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Original poster

Baby dan playpen anyone?

15 replies

Ermintrudel · 12/12/2012 20:14

Hi there,

My DS is almost 11 months, crawling, trying to pull himself up to stand etc all day long. My husband works long hours, so isn't really there to help and my family/friends aren't local. Recently I've really struggled because DS wants to be free constantly and some days I've not even been able to eat, wash, dress etc.

My husband, mother and mother in law have all said I should get a play pen to help me, so I can leave DS in a safe place to play occasionly through the day to let me eat, wash, dress etc.

Anyone had this issue and found a play pen to be
Be the answer. I was really against them but I've learnt as a new mum to keep an open mind to maintain my sanity.

Really like to hear your thoughts?

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diyqueen · 12/12/2012 20:37

It depends if he'd tolerate it. I tried using dd's travel cot as a playpen but she hated being restricted and screamed when I put her in it do that was the end of that. We baby proofed as much as possible, and I took dd wherever I went (eg to the bathroom with me when I had a shower, with toys for her to play with and the door closed). It's a tiresome phase when they're mobile and into everything but still with no sense of danger, but it does improve quickly with age. I'd say at his age you probably won't get much use out of a play pen, I don't think many walking babies would put up with being in one. An alternative that we did for a while was a stair gate on the lounge door - didn't leave her alone in there but it gave me a rest from chasing her all over the house! But when she started walking she hated being penned in anywhere.

TeeElfOnTeeShelf · 12/12/2012 20:41

My son spent some of every day in a playpen when he was that age. I gave him lots of toys to play with and changed them on occasion.

thirdfromleft · 12/12/2012 20:45

We had them and they were life savers around that age. One trick is that if you have the space you can buy two and put them together to make a larger space.

TheSkiingGardener · 12/12/2012 20:46

If he wants to be free constantly I'm not sure he'd tolerate it. Could you try with putting him in his cot and seeing if he'd play or if he would scream?

We had a playpen thign used as a fireguard, then we bought the play roof for it and it is now DS's beloved book nook, where he goes to get some space. We've never shut him in it, but he's been known to shut the gate to keep us out. So you may get more use out of it that just these few months.

Original poster

Ermintrudel · 12/12/2012 21:01

I tried the travel cot today with toys in and he loved it...not sure. I've read some really judgemental comments from mums on the Internet about play pens and I always feel guilty whatever, so I'm really sensitive to those comments. I just don't want to not use something that might be a life saver because I feel guilty.

OP posts:

thirdfromleft · 12/12/2012 21:10

All I can say is that my kids loved being in them, in fact sometimes they would ask to go in to get away from their siblings that took care of any guilty feelings! Only used them for short spells, 20-30 min max, but it made all the difference.

PoppyWearer · 12/12/2012 21:19

Maybe try a travel cot upstairs with some toys in it - in the bathroom if you have space so he can see/hear you when you shower?

I have used a playpen for both DCs. DC2 hated it, putting him in it became a punishment for naughty behaviour. But we then spread it out across the entrance to a door and it was useful there. It's now guarding the Christmas tree!

tittytittyhanghang · 12/12/2012 21:22

both my ds were in a playpen when they were that age. ds1 (now 12) just had a wooden square one, not that big but maybe a little bigger than a travel cot. It was fine for shorter periods, and once he was a litte older i just put a stairgate on his room so he could play in there and let me get on with housework. DS2 didn't have his own room so he got his this one and all his toys went in it and it was big enough for him to run about. DS2 was in it till he was about 1.6.

cowardlylionhere · 12/12/2012 21:26

Anyone who thinks a playpen is something to get judgey about is a bit of a wanker surely? I didn't need one for my first dc, but have had one for both subsequent dc, and we refer to it as the babycage . It's mainly a place to put the baby safely for if I need to run upstairs to put washing away or if the older dc are playing with somethign with small parts that the baby will eat. I can vouch for the older ones liking to get in there too, it does make a very impressive den. I wouldn't buy one new, I bought ours secondhand for twenty quid, and is currently in use as a christmas tree cage. I'd say if you can get a cheap one then it's worth a try.

MrsDeVere · 12/12/2012 21:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Meglet · 12/12/2012 21:40

I used a playpen for my DC's.

Well, that was until DS was about 2.6 and he discovered how to let his newly crawling / pulling up baby sister out of the playpen .

Zimbah · 12/12/2012 22:47

If you find your DS doesn't like being in the playpen you could try putting him in it with the tv on. I know tv isn't great for very young DC but if you just need ten minutes to get dressed/eat etc then you might find it helps. I do this with my 18mo, it wasn't a deliberate thing but I'd leave her in the room with her older sister who was watching a bit of tv. Now if I need a bit of respite I'll put her in the playpen and she'll happily watch tv and also play with her toys and I know I can safely put the bins out etc without needing to listen out for the scream as she attempts to scale the bookcase and falls off.

Zimbah · 12/12/2012 22:48

PS I would never have done this with DD1 but standards have slipped!

dietcokeandwine · 12/12/2012 22:51

We had the babydan playpen for and I have to say it was great - they were never in it as a playpen 'safe space' for longer than 5-10 minutes at a time, but it was really useful having it for those times when I just needed to get something done and know baby was safe.

I also got both my DCs into the routine of playing in their cots in the mornings whilst I showered - but I did this more or less from the outset, so they were used to it from young babyhood and accepted that it was a part of the morning routine, not sure whether you could introduce it with an 11 month old but worth a try I suppose.

The great thing about the babydan though is that you can turn it into a really good den (we had the tent thing you could fix to the top) which in itself made it into a desirable playspace! I also bought a couple of packs of those light plastic playballs and turned the playpen into a mini ball pit - that was very popular!

EspressoMonkey · 13/12/2012 12:28

Op we were in a similar situation to you with DD1.

We bought the playpen but DD hated it. Then DH had a brainwave and came home one day with an inflatable swimming pool. It was big, 2.5x2.5 metres, so it completly took over a room (in our case the conservatory) but it was fabulous. We filled it with toys and DD loved it. It was plastic, so wipe clean and great for nappy free time and teaching her to use a cup. And the sides were inflatable so when she fell when trying to stand she didn't hurt herself. And when she was old enough to not need it it became a fab swimming pool.

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