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

[Peaches44]

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.

Go for it, it's no different to a cot, they can play in, what's the problem?

Will if the objectors ate offering to do child minding every time you cook/ wee,/ shower that is fine. Otherwise a playpen sound like your best option.

Ignore the baby jail comments - we called our GroSwaddle "the baby straightjacket" but we still shoved him in it every night (until he worked out how to get his hand out of the top and into his mouth, and we were worried he'd pull the neck too tight and strangle himself).

I bought 3 babydan playpens and put them together so our lounge was one big playpen.

Your only mistake here was telling them in advance. They obviously thought you wanted their opinion.
Do what's good for you, they are not the one unable to leave your children safely to go and pee.

Does anyone remember the Rugrats? Those babies practically lived in their play pen and they got up to all sorts of fun shenanigans.

We called our jumperoo "The circle of neglect" didn't stop us from using it though! Was bloody useful, get it, fuck what they think, they're not having to go for a pee with small children attached to them all day.

Playpens are great. Used one with ds and later with dd. Would not have been without it tbh. Like you say it keeps them safe for short amount of time when you need to leave the room/toilet/cook tea ect. As for the jail comment, ignore. No different to putting them in a cot at bedtime. I can't understand their reactions especially your DM as thought playpens were used moreso years ago and she would understand the need to have to leave a child on occassions throughout the day. Your ex I could understand being niaive if no experience of having to cope totally alone. Don't worry about it, get one, you'll need it. It is something I would recommend to everyone. They would probably be the first to moan if dd had accident when you wearnt in the room.

Playpen as a place to ignore a screaming tot for hours = bad parenting. Playpen as a place to corral a happy playing baby safely for a few minutes while you have a wee/ get the dinner on/ answer the door / read a story with dc1= sanity, safety and good parenting. Especially if you haven't got a second adult on the premises.

Also a high chair with harness. It was her big bro who worked out that a laptop with cbeebies on iplayer just out of reach of dd in highchair was the way to cook dinner without a tired toddler attached to his ankle. Genius boy.

Thanks everyone, I'm glad it seems just to be a few people against them, and yes its definatley right that it doesn't matter what they/anyone else thinks. I think DD will be happier in a pen with her favourite toys than being left in her cot/highchair and I will be able to get the washing up/cooking/packing away shopping done more easily and without her screaming!

I have found one locally on gumtree a wooden one that I think will do the trick!

I just came here to make a Rugrats reference!

Don't forget to check their diapers for screwdrivers or other tools they can use to bust out and have adventures!!