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Parenting

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Original poster

Play Pens aren't popular anymore?

107 replies

PlanetTeaTime · 14/10/2021 20:22

I've had a few people say to me that play pens aren't in fashion anymore (people whose kids have grown up and started having their own kids)

And I just wanted to know if that's true?

My baby isn't crawling yet so it's been a non issue for us but I'm really curious as to why they aren't popular now?

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Tototipple · 14/10/2021 22:50

Eldest used as safe space from the toddler and would go in there with toys. Never put the baby in 😂

LindaLooky · 14/10/2021 22:53

I had one fairly recently. It was essentially a plastic fence that clipped round in a square and had activities on each panel. Great for if I wanted to go to the toilet etc. It took up a big chunk of living room though.

whatswithtodaytoday · 14/10/2021 22:56

We used the travel cot. He used to be so happy in there, would flick through endless books or stand with his hands on the side watching baby TV. My house was clean and tidy and he was safe if I needed to cook or run upstairs.

I miss it so much now he has to come everywhere with me!

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mummabubs · 14/10/2021 22:56

I bought one for DS a few years ago as I was exclusively pumping to feed him and once he started moving I needed a way to contain him for 30 minute slots while I plugged myself into a wall 🤦🏻‍♀️ I'm breastfeeding DD and she's not yet mobile but have kept the playpen just in case!

Nat6999 · 14/10/2021 22:57

I had a travel cot when ds started crawling to use as a playpen. Exh has MS & it was useful when he was struggling with his mobility once I had gone back to work.

LouLou198 · 14/10/2021 22:59

I had one, dc are 10 and 6 now. Only used it for brief periods such as cooking a meal, or getting a few jobs done.

lllllllllll · 14/10/2021 23:03

One of my most favourite posts on here over the years was along the lines of "cage them when you need to get on, strap them down when they eat and put them on a leash when you go for a walk".

Just horrible

nutmegsteddytoes · 14/10/2021 23:03

I used one for my 15yr old son when he was small to keep him /my dogs safe for times when I couldn't be there at that moment as he loved to roll across the room and poke/pull at the dogs if given a chance which obviously wasn't acceptable
Funny how people find crating a dog ,which size wise ,is much smaller proportionally yet find a playpen rather archaic?!

HighInTheHills · 14/10/2021 23:25

We have a travel cot that is permanently set up in our open plan kitchen/sunroom. It's just having that safe space where I can pop the baby in for a moment when I need to nip to the loo/answer the door/go upstairs quickly/getting hot things out of the Aga/remove from causing mischief while I separate his two older siblings from scrapping with each other.

The amount of time he's actually in it over the course of the day is minimal, but the number of times he's popped in there is high. I find it absolutely invaluable, I had one set up like that when my eldest was a baby and have done with each subsequent child.

They have all loved having that cosy space to play with their toys and also gives the option of keeping them out of the toddler's reach, who inevitably wants to take whatever the baby is playing with. Plus I found it was cosier for them than sitting on our draughty floor when they were interested in sitting and playing with a toy rather than wandering about. They soon let me know when they've had enough and want to come out!

I picked up a secondhand travel cot on Facebook marketplace for £20 and it's worth its weight in gold. I've also set it up outside as a safe space for baby when dealing with the older two in paddling pools/general playing in the garden.

Chicklette · 14/10/2021 23:28

We had one and baby liked playing in it when i was at toilet etc. The best use for it was when we put the Christmas tree in it to protect it from 2 toddlers! It contained all the presents nicely too!

HowardNoir · 14/10/2021 23:39

I have one for my baby nieces. They're 7 and 11 months old and don't mind sitting with each other while I chuck some toys in with them. It's perfect when I'm cooking/cleaning/ironing near them so they can play freely and safely.

Bobholll · 14/10/2021 23:45

We had a Jumperoo instead 😂 Could plonk both mine in it for a good 20 minutes at least while I cracked on with something!

MrsMiddleMother · 14/10/2021 23:59

Like others I used a travel cot for naps and for when I needed 5 minutes. Didn't have the need for a huge play pen

Jimmyshoes · 15/10/2021 00:24

I had one 2 years ago and it was the best thing ever. I was able to cook, clean, do laundry and go to the toilet while DS played in it. The flat we lived in at the time wasn't baby safe at all despite it being baby proofed, thankfully we moved and DS started walking and we didn't use it after that.

JustLyra · 15/10/2021 02:09

I wouldn’t have been without one when mine were little. Especially my twins. Was a lifesaver for actually getting to go to the bathroom or make food without one of them getting into something

Avarua · 15/10/2021 02:13

Essential for keeping babies, toddlers and pets the hell away from the Christmas tree IMO

Neves7 · 15/10/2021 02:54

We put our Christmas tree in ours when the kids were toddlers!

1forAll74 · 15/10/2021 03:42

I had a large wooden playpen for my son many years ago, and it was great, as I used to move it round to different places in the house when doing different jobs, like diy stuff, painting walls, and landscaping the garden etc, my son used to have our dog in it too, My son used to like playing with his toys in there, and was safe when I was using any electrical tools for diy etc.

Goldbar · 15/10/2021 05:36

Actually, thinking on it, it seems inconsiderate to a baby/young toddler not to have one (or a baby-proofed room) . That way, at least you're not interrupting their play to take them with you every time you need to go to the loo or open the door. It must be so annoying as a baby to be intent on stacking bricks or chewing the rug, and suddenly you're dragged off because mummy needs to pee.

3cats4poniesandababy · 15/10/2021 08:35

I don't judge people for having one, I did have one for a variety of reasons. It certainly was not a necessary item for me ans my baby and my house.

I think some of the bas rep comes because some people do over use them them. If you talk to someone like my grandma baby was in the playpen a lot which I think that is therefore what people think of when they hear playpen.

JapanJetplane · 15/10/2021 08:39

I’m not opposed to them in any way, just found we haven’t needed it. My baby is 10mo and crawling so we do need to keep an eye on him, but we just stay vigilant and if we need to contain him while we do something we put him in his high chair with some toys to occupy him.

I can absolutely see why a playpen would be useful now and then, so if you have the space to keep it up all the time then I’d go for it.

poshme · 15/10/2021 08:44

We had one. We called it the cage. It was brilliant- DS loved it. He'd choose to go in because all his toys were kept in it. We partitioned off a corner of the room.

We also have a dog, and it was an easy way to keep child and dog apart when I went to the loo/was cooking etc.

poshme · 15/10/2021 08:45

@lllllllllll

One of my most favourite posts on here over the years was along the lines of "cage them when you need to get on, strap them down when they eat and put them on a leash when you go for a walk".

Just horrible

Or safe. Strap them down when they eat- so they don't fall out of the high chair. Pen them in so they can't grab the kettle when you're cooking Put them on a lead so they can't run into traffic.

poshme · 15/10/2021 08:47

We had a friend who was very judgemental about our playpen. But her child would just sit and play in one place.

Their second child never stayed still and would spend all day pulling stuff off shelves, climbing up the furniture etc. They got a play pen very quickly.

WeatherwaxOn · 15/10/2021 08:47

Personally, what's "in fashion" is irrelevant. What was important to me was safely when DC was small. A playpen worked for the housing situation we were in at the time.

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