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Original poster

Do people use playpens in the UK?

89 replies

JonnyPocketRocket · 03/05/2020 08:07

Just that really.
DS is 5.5 months and starting to think about crawling. PILs are from America (but live here now) and keep reminding me to get a playpen as apparently I need to start putting him in it before he becomes mobile so he gets used to it. But I don't think any of my friends or family in the UK has used one of these, they've all just babyproofed as much as possible and kept an eye on what the baby's up to. And the more I look at them, the more they look like little cages.
Is this a cultural/generational thing, and people here don't tend to use them, or am I being precious/naive?

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PawPatrolMakesMeDrink · 03/05/2020 08:09

I never used one. Just kept tabs on DS when he was little and crawling about, moved the stuff he could really hurt himself on and did stuff like washing/cooking/cleaning while he was asleep.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 03/05/2020 08:10

I did. It was great. But I had a old one maybe 30 years old. It was huge. 5ft by 3ft approx. Not many houses would have room. Put the playmat inside, hung things from the bars. It was a fun space. Worked well as I could cook safely as I had a climber.

Friends used travel cots.

OddBoots · 03/05/2020 08:13

My youngest is 17 now so my experience may not be relevant but we used to have to travel cot in the living room and put the children in it with some toys a couple of times a day for a short while. Usually so I could go to the toilet or answer the door etc but they used to like it in there.

As long as you can find a way that suits you and keeps your child/ren safe and healthy though I don't think it matters if you do or don't.

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AbsolCatly · 03/05/2020 08:13

I did

Bought an expensive one for first DD as wanted an area that could keep her toys safe from the dog - it could be a play pen or a room divider and was repurposed as a fireguard in a house where the heating was open fire and back boiler and then when we moved kept the Christmas tree and presents safe from inquisitive toddlers for a few years

DD3 I bought a travel cot for the times I needed to pop her down for a few mins and do something with out worrying what she was going to find

As she got bigger we toddler proofed rooms and scattered stair gates about as needed - still have some up and she is 5 now as they keep visiting dogs downstairs :)

moobar · 03/05/2020 08:13

I did, huge farm kitchen. Aga in crawling reach. Massive playpen, meant I could pee, dogs could potter about if I was cooking etc.

I am also on my own most of the time as dh at work.

Out of my mum friends it was probably split about a third who did, two thirds didn't. Think it depends on your house, set up, style etc.

For me safety around the aga far outweighed any jail references.

GreyishDays · 03/05/2020 08:14

I didn’t and didn’t know anyone with one.

Ithoughtyouwere · 03/05/2020 08:14

I’ve known some people to use them. My parents have a pop up one that is a big hexagon shape, but that was more for my niece when they were looking after her as they have a very old cottage which is hard to baby proof.

Other people have used ones that are more like fenced off areas and usually are to stop older children or pets getting to the baby whilst you go off to do something.

I looked at whether it’d be useful with my first and decided not. I think I even ordered one and sent it back as it didn’t seem very safe anyway. Might consider it now, second time round, as my 2 year old can be quite boisterous, but then I might just keep the baby with me.

SkaLaLand · 03/05/2020 08:16

Makes sense for those with big houses, open fires, agas ect as mentioned by PP. If you have a house the size of a postage stamp like me, all you need are a couple.of babygates and remove all breakables out of reach.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 03/05/2020 08:16

I had a travel cot with toys in that I’d put th in if I needed to do anything.

woodencoffeetable · 03/05/2020 08:18

we had one for dc1 - unsafe rental property
with the following dc we had a playroom (small 2mx2m pantry) off the kitchen so we put in a stairgate. there wasn't really space to put one up elsewhere.

Lazydaisydaydream · 03/05/2020 08:19

I think how useful they are depends on what sort of house you live in. My friends who have open plan living areas seem to use them, those like me who live in smaller houses with separate rooms don't really have the space (and it's easier to baby proof one small room and keep baby away from kitchen etc)

Bitterglitter · 03/05/2020 08:20

I did with both of mine. Babyproofed as much as possible and had it handy for times when I needed to take my eyes off them. Was useful for about 6 months or so.. allowed me to re discover the joys of solo peeing!

Babdoc · 03/05/2020 08:26

I was widowed with two babies, and the playpen was essential. It was quite large, so room for plenty of toys. A safe place for the DC while I had my bath, answered the door, cooked dinner etc.

skippetyskoo · 03/05/2020 08:36

We had a big hallway so gated that to the kitchen , lounge and stairs. Worked perfectly as I could be in the kitchen and still see them. So I guess a play own of sorts.

Reginabambina · 03/05/2020 08:38

I’ve seen loads while house hunting. We used one as well (but our kids weren’t into it so it turned more into a toy storage than anything else). Only really small/really placid babies are going to accept a play pen.

Bagelsandbrie · 03/05/2020 08:40

I did with both of mine. It meant I could pop into the kitchen and do stuff and leave them for a bit and know they were safe.

DreamingofSunshine · 03/05/2020 08:40

I used the summer infant pop up one which was great for buying a minute to answer to door/wee/grab something. My brother and SIL put their children in one every waking moment which I didn't agree with as they couldn't crawl or cruise in it.

Horehound · 03/05/2020 08:42

I actually just bought one a few days ago and waiting in it arriving :)

borntobequiet · 03/05/2020 08:45

I don’t understand the hate for playpens nowadays. It’s ridiculous to call them cages. I had a lovely big playpen when my kids were little (80s) and they both (singly, 3 years between them) happily played in it for up to an hour at a time while I was in and out doing stuff (single parent). Sometimes I’d get in and play with them in there, and the older child would play with the younger with him outside and her inside. Eventually my younger child learned how to climb out and it went to the charity shop...was sold instantly.

Loubylou9162 · 03/05/2020 08:45

I had one. I have 2 dogs so wanted a safe place to be able to put the baby to play with her toys while I cooked, went to the loo or answered the door. Just meant I knew she was safe and the dogs couldn’t push her over or try to take her toys.

TwistyHair · 03/05/2020 08:46

I’ve not known anyone have one. I think it depends on the baby. Mine would cry if I left the room so wouldn’t have worked anyway.

onemouseplace · 03/05/2020 08:47

I did. We’re open plan and it just made things a lot easier. Mine never hated theirs at all, it had loads of toys in (and was also in front of the tv Blush ).

cheeseychovolate · 03/05/2020 08:49

Yes I used one for both mine. Great help when cooking, going to the loo etc

MsChatterbox · 03/05/2020 08:50

I think it depends on your house like pp said. My house is tiny - the stairs, kitchen and bathroom are gated off. The rest of the rooms are completely baby/toddler proof.

ritzbiscuits · 03/05/2020 08:51

It's not very common but tried one as I had a Dutch friend and they all use them there. He hated it and could never entertain himself in it. I think it depends on the child but I'd try without one really.