to wonder about health visitors and playpens?

[misslinnet]

We got a playpen for DS (now 10 months) after he started crawling.

DS can now get into all sorts of potentially dangerous mischief if left alone, so it's useful to have somewhere safe to put him if I have to be in another room - i.e. popping to the loo, or in the kitchen preparing dinnner and so on.

Health visitor rang today and says they'll be round in a few days to do DS's 7 - 8 month development check-up.

I'm slightly concerned that she'll see the playpen in the living room, and think that we're cruel parents who leave DS in it for hours on end. And therefore wondering if I should hide the playpen while the health visitor's round.

But I'm not sure if I'm being a bit silly and overthinking things. Am I?

You're overthinking

I have one in my living room full of toys, glorified toy box, the hv didn't look bat an eyelid at it. It could have been the fact I was in tears saying I couldn't cope but I imagine its just sometimes you need a safe place to put DS for whatever reason.

If its for safety not child care then you have nothing to be worried about, but maybe you need to ask yourself why you feel guilty?

Oh yes you are over thinking.

My HV said she wished more parents would use them.

We live on the main road and DD went in it when someone came to the door. Or if the phone rang.
We used it for around a year.

It's last job was to put the xmas tree in when DD was 19monhts old, saved the tree from grabbing fingers.

The problem with health visitors and playpens is that they can climb out again...

Your hv probably will not bat an eyelid, there are many other pointers to neglect than just having a playpen. I know mije saved my sanity on many an occasion! You'll be fine!

My old childminder was told by ofsted to get one so the younger children had somewhere to feel safe, if that helps at all? I think you are overthinking, it will be fine.

maybe you need to ask yourself why you feel guilty?

How nobbish of you

and also at guanosoup

I had the travel cot up downstairs absolutely essential as DD1 could find trouble in far less time than it took to sign for a parcel.

"The problem with health visitors and playpens is that they can climb out again..."

pmsl....

Seriously the health visitor won't care

don't worry about it. We still have a playpen for DS2 and he is 2.4. I have to put him in it for his own safety while I get ready for work otherwise he would get into all sorts of trouble.

Never even occured to me that it might be a sign of neglect. I'm sure there are better pointers than a playpen TBH

We had one for all of the 5 DC (though not at the same time).
I love em.
We refer to ours as The Cage.
The older dcs used to whine 'muuuuuuuuum the baby is annoying me! Put him in his cage!'
I miss that cage :(

Haha, i told my HV that I co-slept with DS and let DD feed him a bottle when he was born. I just got a stern look, and I smiled back. I still have both my children.

Shit, as I just finished the above sentence, a HV called me from the local surestart centre to ask me if I've been there to visit yet!!! Shit, they can see my computer screen!

rainy!

Yes they can rainy...

We call ours The Pen...very very handy as a safe place to put DS

guanosoup

The health visitor won't care but even if she does you shouldn't care what the health visitor thinks.

I;ve yet to find one that talks much sense yet.

My HV advised me to get a play-pen - you'll be fine OP

You are over-thinking, i have had playpens for all my dcs and haven't once been critisised for having one by a HV, mil calls it a sin-bin but i don't care what she thinks.
Without it i wouldn't get me housework/cooking done without worrying about dd injuring herself or being under my feet by a burning hot stove.
If anything your HV might even be impressed by it as they hate to see homes that are not child-safe, ungated etc.

HV will know that you have to do things like feed your child and attend to matters of health and hygiene.

My friend is a HV and has a playpen for her little one. As others have said its a safer/easier option when you need to answer the door etc.

Thanks all. I'll leave it where it is and stop thinking about it

Hello, nobbish person here

Just to clarify for the the dimwitted

Are you feeling guilty because you think it is bad parenting?

You don't feel confident about your decision?

You you think it's faliure

You ave been told by supermums that you shouldn't need one

If any of the above apply, or you have some other reason fr feeling guilty, I hope you have more confidence in YOUR decision, and don't feel nervous of the HV anymore

HTH :)

Sorry Hebie but the aforesaid 'nobbish' comment did mske me laugh.
Sox