Too much time in playpen for toddler?

[lexiss]

This morning DS 17 months woke up at 6am. I got up bf him and put him in the playpen. It is one of those extra large, hexagonal playpens.

Around 6.15 I gave him some water and changed his nappy. Then I went back to bed after making sure the playpen had only safe toys and the baby monitor was plugged in.

I fell asleep and woke up at 8.30. I went out to see DS and he was happily playing with this toys. He is very into small manipulative puzzles, shape boxes, stacking cups etc at the moment and he was busy playing with these.

He had been in the playpen for nearly 2.5 hours! Is this too long? Is there a problem that he plays happliy for this length of time by himself?

Most days I have a nap during the day for an hour or so and DS spends this time in the playpen but I have never left him for 2.5 hours before.

What do you think about this?

Floggingmolly - really, 2.5 hours without interaction will impact on a child's development? I didn't interact with DS for 2 hours yesterday afternoon - is he damaged now?

I bet the child had a sleep, I doubt very much a 17 month old would be happy about being on his own for 2.5 hours.

Dreamingofthemaldives, yes I guess that us what I am saying - Of course I think my opinion is correct as do those who are arguing that I'm wrong to have that opinion and they are right in their judgements.

Goth and Gwen rather than your observations what's your actual opinion? I Co sleep to Gwen and I have BF'd my DD for 19 months, my DC are 5.5 and 19 months so my parenting experience tops yours.....oh sorry this is all totally irrelevant to the the thread- just saying!

I mean on a regular basis. Op seemed to be checking out was this an ok thing to continue to do.

Many people have sleep problems and manage to not make the conscious decision to go to bed leaving a child unattended, most I presume would sleep on the sofa/floor with the child nearby.

wewereherefirst - what if you child woke at 6am, you breastfed them and put them back in their cot and then went back to bed until 8.30am. Is it ok to leave a child unattended in those circumstances?

Children should be able to play alone for a while. They don't learn to discover or imagine otherwise.

It's not good parenting IMO to spend every minute of their waking time being played with and entertained. How suffocating.

Makes for some very needy spoilt, clingy children and later needy clingy entitled adults.

Goldenbear, you sound un bear ably smug (see what I did there?)

Seriously, if co-sleeping and BF work for you, then knock yourself out. But labelling another mother who choses to parent differently and telling her she needs to "grow a pair" etc just makes you sound like an insufferable twat. Sorry, but it does.

But Golden your opinion is only based on your children. How can you possibly judge what works for other families? To start accusing parents of ignoring the needs of their child simply because they have a different approach to you is down right rude surely you can see that?

Especially when we're talking about an imaginary "need" to get up at 6am

A pleb, wtf are you on about, you don't even know my background? Just because you have the rallying mob behind you, you feel assured in being sarcastic and mocking with your spreadsheet talk. You have the majority behind you on this so why are you feeling victimised? I don't give a shit about being challenged because I'm quite capable of delivering my own opinion without back up even if I'm in a minority.

Sam- for my DC's and I that wouldn't be done they'd never have been fucking quiet enough to stay there

Ooooh, someone used block capitals, so we know the truth is being spoken.
However, I didn't know that bfing and co-sleeping made you the Queen of All Mothers. You learn something new every day.

I bf and Co-sleep part time, can I be a queen too?

I bf and Co-sleep part time, can I be a queen too?

DS wakes up most mornings and I put Sesame St or similar on, he plays with his teddies and then wakes me up again about an hour-hour and a half later. He's happy like this and sometimes goes for another nap.

His bed is right beside mines though and I wake back up at the slightest noise.

2.5 hours in a different room wouldn't sit right with me and I don't think that's right. I don't know why, but it feels a bit neglectful, I would probably think different if he was beside you.

I was suggesting I was a superior mum because I BFd. I was using sarcasm to point out how people make irrelevant points on these threads. Banging on about hysteria and Martyrdom because I DON'T AGREE WITH you - you don't agree with me what's the fucking difference?

I haven't read this whole thread but . . . a child that plays safely on it's own for 2.5 hours?

you jammy sod.