Any ideas on how to keep a VERY active baby in one place - other than a playpen??

[Ceebee74]

My 6 month DS is extrenely active - although he is not crawling yet, he wriggles from one end of the room to the other with ease. I need somewhere to put him occasionally when I need to get stuff done - don't want to have to sit with him watching constantly.

Have tried a playnest but he managed to climb out of that this morning so that is now out of the question.

Have looked at playpens but they are quite expensive and we can't really afford to buy one at the moment.

Has anybody got any suggestions of how I can keep him safe without being in the same room as him constantly?

babywalker?
I know the HV's condemn them but mine is in it now happily banging the kitchen doors.

Can you not safety proof the room instead and put a stairgate on the door? That way you know that he can't escape from the room but also he can't come to much harm where he is.

or put a gate on his bedroom and make that the most fun room in the house ?

Take him into whatever room you're in. Much easier. Just make sure either the room is babyproof or you can see him at all times...

My lifelines are: door bouncer, baby walker and surprisingly the high chair with a selection of toys.

Thanks for all your suggestions

I might sound a bit thick but what is a baby walker??

door bouncer

they are great.

I wondered about the door bouncer but are they ok to be left unattended in? (Just for a few minutes - don't want you all to think that I just abandon my child for hours on end!)

how about using a sling?then hes with you and safe.helping mummy!

I left ds in his door bouncer for about half an hour once - I was in the house with the door open so I could hear if he cried. He was fine... Don't think I am a particularly heartless or neglectful mama..

Kitty - I think he is a bit heavy for a sling- not sure my back would take it. Besides he is perfectly happy to be left to play for hours by himself = just wish there was somewhere safe!!

high chair? surrounded by lots of bits he can throw on the floor and you can pick up...that old game!

look on netmums or your local paper for a secondhand playpen/travel cot, also supermarket noticeboard.

a good sling will be ok for big baby and your back,im 5 "2,slimish!and a weed,my youngest is 13months and we use an ergo

I went for the babyproofing the room approach but i had a old travel cot we'd been given in the kitchen for when the oven was on.

Try having a look on Freecycle, my local one has just had a travel cot on it.

You could try putting a wanted advert on freecyle for a playpen. I have one but I am in france so its a bit far to come to collect.

Door bouncers and walkers are also good if the baby is happy in them but they can be as expensive as a playpen or travel cot.

asda had travel cots for £25 a few weeks back

i have used and passed on the fisher price take along hop n pop - i've seen it 2nd hand for around 30.it's like a activity centre which the baby stands up in the middle of in a pouch. you can fold it and put it in the car and takes up very little space.good for ones who love to stand on parents knees and so on!

J comes into what ever room i'm in (hooverin he's in the highchair thou) and plays with what ever's to hadn - kitchen = a few pots and pans, few tins of food, he's happy as larry, I get eh jobs done and then tidy those things away after - saves luggin toys etc all over the house. (I shut the doors as well so he cna't get back out)

aslo after i've had a shower (he's normally in his cot for that) I get dressed in his room whilst he's playing with his toys and such again witht he door shut as we don't have a stair gate upstairs.