Playpens

[leavesinthebreeze]

Genuine question (I have no skin in the game and have no particular opinion either way) but how many people use playpens these days

yabu never used a playpen
yanbu have used a playpen

Radio silence.....

You've really caught the Zeitgeist with this OP 😄

🤣 it’s fine - was just curious

I had one for my son, but I found the window in which it was actually useful was tiny.

I got a huge one that filled the living room as much as possible and for about 5-6 months it was great. It meant he could practice moving,l and I didn't have to worry.. and it kept toys confined etc.

But then we put it away for Christmas because we had people around, and by the time Christmas was over, I thought about it, and his balance and movement had improved to the point where I didn't worry so much, so we never put it back out.

Nope. My MIL tried to force one on me because apparently she used to put my DP in one and 'it was great because he used to entertain himself for hours' or she could just ignore him for hours.
Never felt the need as mine were never out of my sight anyway.

I used a large travel cot as a playpen for when I needed a shower, to cook, etc. Not as a general play space though.

I did. But then my kids are 90s kids. Invaluable I thought at the time. I often put DC in there when I popped to the loo/get washing in etc..
But the best use was my older children playing in there to stop the youngest kid interfering with the Lego/colouring etc. I only used it if I needed temporary confinement/safety though.
But now I'm a grandparent I use the highchair if I need to.

We have a huge one in the dining room but our son will only play in it if one of us goes in with him and will scream if left alone. It’s ok for change of scenery without having to baby proof the whole room and when I’m not feeling 100% I will lie down inside the play pen and he plays around me (or on me!).

We moved house when DS was crawling, so got one second hand and it was brilliant for moving weekend and a couple of weeks after when we did certain DIY projects. Other than that it was never used and I was glad we didn't pay much for it.

We never used one. I was gifted one and tried it once as DS screamed blue murder so that was a no

I'm late 50s and the playpen I had was wooden and square just like a boxing ring or an animal enclosure. It could be folded with much effort and it had 3 wooden beads I could spin.

I was an escapee and busy child and was put in it often so my mother could get on with things without me getting in the way. I was too big for it by the time I hit my teens 😂😂😂

My mum had one. She would set it up, stand her ironing board in it and do the ironing while we rampaged through the house.

She had the right idea. Many, many years later, after the playpen had gone to greener pastures, I was ironing and my brothers decided to go on the rampage. Cue one fallen iron and an enormous burn and scald on one brother. Still, the iron always got a wide berth after that.

I used it more for the second child. Her Moses basket and later her baby gym went in there before she could crawl to stop her big sister falling over her etc while I was out of the room.

I did use it a bit for containment, mostly IIRC while I swept up after meals so DD didn't end up covered in crumbs!

I'm late 50s and the playpen I had was wooden and square just like a boxing ring or an animal enclosure. It could be folded with much effort and it had 3 wooden beads I could spin.

We had one of those. There were three of us, so it got quite a lot of use. Indoors and in the garden. It was sturdy enough to hold on to for first standing and walking practice. When not in use as a playpen, half of it could be used as a fireguard. Or on its side and covered with a blanket it became a cave or den you could crawl into. We played with it long after it wasn't needed as a playpen.

I used a travel cot as a basic one but just for the period towards the end of mat leave where she was crawling. I’d put her in there if I went to the loo, or was making lunch etc. She was fine going in, but was never in there very long.

With DD2 I didn’t - not sure why.

I am loving those who used it for themselves or older children who went in it to keep toddlers away 🤣

Like PP we just used a travel cot downstairs or their actual cot upstairs when we needed DC to stay safely in one place so we could shower etc.

We had a big one for a while with DC1 as we had an open plan house and he kept doing things like turning on the oven (kid could climb ladders at 8 months) so it was mainly used as a barrier from the living room to the kitchen, and sometimes I zipped them in while I went to the loo.

I had a big metal one with a soft play mat and I put my baby in it to stop my toddler from sitting on her.

I used one with DD when she was around 1 and had stared walking. It was mainly used if I needed to be in the kitchen, go to the bathroom etc. it was quite big so I’d leave it up during the day with the gate open and she’d wander in or out. The house was baby proofed and we had a stair gate on the kitchen, so the playpen was mainly there for peace of mind, and so she couldn’t bother the cat! This was about ten years ago, but I got the impression they weren’t that popular with other parents at the time.

We had a big hexagonal one and kept all the good toys in it with the door open most of the time, then shut the door on occasion when containment was needed. I also used it to separate toddler from baby so baby didn’t get run over.

I did, I had a huge one would put my twins in if I had to answer the door or go to the toilet (upstairs and we had a dog).

I had one but I actually used it the opposite way, I had it for my eldest son so he had a private space to play and store his precious toys and his little brother couldn't get in, not to coop either of them up in it.

I had one of those really long baby gates to portion off half the room (it was a long, lounge/diner that led into the kitchen).

My youngest was crawling at 5 months and walking at 8, so it was a godsend.

Our living room area, which was penned off for her, only had sofas and toys in for about a year.

My sister in law thought it was terrible and used to baa like a sheep whenever she came round 🙄

Mine is a godsend but I had a newborn and an 11 month old at the time when I got it. So it got great use.

We have a huge one, with a little door on it. Was really helpful when my daughter was crawling as it was somewhere safe for her to be whilst I went to the loo/ got her food ready/ answered the door etc. As a fully mobile toddler it’s still proving useful. It holds all her toys and keeps them from lying all over the place. She happily goes in and out as she pleases, often taking books in with and slamming the door shut behind her! We have a blanket over half of it now so it’s like a den as well.

Overall it’s been a very good investment. I wouldn’t bother with a small one though.