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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not understand the issue with baby in a playpen??

136 replies

Peaches44 · 04/07/2017 12:52

I have two DDs, the youngest is 11 months, not yet walking but into everything. I am seperated so a single parent to the both of them, they see their father at the weekend.

When DD2 was smaller, she loved the jumperoo and this was ideal for me to shower/get DD1 ready for school/cooking etc. but she is getting bored and cries.

I have babyproofed the front room but there are obviously still a few unavoidable dangers and because of the age gap between the two of them DD1 sometimes has inappropriate toys so I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving the room to say go to the loo.

I was looking at playpens, which I could then fill with her toys and she would be happy and safe for the times I need to leave her unattended.

I mentioned this to my DM who said "why do people need to cage their babies?!" I ignored her but mentioned to my ex and he said "like a baby jail?"

It seems to be a no no. Why?! Seems a perfectly safe happy environment and will only be used when it needs to, I wont be plonking her in 'jail' to sit and read a book for goodness sake.

OP posts:

toffeeboffin · 04/07/2017 17:46

Not a problem at all.

DD is six months and much safer in her space invader than the floor what with DS (3.5) leaping around all the time!

2rebecca · 04/07/2017 18:01

I found the bouncy things you hang in doorways handy for when I was cooking and mine were at the right age for them as well. I just hung it from the kitchen doorway and they boinged away happily for a few minutes. Not sure if you can still get them.

Tastesjustlikecherrycola85 · 04/07/2017 18:39

Ours was known as 'the quad'

alcin · 04/07/2017 18:46

We put ds in one so we could grab a quick shower etc. Few toy in & he loved it.

In December we put the Christmas tree in it to stop him trying to climb it.

Pengggwn · 04/07/2017 18:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Babbaganush · 04/07/2017 18:50

I used to use the travel cot as a playpen - it's a safe space for short periods of time and allowed me to get something done in a fraction of the time.

Categoric · 04/07/2017 20:17

Feel no guilt. Play pens are brilliant and keep children safe.

There was a thread about baby reins on here recently and it is the same principle. Why would you not want to use something that will keep your baby safe?

My DC loved mine and the visiting children used to ask to go in. Mine lasted for ages as the DC turned it into a den.

lindsieAnne · 05/07/2017 10:43

We have used a play pen for my daughter and son they liked it in there start early and it becomes the norm to them. Because my daughter was 18 months when son was born ide put her in playpen but then when she got bigger baby went in there on playmat and he is 14months now and just sits and plays.. it's just like a wider cot. X

ConcreteUnderpants · 05/07/2017 10:46

Ours is "The Cage"!
And I wouldn't be without it....keeps baby in one place, and safe.
Go for it!

BarbarianMum · 05/07/2017 10:52

Both mine screamed from the moment they were put in to the moment they were taken out so I was never a big fan. But then i never really had a problem with having them round my feet either, they just poddled around making a mess.

BananaThePoet · 05/07/2017 13:51

We started using a travel cot until Sprog opened it on his own. Then we got a lovely big multicoloured wooden one with a padded floor that had gorgeous clouds and butterflies on it. He loved it. He though of it as his own space and he liked playing in it and sleeping in it.

Once I was asked to be in charge of a creche area for an NCT event and I set up little plastic tables and chairs for an art play area and I had a couple of play pens for little uns who wanted a safe quiet spot.

My biggest headache at the time was stopping the bigger kids from going into the playpen because they all wanted to be in it.

It's a safe pleasant place to be and as long as the sprogs enjoy being in it and it isn't a dumping ground where they are left instead of getting plenty of interaction I see no problem with it at all.

longestlurkerever · 05/07/2017 13:52

I used to have the travelcot set up with some toys in for this purpose. They were happy enough to stay in it for a few minutes while I went to the loo or hung the washing out or whatever - I agree it's sensible. On a similar note I don't get the judginess about reins that you get from a lot of people - what's wrong with not wanting your toddler darting into the road? It's no more restrictive than a buggy or hand hold.

