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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to buy a playpen?

64 replies

pamelat · 18/10/2008 13:47

DD 9 months, not crawling yet but will be soon ish.

I am keen to buy a (large) playpen. I wouldnt leave her in it all day but am think its a nice stress free back up if I am cooking, on the phone etc.

Opinion is divided.

Friends without children and my family think its essential

My antenatal group see it as cruel. I would be the first play pen purchaser! Their babies are all on the move and they say that its not really that stressful anyway, yes welll ....

So AIBU, are playpens terrible or necessary?

OP posts:
ScottishMummy · 18/10/2008 17:21

i never used one because i dont like the space they occupy and the aesthetics

you either love them or loathe them.

at 9month i put lo in cot if i was showering etc

or strapped in buggy and wheels into kitchen when i was cooking etc so still safe but visible

Ohforfoxsake · 18/10/2008 17:28

Couldn't do without mine.

Another vote for the Babydan. LO can come and go as it has a gate. She can come and go freely until I need her to be in there.

And now she's learnt to climb on the sofas (and hurl herself off) its more valuable than ever.

I think people assume you are going to plonk baby in there and spend hours ignoring them or something. One of the most useful bits of kit I've owned.

nooOOOoonki · 18/10/2008 17:33

I used a travel cot, important as we have a dog, who though very affectionate, I would never have left alone with a baby - they never confused it with sleep/play. (assuming he doesnt always sleep in a travel cot).

Your antenatal group sound a bit anal tbh!

my DS1 used to cry to go in his travel cot, also great for shoving all the toys in at the end of the day.

kristatwin · 18/10/2008 17:43

Hi, funny enough, i was thinking the same, feel like bad mother putting the kids in there, but would never get anything done otherwise, i have twins and the simple task of nipping upsatirs, would be to take one up and then carry other up and put in cot, so feel like this is the only solution,
3littlefrogs have you got twins.

mrsruffallo · 18/10/2008 17:50

I didn't put my children in them.
I really don't like them, or see them as necessary.
Each to their own, though.
Just not my style

Pheebe · 18/10/2008 19:25

We bought one, neither of my dss would stay in it and I can't say I blame em with hindsight. We use it as a ball pool now which they both love. Its got a side door on so littlest (1yo) can crawl in and out. Balls go everywhere but we have it out for a week at a time and its fab.

Can you put a gate on the door to the kitchen instead?

pudding25 · 18/10/2008 19:32

What do you do if you live in a box? Our living room is very small so I am not sure if there would be room for a playpen (I would like to get one when the time comes) and I could not put her in the buggy in the kitchen as there is no room.

I could put her in the cot as we are on one level but as others said, I don't really want her to associate her cot with playing.

She is only 5mths and I put her in the bouncy chair with me when I need to cook or shower but I won't be able to do that for too much longer.

Any ideas?

Ohforfoxsake · 18/10/2008 19:35

How about one of those activity centres they sit in? They do take up a bit of room, but I have found them helpful. My latest one cost 99p from ebay.

AnarchyAunt · 18/10/2008 19:37

Tell you the best use for playpens - get in there yourself with a glass of wine and the sunday papers ... bliss

I don't thnk they are cruel if used judiciously - we didn't have one but only as I couldn't find an affordable one. Great for keeping them safe in the garden too.

Ohforfoxsake · 18/10/2008 19:43

We put our Christmas tree in it too.

LaVie · 18/10/2008 19:51

I use the travel cot downstairs. I only put ds in it when I have to empty the car when we've been shopping or after his meals. he gets food everywhere and if I don't put him in he tends to rub his hands in all the cack on the floor before i've had chance to clean it up

Also useful if I have to answer the door.

nickytwoooohtimes · 18/10/2008 19:59

I have no problem with playpens - better that than an injured child. We didn't need one for ds - just the way it worked out and due to our particular lay-out. I'd ahve been quite happy to get one if it had been necessary.

wobblyjellybelly · 18/10/2008 20:14

I had a playpen donated from a friend and found it invaluable (though short lived!). Great for when you need to cook - daughter LOVED it as helped her pull up/stand up (wooden one with bars) and had lots of clip on toys for her to play with. Also needed it to stop her crawling outside whilst other kids were playing in garden and I was busy in kitchen. Definately worth it. However, she soon got bored after about 6 weeks and I stopped using it as I felt cruel keeping her in there when she seemed unhappy. As with a lot of baby things seems to be a useful item for 'another phase' of their lives!

DesperatelySeekingSanity · 18/10/2008 20:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lalalonglegs · 18/10/2008 20:52

God, not sure if it is cruel but, if your kids are anything like mine, they won't stay in it for longer than 10 seconds without screaming house down (and I bought expensive Babydan one )

deste · 18/10/2008 20:59

I would also say if you want one and think it will be of benefit to you get one. You dont need anyones permission.

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 18/10/2008 21:02

I heart my playpen. I have a 17 month old moutain climber in training, who sidelines as houdini I'd not get a thing done without one. Seriously she has even sarted trying to let herself out of the front door.

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 18/10/2008 21:04

Pudding my living room is tiny I have the babydan and just put it up when I need it. It's really easy to take up and down.

Amy78 · 18/10/2008 21:05

Your ante natal group obviously don't have inquisitive little monkeys angels!!

My daughter is 8 months and without a playpen I wouldn't be able to leave the room. By the time I came back the cats would be in fear for their lives and DD would have knackered the DVD player (she's the only one who can get it to work mind you!!)

Every person is unique and you shouldn't be hassled for doing what you feel is best for your child!!

mashedbanana · 18/10/2008 21:07

i used a travel cot which i put in my dining room which was next to kitchen so when cooking i knew where dd was.dd loved it in there wasn't a problem for her.

TheHedgeWitch · 18/10/2008 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MsHighwater · 18/10/2008 23:13

We had a Babydan and it was great.

I recall some time ago following a debate about playpens on another parenting website. It all got a bit hysterical to my mind with some contributors describing a playpen as a "cage". One poster described how difficult she found the idea of restraining a child in a playpen and then offered her alternative suggestion - strap the child in the high chair!

YANBU at all.

3littlefrogs · 19/10/2008 11:13

I never put them in it for long - just to keep safe for answering door, telephone, or running upstairs with pile of laundry or whatever. You can't carry stuff upstairs with 2 small children in tow. We only had one room plus kitchen downstairs, so anything like clean washing or ironing had to be taken up asap, or it would have been all over the floor the first time I turned my back!

It was also useful to take out to the garden so the crawler could enjoy the fresh air without eating slugs, snails, soil and flowers.

Much better than being strapped in a pushchair or highchair IMO.

mrsruffallo · 19/10/2008 11:18

What's wrong with soil, flowers and bugs?
I find it strange you would put it in the garden
Why not put a blanket down or let her get dirty?

emma1977 · 19/10/2008 11:53

I would have one if only I had the space- all of our rooms are tiny.

My 10mo ds is a completely destructive pain in the arse spirited inquisitive little soul sometimes which has resulted in a lot of smashed crockery, a broken washing machine door, a defrosted freezer and an eaten toilet roll while I have been trying to do household chores. I have resorted to putting a stairgate across the kitchen door and putting his toys in the hall. There is no way he would tolerate sitting or being restrained in anything for more than a minute. So far it seems to be working and has saved further accidents.

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