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Original poster

Play pens

18 replies

Kellsmc · 23/04/2006 00:16

Does anyone have any recommendations for playpens or something similar? DD has started to be mobile and our home is not as capable of child-proofing as I'd like. We're short on space so need something that folds up and doesn't take up loads of room when it's up (but, enables DD to play freely). Any suggestions, please?

OP posts:
peaches27 · 23/04/2006 21:02

When my kids were little I bought a traditional playpen with wooden bars etc and it served us well. The sides all folded flat on to the base when not in use and the bars helped them both pull themselves to stand etc. I havent used the mesh sided ones as there were rumours that children got their buttons caught on the sides and could somehow hang themselves, but I imagine by now they have changed the design so this isnt possible.

I understand some travel cots double as playpens.

busybusybee · 23/04/2006 21:05

I have found our travel cot fab as a playpen - although not tolerated for longer than 10 mins most of the time. If dd gets really involved in a game she might stay in for 30 mins

We have got a little tyke one, all travel cots seem to be easily available second hand

lahdeedah · 23/04/2006 21:13

we use our Graco Pack 'n' Play travel cot as a playpen, DD is quite happy in it for short stretches. It's easy to pack away when not needed. Cost about £40 from Mothercare.

Original poster
Kellsmc · 24/04/2006 23:22

Thanks for those suggestions. I had considered a travel cot but thought it might be restrictive and that DD would grow out of it quickly. The big octagonal Baby Dan playpen that is widely available looks huge and is apparently not that easy to disassemble. A wooden one that folds flat would be ideal, but I haven't been able to find one. I may well now reconsider getting a travel cot... Thanks again.

OP posts:
ChicPea · 24/04/2006 23:35

Where do you live Kellsmc?

Original poster
Kellsmc · 24/04/2006 23:41

Nr Sevenoaks - why do you ask, Chicpea?

OP posts:
pebblemum · 24/04/2006 23:42

I just want to say i had a travel cot for ds2 to use as a play pen. It was the best thing we ever bought. DS2 is now 2.7 and we still use it although not as a playpen obviously but as a cot when we go away overnight. It is light enough to carry and small enough to travel with. When we used it as play pen it gave me some much needed time to tidy up etc without having to keep an eye on him all the time

ChicPea · 25/04/2006 10:52

I have a wooden fold away one from john lewis with blue checked bottom you could have if you like. There is nothing wrong with it but now useless as DS now 2.5. It cost me £125 and it is sitting in our spare room and I noticed it yesterday as I was tempted to put yet more stuff in there and thought to myself "It's gotta go". So if you can collect from NW3 you can have it for free. CAT me if you are interested. This is not a con, I can assure you!

ChicPea · 25/04/2006 10:53

BTW, I was very happy with it!

Kelly1978 · 25/04/2006 11:01

the baby dan isn't that bad to dissasemble, we used one and folded it away every eve with no probs, its a two mintue job.

PrettyCandles · 25/04/2006 11:20

If you have a choice, definitely go for one with bars. Both of mine were much happier playing in our old-fashioned wooden playpen than in the travel-cot, as they could see out better and, most importantly, they could use the bars to help pull themselves up and cruise inside the pen.
\link{http://www.kidsplanet24.com\click on playpen} I don't know how these fold, but I'm sure I have seen modern playpens that fold in the old way - two sides hinge inwards and the floor splits in two to fold upwards.

Original poster
Kellsmc · 25/04/2006 20:49

Thanks everyone for the benefit of your experience and thanks to ChicPea for the offer of a playpen, although I won't take you up on it because I won't be able to pick it up and besides, given how much you paid for it, I am sure you can sell it fairly easily. The link PrettyCandles gave looks interesting and I think I'll take it from there. Thanks again!

OP posts:
peaches27 · 25/04/2006 21:43

www.mothercare.com/invt/ll5047&bklist=

This is the up to date version of the one I had. Expensive I know. When I bought one 24 years ago it was £40 so I would see if you can get one second hand. I wish I hadnt parted with mine now I have my grandkids.

konya · 02/10/2006 13:47

Just wondering - does anyone have an old play pen that they would like to sell to us? Please let me know if so! Thanks

PaulaJayne · 03/10/2006 11:41

konya, where do you live - can recommend good nearly new shop where we got ours for £40 or £50 instead of £100 - is in north west

konya · 03/10/2006 14:34

Thanks! We are in the south but can rent a car and come north easily this weekend if you can recommend a place I will call and ask if they have any in stock! Thanks again

PaulaJayne · 03/10/2006 17:52

shop in southport, merseyside called jack and jill's nursey world, had a few different ones in when i got mine, haven't got number but i'm sure they would be on yell.com etc. is only a little shop but has LOADS of stuff crammed into it!!

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