Does anyone think playpens are kind of...cruel?

[Tonka106]

I use my playpen as a change table more than anything! But I also use it as a lot of others said, to put LO down while I make supper, run to the bathroom, etc.

 

[lucy_lu10]

I like mine!
Right now I just pack it up and bring it to family and friends' houses if LO needs a nap while we're there but once he starts crawling, I'll have it at my house as a safe place when I need to use the bathroom, let the chickens out in the morning & collect eggs, or if I have to deal with my toddler for whatever reason. Right now I just bring LO with me most places but as soon as he can move about and grab at everything, I think this will be a safer option in some circumstances.

 

[lucy_lu10]

We love our playpen!

This is the one we have - I have set it up with a little sofa and a pillow. LO loves it in there. I rotate her toys as well to keep it interesting. She isn't in there all day or for long periods and if I am sitting with her, I just let her have free roam of the house but it's so handy if you are alone all day (sometimes from when she wakes to when she sleeps at night) and need to have a shower, do some washing, cook dinner etc.

I even like lying around in there with her - it's big enough to fit me, OH and LO! It's so soft and comfy.

https://www.babiesonline.com.au/pi/[email protected]

That's an awesome looking playpen!! I've never seen one like this but it looks great! Kinda wanna crawl in there myself.....

My OH works in camp so I'm alone with a toddler and a baby for more than a week at a time. Safe places will be mandatory once LO is on the move!!

 

[_jellybean_]

We love our playpen!

This is the one we have - I have set it up with a little sofa and a pillow. LO loves it in there. I rotate her toys as well to keep it interesting. She isn't in there all day or for long periods and if I am sitting with her, I just let her have free roam of the house but it's so handy if you are alone all day (sometimes from when she wakes to when she sleeps at night) and need to have a shower, do some washing, cook dinner etc.

I even like lying around in there with her - it's big enough to fit me, OH and LO! It's so soft and comfy.

https://www.babiesonline.com.au/pi/[email protected]

Thanks for posting ! So my parents have these colorful gates that they use as a play area/playpen, but I was wondering if they made something like what you have. Going to do a search now and see if I can buy this in the US, as I see you're from Australia. Thanks again

 

[lilasmama]

Thanks for posting ! So my parents have these colorful gates that they use as a play area/playpen, but I was wondering if they made something like what you have. Going to do a search now and see if I can buy this in the US, as I see you're from Australia. Thanks again

The brand is valco and I the style is called veebee if that helps! My husband calls it LO's UFC wrestling ring

 

[RebeccaG]

That playpen looks amazing!!! We just have a large travelcot that is now a ball pit that he just loves.
Use it usually while cooking or quick shower etc. He wont stay in there more than 15 mins though as he starts to empty it!

 

[nicb26]

No not cruel.

Its somewhere safe to put baby if you need to nip to the loo or get dinner sorted etc!

I agree. It would be cruel to leave baby in it all day long, but if you've got to nip off to do something, it's better to know baby is definitely safe IMO xx

 

[Natsku]

Not cruel unless you're leaving your kid in there all day because you can't be arsed to chase after them.

I never used one cos I didn't need to, and Maria has always hated to be confined anyway so she would have just screamed the place down if I tried one. I just let her roam wild and free my home is fairly safe so I don't worry too much about her wandering about while I go to the toilet or whatever.

 

[MrsHedgehog]

My little monkey needs to be kept in a cage!! We have 2 playpens, one in the kitchen and one in the living room. Here in Italy they are called a box!! I was given both of them by family members, not sure I would have gone to the expense of buying one if we hadn't been given them. However, they are proving to be quite necessary now and again. My LO is crawling and cruising and extremely active and constantly getting into scrapes such as crawling behind the sofa and getting stuck or trying to do gymnastics on the bars of the chairs . We have tiled floors throughout our house and the house is not baby-proof at all. I'm with LO 24/7 and follow her about the whole house as she explores. I put her in the play pen when I have to go to the toilet and that's about it. Mostly I'll shower, do chores and cook while she's sleeping so I can play with her when she's awake. However, there are odd times when I need a safe place to put her for a couple of minutes. Once she's bored of being in there (usually after about 5mins) then she lets me know. She prefers to be in there than in her carrier now that she can crawl she just wants to be on the floor the whole time. I think that as long as your baby is happy and safe then it doesn't matter what you do. For those of you who have managed without a playpen where do you put LO while you go to the loo?

 

[special_kala]

Of course they are cruel....

the same way cots are cruel
high chairs
stairgates...

all of those things are cruel if not used properly, as in shoved in them all day long, anything can be bad if used incorrectly.

Though ive never found the need for one personally even with 2 early walkers.

