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Parenting

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Original poster

What do you think about playpens?

41 replies

eagle2010 · 29/04/2014 07:48

Just that really!

My parents and MIL are obsessed with getting DS (7mo) into a playpen.

We live with PIL and I spend a lot of time in my patents' house too so that's a bit of background!

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Lanabelle · 29/04/2014 10:48

didn't like the though of it whilst I was pregnant, had this deluded image of domestic goddess/ bliss with baby permanently attached to my hip, perfectly pressed apron and not a hair out of place. Then reality hit home, as did crawling and with babies and dogs the pen was a lifesaver. I wasted a lot of money buying crap I didn't use with my first but this is one thing that saved my sanity. We got a wooden one off amazon relatively cheap but you can change size and shape, square, hexagon, 5 sides, 6 sides, 8 sides etc and it can be folded up and stored in cupboard under the stairs when not in use

Lorelei353 · 29/04/2014 10:50

We have a nice big one and it's invaluable. DS also learned to pull himself up to standing on the bars and now cruises around inside it which he loves. It's a safe space for him to practise and fall without cracking his head on anything!

neversleepagain · 29/04/2014 13:16

I am not keen on them. A child's natural instinct is to explore, they learn so much by doing this. We child proofed the living room for our toddler twins and leave them in there alone if I need to go to the loo. I can also cook the dinner and they can come over and see me if they want to.

Plus they take up so much room.

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MrsDexter · 29/04/2014 13:16

Lanabelle - which one did you get? x

HavannaSlife · 29/04/2014 13:25

We have a baby dan one, actually it was given us by a lovely mnetter on one of the threads giving things away

FourForksAche · 29/04/2014 13:58

never - it is my natural instinct to need the loo and be able to wipe my arse

I think a playpen is much less limiting than strapping baby into a carseat or pram when you need both hands for a couple of minutes.

Cheepypeepy · 29/04/2014 14:01

we have an open plan flat, for DC1 i just used for short periods when doing cooking with hot liquid etc whilst she was crawling

much more useful with DC2 as it´s impossible to fully baby proof all DC1s crap toys

just a squarish one about 1mx1m

Thurlow · 29/04/2014 14:01

Another travel cot user here, but only when I needed her to be safely contained. I might have used it a bit more if we'd had one of those big Baby Dan style pens.

givemecaffeine21 · 29/04/2014 14:29

Invaluable...I have a 21 month old and a 10 month old and my 10 month old loves it as he gets to play with the toys in peace without his sister snatching from him constantly or causing him to cry by being too exuberant. I also used it for DD as have dogs. We started with a travel cot but she didn't like it so we got a second hand playpen from gumtree. They do take up a lot of space, but it's a needs-must basis. DS can cross a room in seconds...I could never have a wee if I didn't have it! Plus in the garden it's been fantastic!

Mutley77 · 29/04/2014 14:58

Brilliant. We are in a rented house with a baby and 2 older children. House is not easily baby proofed and I am too busy to constantly be behind baby dd so can pop her in for up to 20 mins. BIG playpen with lots of toys and she is perfectly happy. Only thing is she is now pushing it across the room from the inside as she is cruising so uses it as a kind of walking aid, much to the amusement of my older children! It doesn't make it unsafe though so I am sticking with it.

MiaowTheCat · 29/04/2014 15:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

eagle2010 · 29/04/2014 18:24

Thanks for all the replies! I think we'll give it a whirl (DS and the dog may need separation v soon!) and see how we get on.

When DS was tiny and safely contained in a bouncer I thought "Oh Lord, I'll never restrain my PFB in a playpen" but today as he tried to wedge himself under the couch whilst my bladder throbbed I changed my mind :)

OP posts:

cloggal · 29/04/2014 18:52

I was like you but wouldn't be without it now! Renting so hard to baby proof house and a very active DS... It's a big one though, he can crawl across it and if I'm away for longer than a few seconds I make sure to swap the toys and books over.

Artandco · 29/04/2014 19:48

I never had one, would have always been in the way. Just took youngest ie small baby with me to loo/ kitchen etc if I thought it wasn't safe with older child (1 year gap).

Tbh though they learnt no touching/ climbing stairs/ head in toilet pretty quick. We live in london, but travel a lot with work. There's no way we could have baby proofed every rental/ hotel/ etc etc...

Melonbreath · 29/04/2014 19:54

Never had one, I borrowed a friend's but dd just screamed in it so I gave it back and just retrieved her whenever she wedged herself under furniture

Lovelydiscusfish · 29/04/2014 19:58

I found mine indispensable for cooking, going to the loo etc. we have a dog, and open fire, and a staircase we can't fit a stair gate to the bottom of, so it was pretty essential. We'd fill it with toys and she never seemed to mind it. It is a Lindham one we have, I think.

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