playpens - opinions?

[aylien]

Does anyone use a playpen?  for what age LO?  People keep suggesting that we get one, that playpens are useful when you need to cook, etc., but I hate the idea of penning DD up.  Are they really useful? Or are they torture for the LO?

[deb]

Depends on the LO. Some are happy to hang out in a playpen or pack'n'play or even on a blanket while you cook. Neither of mine did well with that option, though. I learned to do a lot of meal prep during naps and to use the slow cooker a lot more, plus while mine were small I could wear them in slings for easy stuff that didn't involve boiling water or knives. Vacuuming with Natalie in a Baby Bjorn was an experience, but she loved it!

Plus we didn't have space for a playpen and it was a pain for me to use the PnP regularly, so I just worked without it.

[clazzat]

I used a playpen for dd1 when she was about 7-12 months - we had a puppy, and sometimes she was pretty happy to get a bit of peace!  She seemed to enjoy it, but she has never been a particularly active baby, so she would probably have been okay to just sit anyway.  I can't imagine that dd2 would have put up with it as she has always been all over the place.

[koe2moe]

We used one till DS was probably 11mo.  He wouldn't be happy in it anymore as he started walking.  But ours has wheels, so we could wheel him close to where we had to be. 

[We Three]

We didn't have room for one when dd was that small....so I just didn't have one.  If I needed to keep her in one place, (like to take a shower) I used the excersaucer, and later I'd put her in her high-chair with toys or a snack and she was content to watch me do my thing! 

[~inbalance~]

I have a pack n' play and have hardly ever used it for a playpen as I just preferred to let him explore in a safe area, BUT it's gotten used extensively first as a change table, then as a storage area for toys, and now as a portable bed for DS1.  In fact, we are living in a temporary home right now while our house is being renovated and it's all he sleeps in.  We've taken it on trips and it's been great for that.  So, in that case I think it's worth having something similar around because it's very versatile.  Pack n' plays fold up so they're at least easy to store when not in use and great for travel.  That's my experience anyway. 

[Tina (mum to 4)]

I think they are handy ever now and then for short periods (as you mentioned when cooking dinner). I had a different set of toys in there so it was exciting.  It was also handy to put around the xmas tree to keep little people away!!  My older son (who is 7) also plays with lego in it so our 2 year old can't get the small pieces!  Heaps of uses!

[brenda2]

i have one and have used it extensively for having baby sleep at a friends house or travelling as a bed - we go to grandparents place frequently and need it and when i go to visit friends who live further away i would take it for dd2 to nap in.  i tried using it once as a play spot for dd1 (9mo) outside while i gardened but it did not go over well and TBH i have never even considered using it for a play area for dd2.  i think you can set them up with different toys etc and not really need to use a play pen to keep them contained.  but if you are going to be travelling at all or visiting grandparents etc overnight then very useful - dd1 is just now too long to sleep in it and she is almost 3 y, so we got good use of it.

[shivi]

My older son (who is 7) also plays with lego in it so our 2 year old can't get the small pieces!  Heaps of uses!

ours is now being used for the same purpose quite often as Oscar has discovered the joys of "real" not Duplo lego!

We bought ours second-hand when Ozzie was 5 mths. Its wooden, large and hexagonal, on wheels and he got SOOOO much use out of it. He is an independent player since very early, perhaps thanks to it too....he'd be in it for dangerous cooking time, for while we washed the floors and didn't want him running everywhere etc. He scaled its bars at 1 yr 8mths and we then took off three bars (they come with springs adjusted for this and it then became him playden where he could come and go as he pleased.

With Emma, we weren't as good at getting her used to it and didn't have as much timr to allow her to play completely ALONE as Ozzie is always there, or at least almost always there. But I do use it for her if she has an EW and I am getting ready for work in a hurry and DH is still asleep....Emma can also scale the bars already but given enough interesting toys and provided her brother is in it with her or somewhere close, she will play happily for up to 20 or 30 mins inside....

Ours is on its last legs though, as two weeks ago we had friends over with 9,6 yr olds and 5 and 2 yr olds. the 9 yr old decided she would use the playpen as a "waltzer" type amusement ride for the other kids and with them all in it together it lost a support piece on the bottom. when I am away in the summer DH is going to dismantle it, fix the support piece and give it to charity....he hates it. It takes up a lot of space in our 95sq m flat but as the downstairs is openplan and 60 m it sits beside the balcony door and for me, has been space well-used over the past almost 4 yrs...

S x

[*Becky*]

I did put one up when Henry started walking so I could pop to the toilet etc and know he was safe but he hated it. He is spirited though so that may be something to do with it. It came down pretty quick and I just took him to the toilet with me x

[Katet]

I got given one from a friend when I was preg with DS1, It made it of the Garage to sell.

 I found that if I needed to cook when DS1 was young he was better in the high chair so he could see (he was a late crawler at 10.5mo) so being able to see was important to him. With DS2 I'd learnt to do most of the cooking while he was napping.

[aylien]

great feedback.  Based on what I'm hearing and on my LO's personality, I think we'll skip the playpen.  I'm pretty sure DD would put up a fuss if left in the playpen for more than five minutes, and it seems it's just not worth the $ and space it would take up.  Thank you!