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Parenting

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Original poster

Should I buy a playpen?

22 replies

FartnissEverbeans · 06/05/2017 15:47

DS is 7mo now. Until now I've been placing him in either his jumperoo or play gym when I need to get things done (e.g. go to the loo) but he's got to the stage now that he wants to be sitting up all the time (he just learned) and rolling around. He keeps rolling into the spokes of the playgym and getting stuck!

I'd be quite happy to leave him on the floor but all our floors are tiled (we live in a very hot country). I'm worried he'll roll off the rug and bang his head on the tiled floor. When he starts toddling I'll be worried about him falling when I'm not there, even if the room is otherwise childproofed. I wouldn't be comfortable leaving him even for a minute.

A playpen seems like a good solution to me but my mum says they're like prisons!! I wouldn't be leaving him there often - just when I really need to. I'll make it comfortable and fill it with toys and place it so that he can see me when I'm in the kitchen.

Wdyt? Will I get much use out of it?

Thanks

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upforathird · 06/05/2017 15:52

I don't get why people think they are like prisons. They're a chance for you to get stuff done and leave baby in a safe place where they are able to move about freely rather than being strapped into a high chair or popped into a jumperoo. I had one and it was a life saver. Actually bought it on holiday one year when my eldest was about 8 months and crawling over the tiles and pulling up in the furniture and I was terrified he'd fall back and bang his head on the hard tiles. Could not take my eyes off him and it was exhausting. It came in very useful once back home too and he was very happy in there with his toys

HeyCat · 06/05/2017 15:56

I'd definitely get one. They actually give more freedom to toddlers than always bring strapped in or having you hovering over them every second. Obv you shouldn't leave him in there for too long but it's great for some safe independent play.

eurochick · 06/05/2017 16:03

We used a travel cot. It worked well and folded away when we didn't want it out.

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Sparrowlegs248 · 06/05/2017 16:07

I have quarry tiles in the room adjoining the kitchen, where we spend much of our time. I used foam tiles on the floor for a bit but then used a travel cot. It's not very big but Ds has always been goof about going in it. Ive used it less and less as he's got older and only been popping him in while I go to the loo for example as my house isn't that child friendly and he's accident prone.

He tried and nearly succeeded climbing out yesterday but he's 22months.

Don't use it as a punishment though, make it fun and still interact with him when he's in there - singing, peekaboo etc.

DancingLedge · 06/05/2017 16:11

Would have struggled to bring up mine without a playpen.
All sorts of pluses- a safe place to pop them, more room to move is good for muscle development, keeps them on a rug or padding, keeps their baby toys safe from the dogs, even keeps them slightly safer from toddler.
Much more freedom than being popped in a chair while you're on loo, dealing with toddler,etc.

jelliebelly · 06/05/2017 16:12

Get one. We used one with both of ours and they went in willingly when I was cooking, hoovering etc no problems - it also worked as s place to store all the toys too!

Don't use it as a punishment though

Original poster

FartnissEverbeans · 06/05/2017 16:47

Thanks everyone - I think I'm going to go and do a spot of shopping!

OP posts:

Writerwannabe83 · 06/05/2017 21:16

I used a travel cot - they are a God send!!!!

NapQueen · 06/05/2017 21:19

What about an inflatable pool?

Cestquiluideja · 06/05/2017 21:23

We use a travel cot and I think my baby likes a place he can do what he wants and doesn't hear "No, don't touch" all the time. He doesn't always want to go in but when he does he is quite happy in there. It's his space. Just my thoughts.

KittyConCarne · 06/05/2017 21:39

Haha, just came on to say playpens are fine, and also to suggest inflatable pools but I see I've been beaten to it on that one!

We have a BabyDan playpen with the mesh sides (I preferred the mesh to the bars version for when DDs started rolling around), and found it invaluable when cooking/ hoovering etc. Ours can be used as a room divider too, which is great for keeping toddler separate from DD1's lego/ sylvanians in our open plan living area, and we've also used it to divide off the patio/BBQ area in the summer.

