to sleep in. He would wait ALL day to do a poo in his nappy & then spread it all over the walls & his cot.

Now my DS2 is a monster of a child (18 months!) (no poo reltated incidents but you cannot leave him unattended!)

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