Playpens, they don’t make them like they used to. We couldn’t find one when we needed one. I know that I grew up in a playpen and my husband seemed to share the same sentiments. So we looked and looked and didn’t find what we thought would hold our children. We did get the baby gate that can sort of be used as a playpen but we never used it except to enclose the Christmas Tree. Did you know that almost every fake Christmas tree has lead in it and the State of California recommends that you wash your hands after touching the trees? We just gate up our tree. We can’t have a real one because one member of the family is allergic and we want her to come visit us.
Take a look at the video above.
Let me know what you think of using a playpen or not. .
My son wouldn’t stay in one but my daughter loved sitting still. So it turned out to be a good thing that I couldn’t find one. Just baby proof the house that’s my opinion. And yet I also feel like the playpen time didn’t last long enough. I mean it would be great to be able to plop them in their pen and get some stuff done or get the living room floor clean. I’ve been in a new house maybe three weeks now and I have not seen the floor since the day we moved in.
Contest:
I’m going to offer up a 20.00 Gift Card to Amazon to one person randomly that watches the “Life in the Pen” story and tells me what they thing on the subject.
Enter as many times as you want, just be sure to tell me something else about baby playpen time and the video above.
Contest ends:
Friday September 25th at midnight Pacific.
We were raised in Play Pens and I see no ill effects from it. Our children used the Play Pen for a short time, but since our home is baby proofed, we usually use it only while out at other peoples homes. Not often at all. I feel as long as it’s used once in awhile, as a precaution, there nothing wrong with using them.
As a veteran mom of four, I endorse the use of playpens on a limited basis, like when you absolutely need a few minutes to do something, and the baby/toddler is safe with soft toys in the playpen. It’s funny to see such diverse opinions.
I used a play pen with my first baby, but with my youngest the play pen just got in the way so I never used it. I think it helps to have older children to provide limited (time wise) supervision via playing while I get other stuff done.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with using a playpen, as long as its not an all day long thing.
My little boy screamed every time we tried to use a play pen so we gave up and put it in the garage. Every child is different.
tvollowitz at aol dot com
we actually only use the playpen for naps at ILs (there several times a week). I have nothing against them, but that’s the only time we use ours.
I never used a play pen, except for sleeping in when we traveled. We did have a gate on our kitchen when our son was a toddler, we thought it was a safety issue, but other than that he could roam through the house. Interesting. I hope I am randomly chosen to win!
we didn’t have room for a playpen with my kids growing up so its possible to have kids not use them but its har, we did use gates. The beg was interesting.
Well we had a pack and play but it was mostly used as a bed. Our boy didn’t really play in it.
Also that woman who said that they were jails and people who have nice houses shouldn’t have kids…has issues. Use it in moderation. Sure if you stick them in one for hours at a time it’s bad, but just to vacuum or make dinner is perfectly reasonable.
That said, people still need to watch their kids. No matter what they are playing w/ you need to keep an eye on them. It’s best to stay in the same room at least or check on them every 15 minutes or so.
We don’t have a playpen, really, but I do have the living room blocked so he stays in the one area. The rest of the house is crazy packed and there just isn’t room enough to put stuff he shouldn’t be getting into.
Playpen cannot be used as a babysitter
I don’t think that playpens are bad for children. I think that it teaches them to be able to entertain themselves.
My Mom used to have a daycare and had pack – N – Plays which she used for the younger kids nap times. She never had them spend there time playing in them, but for nap time, they were helpful!
Like many others said, I think that it is fine to use the playpen in a moderate amount. I don’t think you should always have your children in a playpen, but if you need a break to check emails, do laundry, or just relax for a bit, I think its fine. Moderation is key!
As Adrianne said, I don’t think playpens should be used for babysitters other than for if you have a young child and the babysitter needs to go to the bathroom or if the parent specifies, for nap time. The babysitters job is to play with the child!
I think that playpens are great for traveling during bed time!
Our children were fine with the play-pen. No problems here.
I see nothing wrong with playpens but mine actually got used more by my older son to get away from his younger sister.
Don’t like them as people use them too often.
Sorr, I used one-I felt it helped keep my son safe.
I used a playpen with my son when doing things like cooking dinner. I dont see anyhthing wrong with it
We had a playpen for some of the kids~ it was a life saver for a busy mom and a busy household! I had 4-6 young kids in my house at a time! Couldnt keep my eye on all at once some days! It was great for the crawler to keep him safe while I tended to the house work or other children and was distracted! Great for a napping newborn to keep the olders from bothering him. It wasnt a babysitter and it wasnt abused. Kids are perfectly normal teens and young adults now.