Currently, we're using a cheapy 2-ring paddling pool in the back garden to contain DD2 while I'm gardening/ older ones are running around. Plenty of room for toys, she can see everything going on as its low-level, and she can't eat the grass or pea-shingle

Sophia1984 · 06/05/2017 21:47

Dissenting voice here. I bought one for all the above reasons but it just ended up being filled with toys. We do have carpeted living room so I'm happy leaving DS in there while I nip to loo/make a cuppa.

KittyConCarne · 06/05/2017 21:48

Ooh, also- with your question of will you get much use out of it...

Once DD1 was too old to need it as a playpen/ room divider, it became a quick & easy den to set up for her- duvet cover pegged over the top, with the door for her to get in and out of,
plus we also used it as an additional campsite screen alongside wind breakers whilst camping,
plus we used it last Xmas to protect the Xmas tree and presents from destructive DD2... lots of uses lol

MrsCrankypants · 06/05/2017 21:56

I loved ours and I still miss it! My DD loved it too and would ask to go in by crawling up and shaking the door. We had a mesh side one so it was less prison like and a bit softer to sit against. It was only when she was starting to walk that she didn't like it so much so it became a fence for the Christmas tree that year

Original poster

FartnissEverbeans · 07/05/2017 05:13

Thanks again everyone. An inflatable pool is a good shout - but will he be able to climb out soon? He's quite tall already!

I think I'd like one with bars so that he can pull himself up, and it'll need to have some sort of floor so that he's not just sitting on the tiles.

This might be a really silly question, but as lots of people online are suggesting using a travel cot I'm going to ask anyway - would I be as well just buying a cheap Ikea cot and using that?? They have Sniglar ones on sale just now and it looks almost exactly like all the playpens I've seen for sale - maybe slightly smaller (but could I lash two together if the bed was at the lowest setting?). It'd be easy to repurpose later, either as a cot for the next baby or as a little sofa type thing. Is this a crap idea??

OP posts:

Shutupanddance1 · 07/05/2017 06:11

My baby is 10 months - we live in a 'hot country' as well with all tiled floors. My baby enjoys crawling about etc so I just put down some foam mats in her bedroom and in our living room we have 2 big rugs. Everyone I know here uses rugs/foam mats as well for floor.

I've made a play corner in our living room so she tends to gravitate towards that and play with her toys

BikeRunSki · 07/05/2017 06:37

DS climbed out of a paddling pool the first time he went t in one a 9 months. Travel cot much taller! You could get an additional ordinary cot if you have space I guess, but the travel cot has the advantage of you being able to put it away. And you get a travel cot.

claraschu · 07/05/2017 06:52

Someone gave me one, but never ended up using it for my 3 kids. They didn't like it, and did see it as a prison. I didn't have much in the way of safety locks and stair gates etc. either.

My kids did make a lot of mess, play with a lot of kitchen cupboards, and do a lot of slightly risky things. They never really hurt themselves, but figured out how to stay away from fires, climb stairs, and not destroy things, when they were very little.

Original poster

FartnissEverbeans · 07/05/2017 07:13

I've already got a travel cot BikeRunSki but it's in the U.K. just now - I left it there with my dad as we visited at Easter and will be back in the summer with no other holidays in between.

The Ikea cot is cheaper than the travel cots I've seen, which is why I'm looking at it. We do have space in our living room but not much storage so I probably wouldn't put it away as nowhere to put it!

OP posts:

MrsMotherHen · 07/05/2017 07:21

I had a baby dan Felix playpen for my little boy it was fantastic we used it from about 3 months it has two level settings like a cot. Here is the type was worth every penny only took it down when he was 18 months and it's about to go back up for our baby due in 6 weeks.

loveulotslikejellytots · 07/05/2017 09:15

What ever you decide to do, do it asap. I left it too long with dd and she hated it! I think if I'd started putting her in it earlier she would have been ok.

Iamastonished · 07/05/2017 10:02

I used a playpen in the kitchen because we had quarry tiles on the floor. I used to out her in there from about 6 months so it never felt like a prison to her. She sometimes used to drop off to sleep in it.

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