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.

its not ok when they are used as round the clock babysitters

How could it be used as a babysitter? If the child was unhappy in it they would let you know surely? If they're in there playing and entertaining themselves whilst you get on with something, what's the problem?

We have a kitchen living room which can't be sectioned off (without full building works) DD has her travel cot which is also a play pen apparently. She will go in there for shorts bursts. If it's too small then I will get a bigger one. I would rather be judged for having a play pen than DD hurting herself when a play pen could prevent it

We had a playpen and used to call it the baby cage. Not sure if that is better or worse than baby jail!

Ours was essential as we have a dog - great for putting the baby down somewhere safe whilst I went to toilet or answered door etc. I think he quite liked it as there were some extra special toys in there and he could still see everything that was going on.

I've probably missed the boat as my youngest is 18m now but I could have definitely done with a safe place to keep her whilst I had a shower etc... she'd have absolutely loathed it though and screamed blue murder every time I used it.

This thread has made me laugh. Thanks pirate and imogen

I think if it's going to be used for when you are getting on with things around the house I would sooner get a room divider and baby proof what they could get to. Even the large playpens aren't particularly great for moving about in especially when filled with toys.

One of my DCs was walking at 10 months and on the windowsills by 12 months. I taught them how to get down safely rather than caging them!

I had one with all 3 of mine. DD would stay in there for ages. I would open the gate for her to come out and she always wanted me to shut her back in. She had a lot of her toys in there and enjoyed going in. Can't see how it's cruel unless you are locking them in against their will at a time when you don't need to for safety.

Both my DS's didn't really like them so I just used it for safety when I needed to cook, vacuum somewhere upstairs etc.

People like to whinge about all this type of stuff. Martyrs.

I used a playpen with 2 children...very useful...a friend called it a baby prison, but that was her opinion....my youngest used to love to go and sleep in his, on cushions in peace in the playpen, and was a bit upset when I took it away when he got older.....
Do what's best for you and your family..

We had one which was huge. I am VI so it was imperative that I could put him somewhere safe when i had to do things

Don't give a shite about other peoples' opinions.

VI?

Visually impaired?

I had this same debate, our house is quite difficult to completely baby proof completely, and she doesn't have fantastic day sleeps, so it was quite difficult to find a safe place for when I needed to use the bathroom, for example. So we got the biggest playpen we could find. I love that it means she has plenty of freedom of movement & space to play safely.

I think it is a great piece of kit, and like anything, won't do any harm, if you are still offering variety- with a good portion of their day being hugs & kisses, face:face attention & responding to your babies needs in a timely manner.

Alternatively, hire piratefairy to consult, as clearly she knows everything.

One of my DCs was walking at 10 months and on the windowsills by 12 months. I taught them how to get down safely rather than caging them!

Might have been an idea to teach them not to climb on window sills instead? Because firstly they may fall, even with expert teachings on how to get down, I mean even walking along the flat road children fall over, so falling off a windowsill is inevitable?

secondly when you visit other homes, they may not appreciate your child climbing on their windowsills!

I had a climber too. She's now 3.5yo.

She survived...

And whoever said about flushing face down a shitty loo... Well aren't you a gem.

This is hilarious.

You lot are stress heads.

My DH works 9-10 hours a day. I do all cooking and cleaning, gardening and building and DIY all on my own.

And not once have I had to use a play pen. :-/.

I've even managed to wall paper an entire room without DD eating the paste or climbing out of a window... Magic eh?

Why are you so down on yourself pirate that you have to try and make others feel shit?

How many kids have you got Pirate?

Not trying to make others feel like shit. And I'm not saying my way was better.

A question was asked on the opinion of play pens, I answered and several people didn't like my answer.

One delightful 'woman' told me to flush my face down a shitty toilet. Which is quite frankly, uncalled for and utterly disgusting. I don't see you getting on her back about that...

I'm not down on myself, no reason to be .

We had a playpen because we lived in my grandparents house, and as hard as we tried, it was impossible to completely babyproof it. When we had more dc, we used it so the older ones could play for half an hour without the youngest knocking down their lego towers, or crawling off with the felt pens. It made for a more peaceful life, in short bursts anyway, which is reason enough to have one, even without the safety aspect.

I didn't see that comment and I don't fight others battles, unless I know and like them.

You are coming across as a smug bitch to be honest but I'll guess you'll think that's a compliment.

All children are different. Some are easier than others. Some people don't understand that. I doubt anyone could wallpaper a room with ds loose in it and he would definitely eat the paste - and he is nearly 10.