I bought a playpen for our son when he started crawling at 6 months and wanted to get into everything. However, I found that I rarely used it. He was too active to be happy in it for long, so I only really used it very occasionally to plop him in it for a few minutes while I ran upstairs to go to the toilet/get dressed/etc, as it was clear that it wasn't safe to leave him alone for even a minute. In retrospect I realize that his cot would have served the same purpose. I think it really depends on the child's personality. You need to have a child that is happy to play by themselves in a confined space. My neigbor's son is happy to sit a play in his cot for hours, while my son wants out as soon as he wakes up. I don't think you should worry about curbing development. If you have a child who is happy to stay in a playpen, I'm sure there are plenty of activities that he can pursue in there that will stimulate him. As long as he doesn't spend all his time in the playpen.

I as a mom of three used a playpen for my 3 kids in the past. With my oldest I used it when he started moving around. I used it small amounts of time throughout the day just to give me a chance to do some cleaning and take showers. Actually I dont think i did use it with the middle child. My youngest son is 20mo and I only just recently purchased a used portable playpen for him at 17 mo. It was getting so hard to clean or do anything in my home anymore. My personal opinion is that I only liked to use them to get my work done around the house. This to me seemed like enough time for them to be in a playpen and have some confined time alone to play (with their toys of course). I really find nothing wrong with them as long as there not being used to confine a child all day long. playpens have been around forever and are still being used till this day.

Hi Theresa

Some discussion re playpens on this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/s/Talk?topicid=6&threadid=1068&stamp=020408191422#42506

my own feelings - in playpen all day long - bad. as a short term measure for safety - fine.

hth.

I didn't have a playpen for my son - as lived in a one bedroomed flat and it was relatively easy to keep an eye on him :-) However, now that I live in a house with three floors - a playpen for my daughter is essential if I am to get any housework done at all, or even shower, or get a coffee!! She does get released when we're all in the living room - and she gets about really fast these days ;-))))

I did like Sobernow, I bought a travelcot with mesh on all 4 sides, so she could see us, and even though she has never spent very long in it, (still it did allow me a bit of freedom of movement, even if it was just 5 minutes, these were priceless) we also used on holidays or days spent at friends fro her to have a nap, so it was worth the money.

I couldnt survive without one - I've got the babydan babyden and ds loves it. I only use it for those moments when I have to go to the loo, wash up, answer the phone etc. so his development isnt curbed in any way. It's full of toys and books, with space to stretch out and roll around.