Allthebestnamesareused · 05/07/2017 13:55

Oooh expect a big influx. MN have shared this to facebook!

NKFell · 05/07/2017 14:36

Mine become 'interned'...it's ideal!

thetreesarealive · 05/07/2017 15:12

Yes, it's a baby jail. It can also be essential to sanity. Sanity is essential to baby's well-being!

Alas, mine wouldn't stay in ours for more than a few minutes... I clearly didn't train them well enough...

Cockadoodledooo · 05/07/2017 15:52

We never had one for ds1, but he was an awesomely easy baby who would stay in one place and play with the same thing for ages.
Ds2 was utterly different, still is. We used a travel cot as a playpen with him, but not in the traditional way - ds1 (aged 6 when Ds2 was a toddler) would sit in it to play with Lego etc undisturbed! Was brilliant.

WaitingfortheMiracle · 05/07/2017 16:14

You would be using a playpen as a tool to keep the baby safe for a few minutes. Who in their right mind would question that?

Your DM & EX appear to be trying to undermine you as a mother.
Put a stop to that RIGHT NOW.
You are their mother, you will do whatever you believe to be necessary to protect your children.

tigerfly · 05/07/2017 16:26

I was a single parent when my little girl was first crawling. I cut the grass when she went to bed, I did decorating then too. But if I was cooking, then she went in the playpen where I could see her and talk to her. It was for safety reasons! I also put her in her high chair with toys on the tray, but the playpen was so she could have MORE freedom, not less. Get one if you want one. Tell them all to fuck off!
God that last sentence is my answer to almost everything on here.

Aprilfool79 · 05/07/2017 17:32

Let's face it whatever someone posts there is always someone who is going to make noise about it. I think they are a great idea specially for someone like me who has two dog's. Its not as if she's put electric wire in it to stop the baby escaping and who are these people to judge someone's parenting skills? Personally I couldn't give 2 hoots what anyone thinks of the way I do things with my boys (I used the dreaded reins on them both as babies) neither has grown up feral or turned out to be a serial killer....yet! I say you are all doing a marvellous job crack on with what suits you and yours and sod all the haters x

Aprilfool79 · 05/07/2017 17:33

That's my reply to pretty much everything too lol

woodhill · 05/07/2017 18:14

Tell them to come and look after the dc whilst you get on then or the other suggestion in the previous post is a good one

DeleteOrDecay · 05/07/2017 18:27

I haven't used them with my dc mainly because we don't have the space for one. Looking back it would have been so useful though, especially when older dc wanted to play with toys which would have been dangerous for a baby. Or if I needed to use the toilet but wanted to make sure elder dc didn't accidentally hurt the baby.

I think they're fine when used properly, which most people do. Obviously it's not okay to keep them cooped up in there all day with no food or water etc etc.

demirose87 · 05/07/2017 18:34

I think they are a good idea. When you've got chores and things to be getting on with at least you know baby is safe and not crawling up the stairs, under the kitchen cupboard etc and you can get some really spacious ones these days. My living room is quite small so I don't have one but if it was bigger I would have one. As long as baby is also being given time to crawl around and explore, I think they are fine. People have been using them for years.

IFDW2015 · 05/07/2017 19:53

I used the travel cot for a while as a temporary play area I could pop my daughter down whilst I could do things. I got a smallish one which was perfect when all she could do was sit and roll about. As it was only for like a few minutes at the time I found it perfect. As soon as she started walking and is in general quite a dare devil I got a playpen and it's the biggest life saver ever ... big enough for her to potter about with her toys or snuggle into a few of her pillows to read for 5-10 minutes whilst I have to run about. Will be using it for my second one too. Don't know how I'd get anything done without the pen.

StarkintheSouth · 05/07/2017 20:59

We have one and I call it baby jail but we fill it with toys and she happily will play in there for a good half an hour - I can set up her breakfast or load the dishwasher with both hands! So we're both happy and she's safe- where's the problem?!

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