 

[special_kala]

https://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSuXPp7Z4qMzrKriCiXKLx4MMKaETYVvrwuqrFEePVfUjPbfyCnPr4quP3yPQ

https://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2010/worst_inventions/worstinventions_babycage.jpg

 

[Natsku]

My little monkey needs to be kept in a cage!! We have 2 playpens, one in the kitchen and one in the living room. Here in Italy they are called a box!! I was given both of them by family members, not sure I would have gone to the expense of buying one if we hadn't been given them. However, they are proving to be quite necessary now and again. My LO is crawling and cruising and extremely active and constantly getting into scrapes such as crawling behind the sofa and getting stuck or trying to do gymnastics on the bars of the chairs . We have tiled floors throughout our house and the house is not baby-proof at all. I'm with LO 24/7 and follow her about the whole house as she explores. I put her in the play pen when I have to go to the toilet and that's about it. Mostly I'll shower, do chores and cook while she's sleeping so I can play with her when she's awake. However, there are odd times when I need a safe place to put her for a couple of minutes. Once she's bored of being in there (usually after about 5mins) then she lets me know. She prefers to be in there than in her carrier now that she can crawl she just wants to be on the floor the whole time. I think that as long as your baby is happy and safe then it doesn't matter what you do. For those of you who have managed without a playpen where do you put LO while you go to the loo?

When Maria was younger I took her to the loo with me. Then when we moved and the loo was too small to fit her in with me I just left the door open so we could see each other and now I shut the door and go to the loo in peace and she does her own thing.

The only time I wished I had a playpen was when we were moving house and needed to contain Maria while we were packing boxes and moving them out to the cars. Poor girl had to spend all day in a box

 

[Natsku]

https://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSuXPp7Z4qMzrKriCiXKLx4MMKaETYVvrwuqrFEePVfUjPbfyCnPr4quP3yPQ

https://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2010/worst_inventions/worstinventions_babycage.jpg

That baby has a great view!

 

[Jaylynne]

https://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSuXPp7Z4qMzrKriCiXKLx4MMKaETYVvrwuqrFEePVfUjPbfyCnPr4quP3yPQ

https://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2010/worst_inventions/worstinventions_babycage.jpg

Wtf... Was that for jaundice?! That's a nurse in the second pic right?

 

[jenniferttc1]

Again play pens are important sometimes! I'm dog sitting at my moms and haiden moves a lot now. I didn't have a playpen, sat him on the bed in the middle and he was sleeping. Left for a few seconds to go to the kitchen and happen to hear a short loud yell. The poor baby fell at the top stuck through the hole and the head board. Faced smash between headbord and bed and body hanging. It was the most traumatic thing I ever experienced! Thankfully he was okay and stopped crying after I managed to get him out. But that would not of happened if I had his playpen.

 

[MrsHedgehog]

As a different point of view, here's one expert who actually recommends playpens as a safe place for babies to develop quiet, independent play.

This is a perspective that resonates a lot with me, as it was quite close to my own experience as a child.

https://www.janetlansbury.com/2010/...o-build-your-childs-focus-and-attention-span/

That's a really interesting article. I try to let my LO lead the play and spend a lot of time just observing her rather than playing with her. The thing about not distracting is really interesting as my LO refuses to be distracted especially during nappy changes. Whatever toy I give her she throws straight on the floor and will only stay still if I allow her to 'help' by passing me a wipe or holding the nappy. She also doesn't like to play with her toys but will be much happier observing a random object. I do agree that often kids are over-stimulated by too many all singing all dancing toys and for that reason I try to limit the toys available to LO to a few basics such as stacking cups and wooden blocks. I am guilty of putting the tv on for 5mins here and there if I need a breather but I'm trying to stop as I don't think it's that good for her really.

 

[special_kala]

https://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSuXPp7Z4qMzrKriCiXKLx4MMKaETYVvrwuqrFEePVfUjPbfyCnPr4quP3yPQ

https://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2010/worst_inventions/worstinventions_babycage.jpg

Wtf... Was that for jaundice?! That's a nurse in the second pic right?

It was some governebt idea how to get babies out in fresh air in New York I think it was

 

[kimini26]

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/weesherweesh/not_my_pics/babycage2.jpg

 

[AngelUK]

https://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y242/weesherweesh/not_my_pics/babycage2.jpg

Yay we have space problems but that is brilliant for my twins and this way I can have two more! And they will be my lil battery-hen kids!
ROFL!

Seriously, those black and white pics above frighten the life out of me. I have vertigo and all I see is that cage falling falling! I am going to have nightmares tonight!

 

[shorman]

Don't have space for a play pen but not against them and no defiantly not cruel if used as it should be, I can see why it would be helpful, I have a kitchen baby gate and stair gates, my house is ver bay proof all the door locks ect,