Playpens - good idea or not?

[Kelly1978]

Hi,
I've been offered a babydan playpen from a friend, jsut wondering if they are a good idea or not. I never had them with the older two, as I thought they would hate it and it would be a waste. Faced with the idea of crawlign dts, I am tempted. Experiences please?

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Playpens are brilliant if you use them well. I had one for ds and dd. Ds like it so much that he remembered it and asked to be put in it when we set it up again for dd!

They should never be used as a dumping-ground for children who are driving you potty, or as a punishment. If the baby or babies are regularly put in it before they are mobile, and it has interesting things in it or attached to it, then it will be a familiar and delightful place. I put ours in the middle of the living room, where ds could be part of whatever was going on in the room and could also see right down the corridor that all the rooms in our flat open off, sot hat he could see me moving about as well.

Your elder two may find it a god-send as well, as it would keep benign, Lego-eating, puzzle-destroying rugrats at bay.

Didn't work with my ds - screamed as soon as I put him in it and continued screaming until I took him out. Consequently I never bothered with dd. My next door neighbour used one successfully with her twins though.

I think they are great when used wisely....

it means you can go to the loo / hang out the washing / answer the door in peace if nothing else

kelly I have one. Life saver with the DTs. Accept!

i have one and it's fab. It means i can pop Linus in while I go and cook dinner (it's next to the kitchen door in the sitting room) and not worry that he is crawling round eating cables etc!

I just called her and we are picking it up tomorrow. Poor dts!