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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get a play pen

126 replies

Myusername101z · 23/10/2018 17:36

Can I ask your advice on play pens if you got one would you recommend them ? Baby just started crawling and like all babies is constantly going after the things she shouldn’t, I am unsure how she would take to it and if it’s actually necessary ? Dh wants us to get one for her and fil has offered to pay for it kindly. We do have a large living room so there is room , opinions please

OP posts:
PonderLand · 23/10/2018 18:27

I never got one but our living room didn't have much dangerous furniture in when ds just started shuffling. We had baby gates for the living room though. Maybe a travel cot would be a better use of the money? You can use it for a playpen for now. My friend got a really expensive one but her daughter hated it.

adaline · 23/10/2018 18:28

Baby jails. Hate them

Why are they worse than a room that's babygated off? Or putting your child in a cot? Or a car seat? Or a high chair?

Surely they're somewhere safe to put the child while you do other things. Better to have them safe in a "baby jail" than pulling themselves onto furniture or pulling things off shelves!

MrsReacher1 · 23/10/2018 18:30

Fatted - I was just about to say that. My first flat was modern, and clean. The living room had one door, a nice carpet and no real danger.

My second flat, the living room was a nightmare. Three doors, (one set were Victorian French windows leading to steps down to the garden,), an open fire with tiled and iron surround, (fire guard but still risky), a change in level at one door as steps led down to the dining room - hard floors, all freestanding furniture, floor length curtains etc etc.

Even the last place - the house - had a lot of stairs and huge, low, opening windows, a completely open-plan ground floor etc. etc.

You can safety proof everything up to a point - but safest to use a play pen.

Chocolatecoffeeaddict · 23/10/2018 18:36

I have one for my youngest. It's large and spacious and got all his toys in. He has older brothers and sisters who are toddlers and a bit older and it's not safe for him to be crawling round all the time as he would get hurt. He has his own little place to himself. They are practical and necessary in my opinion x

Chocolatecoffeeaddict · 23/10/2018 18:37

Sorry for the x, thought I was texting my DP for a minute there!

53rdWay · 23/10/2018 18:40

We lived in a place that was hellish to babyproof when we had DD1. We did what we could with baby gates and babyproofing but also used a travel cot with toys to stick her in when needed. Worked fine.

Nellyelora · 23/10/2018 18:43

I didn't have space for one so didn't have one but I hate the self-righteousness with 'baby jails' which always comes up on these threads. I've strapped dd in the pushchair when Ive needed her to be safe for a few minutes, used the jumperoo and cot to keep her safe whilst I shower. I'm interested in what those who consider play pens to be baby jails did when they showered, cooked, attended to an emergency etc 🤔

LightastheBreeze · 23/10/2018 18:44

It’s no different really to being stuck in a high chair or cot. We also used . reins when we went out

Leeds2 · 23/10/2018 18:45

I used a travel cot as a play pen. Found it very useful, and used it most days. Only for short periods of time, eg for answering the door, going to the loo etc and most usefully when I was in the kitchen with the oven on. I thought the play pen option was better than strapping her in a high chair, as I couldn't in all honesty have kept her safe in the kitchen.
As a side point, her independent play skills have always been good, and I wonder if playing by herself for 10 mins at a young age helped.

missymayhemsmum · 23/10/2018 18:49

yes to a playpen full of toys as a safe place while you go to the loo/ answer the door/ get the dinner on.
Not as an alternative to babyproofing your house though,

Creepyexgirlfriend · 23/10/2018 18:50

'Baby jail' Hmm

peachgreen · 23/10/2018 18:55

We don't have one - I rarely leave her unsupervised (no judgement to those who do, it's just that the layout of our house means that I can do stuff and quite easily keep an eye on her) and if I need to, I pop her in her cot or her Baby Bjorn bouncer which can be used for ages. Also she's very good at learning what she can't touch - obviously I wouldn't rely on that if I wasn't there but so far once she's been told no a couple of times she doesn't go back to it.

peachgreen · 23/10/2018 18:55

Oh I would totally get one if I had a toddler though!

CalamityJane10 · 23/10/2018 18:57

I had one. It meant I knew DS was safe and I could turn my back for 5 mins. Life saver.

KindergartenKop · 23/10/2018 18:58

Use a travel cot instead. My ds2 used to push his playpen around the kitchen from inside it until he got stuck in doorways etc.

RomanyRoots · 23/10/2018 18:59

YANBU

We had one for all of our kids it was one of the big ones with at least 6 panels. It was a God send if you had to do something quickly, door, phone, other child.
Mine played in there for ages too as it kept dd safe from her much older siblings very small pieces of lego.
If it's big enough for them to walk around it helps aide walking too as they have something solid to hold onto.

tiggerbounce77 · 23/10/2018 18:59

We had one, rarely used but when it was it was fantastic, could leave the room knowing she was safe. We also used it at Christmas to put the tree in, saves it being pulled over or the ornaments being removed.

ElizabethG81 · 23/10/2018 19:00

I had twins and managed to keep them alive with a combination of play pens, jumparoos, pushchairs and reins. It must be lovely to have one baby and a house with no hazards, but I didn't so "baby jail" worked for me.

Both children are alive, very active, and very attached to me 

Jeanclaudejackety · 23/10/2018 19:03

We have one of these at my mums house for my dd and her cousins they love it and go in it whilst we pop into the kitchen or have a hot drink and don't want them to knock it etc www.ebay.co.uk/p/8-Panel-Large-Foldable-Baby-Kids-Play-Pens-Playpen-Room-Divider-Educational-Toys/15023344483?iid=281505989103

BertieBotts · 23/10/2018 19:03

It's hardly jail unless you leave them in there for 23 hours a day Grin

Original poster
Myusername101z · 23/10/2018 19:25

@jeanclaudejackety that’s the one fil has seen and wants to buy ! Glad you recommend it. I am going to think about it but may also consider a travel cot and two birds with one stone ! Thanks for opinions ...the baby jail comment was abit ridiculous Hmm

OP posts:
Candlelights2345 · 23/10/2018 19:28

I tried to use one, my DS hated it so much, and got very upset, I gave up very quickly.
I’ve also heard them called ‘baby prisons’ 😬

SharpLily · 23/10/2018 19:34

I'm more concerned about my child's safety than possibly violating her human rights with 'baby jail' at that age, to be honest! Our house is open plan and frankly impossible to babyproof to any reasonable extent. I used a playpen with number one - who was quite happy in it - and I will with number two when she's born. Clearly there are some supermums out there but I do not find it possible to have eyes on my small child every second of the day and I don't want to be picking her up and lugging her around every single time I have to drag my gaze away for a short time.

BertieBotts · 23/10/2018 19:35

From experience I would defo recommend getting one with a door, which a travel cot is unlikely to have. When you have to lift them over the side to get them in they tend to resist it especially if they aren't used to the idea of it being a fun place. Whereas with a door you can leave it open most of the time so they don't think of it as that place that they get put against their will.

Plus in the evening you can chuck all the toys in it, instant tidy up spot.

Lana1234 · 23/10/2018 19:36

I currently have a travel cot in the living room for my 1yo (not walking yet) with loads of ball pit balls (that he loves chucking out) and different toys in. It’s been invaluable for me just for when I need to go pop a bottle on or go to the toilet etc. It’s used for 5 minutes tops but it’s very necessary for me as he’s a little tinker who absolutely would do a damage if I didn’t have it to put him in. He really doesn’t mind it either, as long as it’s not used for a long time then I really don’t get the issue with them 🤷‍♀️