I think in moderation, they’re fine. It certainly is useful to make sure you know where they are if you have to use the bathroom, grab a shower, do a bit of cooking, etc. and you’re afraid of letting them loose for any length of time. I definitely used our pack-and-play when my son was learning to go up/down steps and I needed to step away for a minute or 3. The toys kept him entertained, the P&P was right outside the kitchen doorway so he could safely watch and be watched.
We had a playpen but I rarely used it with my first son, as I would get down on the floor with him to play and then he was very regular about napping. He really preferred a baby swing to any playpen, and so with my youngest son I never even bothered, because I’d rather spend that time with them when they’re little–though you feel overwhelmed, that time goes by really quickly and pretty soon they don’t want to play with Mom any more.
Honestly, we did try to use our P&P as a “baby-jail” for a few weeks. We used it for 2min time outs. Unfortunately, our son enjoyed being in it so much (he liked sitting with his back to the P&P walls and “bouncing” back off of the sides) that he’d act worse when we went to take him out after 2min than he did when doing whatever it was that landed him in time out in first place.
I say as long as you don’t use it 24/7 and only use it when you absolutely need some time for you or time to get something done while keeping baby safe ( a quick shower, washing the floors, doing a load of laundry, making a phone call)there is no problem with using a playpen.
iheartsweeping@aol.com
I was able to work with my first with her in the playpen, I worked in the family business. It is hard to sew drapes with a baby in your lap!
I see nothing wrong with them, as long as they are used sparingly. Not as a babysitter. I used to put my son in one when I vacuumed, or made dinner, he could see me at all times and I always kept the interaction going, he never minded at all!
I think playpens are good for babies, but only sparingly and well monitored!
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Janna Johnson
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http://www.FeedYourPigBlog.com
OK, I have twin boys who are not of pen age but I plan to have an enclosed play area. Not because I have a spectacular house or am opposed to my boys pooping wherever they want, but it is for their safety. There are many other reasons why people should not have kids. Wanting to use a pen is not one of them. Use it in moderation.
I think a play pen can be fine as long as there not in it a lot. Like others say it’s a great way to get some thing done or just to take a relaxing break.
I never used a playpen with any of my children. However, I’m not passing judgment on parents that do!
I have a friend who feels exactly like one of the women in the video who stated she doesn’t like playpens because they ‘remind’ her of jail cells for ‘little people’, but I think that statement is a bit extreme!
Playpens help a lot of parents who are trying to juggle work, home, and other children in the household!
If a playpen works for you and your family, I don’t see anything wrong with that!
Nothing wrong with the use of playpens on occasion.
the only thing i have used a playpen for is with puppies…sorry but i have not had kids so… and it has been way too long since i was in one to remember it… but i don’t think it has effected me as i look back from my dotage.
Being a disabled mom who could not chase all day long, I found our playpen helpful fo short stints while I did everyday tasks. For the most part we ended up using it as a toy corrale!
I don’t think playpens are bad but you still have to watch your children. You can’t just put them in there and walk away.
I tend to agree with a lot of the other comments – no major issues with a play pen, but it’s not a substitute for parenting to use all the time. We had a safe family room that we used most of the time. We had a pack n play for travel “beds” that worked better than nothing, but not very well. There are times that you just need a moment where your kid is safe, having fun, and you know that they’re going to be okay. I just don’t see the big concern over them if they’re not used all of the time.
No problem at all with a playpen as long as the child gets plenty of attention.
I didn’t have a playpen for my daughter and never felt we should. On the other hand – she loved being in her Jolly Jumper so I guess she was enclosed that way a couple of times a day.
Wow – lots of diverse opinions. I think it all depends on your situation. We lived in a small place with our son was that young – a pack-n-play just didn’t fit.
Everything in moderation. Our son liked his exersaucer and it provided him protection and entertainment so we didn’t have a playpen. It’s different but the same.
I think that playpens are ok. As long as parents keep an eye on the child.
My kids are in their 30′s, and we used playpens. Our grandchildren are/were not “penned”. Thanks!
I only like playpens 4 safety reasons, such as if a parent needs 2 do something that requires a child in the playpen for the moment, such as going 2 the bathroom. The playpen needs 2 B safe.
I used a playpen outdoors with my oldest. My younger kids hated the thing so I gave it away.
I know my mother used one for in the 50′s but I agree with others here that it is not a substitute for a mothers or caretakers attention to the child and it should be used only for short time frames. I think outdoors in nice weather for some sun while being supervised can be a good idea.
I agree playpens are a life saver but dont use them all the time. My son had one and now we have one for my grandson. I use it for times when I am cooking and need to keep him from getting underfoot and getting burned I would much rather he be confided for a small time then have life long scars from getting burned.
Being a child of the 70s and “born into captivity” did not harm us – a few minutes in a playpen here and there is not going to damage our kids either – moderation is key.
Playpens are not bad things..if you need a spare, hands free moment, they are great..if you use them as a babysitter for hours at a time,thats the problem