How you do you feel about playpens?

Question

With more and more demands placed on mothers to get more done and children to progress faster in all areas of development. The playpen, if being looked at as a potential negative factor. Some refer to it as a "holding tank" for kids and if used could stunt the development of a child.

Many moms say they simply can't live without it. It makes doing dishes, etc easier. Others say, it's one of the worst things you can do for your kids and you've got to find a way around using them.

What is your opinion? Are playpens as bad as TV for kids under age 2?

If you do not use playpens, what do you do to keep your child involved? Do you have a play stove, etc for them to play with while you do dishes?

Answer 1

My daughter has only played in hers once, and it was a short lived experience. Mostly she has slept in hers when she can't be in her crib.
My girl (15 mos) likes being in the room with us. Whether she is with Grandma, my husband, or me, she usually stays in the same room, and goes with us to a new room if we move. When we cook, she plays in the kitchen/dining room. We put latches on the dangerous cabinets, but she is allowed to play with the things in the others. There is a basket of toys in the kitchen and some of the toys are ones like we use so she can "help" (old spoon, plastic pitcher etc) and she stirs and stirs her imaginary food. Every once in a while she feels the need to start pulling stuff out of the cabinets. We usually just let her, and then she often helps put it back up later.

As for vaccuuming...she's scared of it, so I only vaccuum when my hubby is there to "rescue" her and hold her up high so it won't get her.

Answer 2

Playpens are a godsend HOWEVER I refuse to use any of the pack and play sized ones. I found a good old fashioned 38" x 38" one. (Graco Totblock is one of the few)

Why you would use a playpen that is smaller than a crib is beyond me.

Before I got the playpen I didn't feel comfortable going down to the basement to do laundry. I would usually have to put the dog outside and then worry what my son was doing or wait until he was sleeping.

When I am cooking I don't bother because the kitchen is beside the livingroom so I can peek in every few seconds. He can't come into the kitchen because there is open shelving I keep my small appliances on -it is really the only option the kitchen is too small. My basement is also no place for a kid. We're working on it.

My son likes the playpen he has a stool in there so he can see out the window (which he couldn't do otherwise, until recently -now he can climb on the chair). Even now he cries if I gate him in the livingroom (usually he has the livingroom, hall, and his room). But he doesn't complain if I put him in the play pen because that's usually where the noisy toys are ;-)

And now that I am pregnant being able to put him in there in the mornings and grab an extra hour sleep is a godsend. Keeps me sane. Until this he rarely spent more than 15 minutes in a playpen.

I think playpens are a great tool -so long as you don't abuse them. The same as swings/bouncy chairs. They are great but time in them should be strictly limited and most of the time should be spent in your arms or later on running around. But ultimately the most important thing is that the kid is safe, well fed, and well loved.

Answer 3

The key here is "moderation." A playpen is a very useful device when you need to keep your child safe during brief periods when you cannot be 100% attentive. For example, when you take your morning shower, your child can play happily in his/her playpen for 15 minutes or so. And when you're trying to cook dinner, it can also be helpful. The problem starts when a parent uses the playpen constantly, keeping their child in it for hours at a time. Children need frequent human interaction. If you decide to clean the garage for six hours and leave your child in the playpen all that time, then YES, that would be detrimental to his development. But for brief spells when you need to divert your attention from your child, the playpen is just fine.

Answer 4

I've only ever used our playpen as a portable crib for grandmas or a hotel. I've just kept my kids close while I was doing chores, or saved the chores until nap time or at night after the kids go to bed.

But I don't think that playpens are terrible horrible things as long as their used in moderation, but there's always those people who go and use something 10 hours a day to give it a bad rep.

Answer 5

LOL I have to respond to this one. I used a playpen with my son, but never left him unattended, he was still close to me, while I did chores, etc., I'd put toys for him to play with. We actually had play time sometimes when he would be in his playpen. We'd play ball, he had a little football, and I would throw it, it would always land in the pen, and he would get it and throw it back to me (this was at about 7-9 months old). We had fun. He's in high school now, never slowed his development whatsoever, plays football, and has a great arm!

Answer 6

Playpens? Lifesavers.

Answer 7

As soon as my son started crawling, it was next to impossible to get anything done. His godfather bought us this gate system and we ordered one extra piece and had huge area where he could play safely with out having to worry while I did dishes, laundry or vacuumed. We bought those interlocking foam block pieces (ABC's and 123's) for under it since we have hardwood floors. I would also routinely check up on him (every 5-10 minutes). We would also would get in there with him and play all the time so it wasn't a "punishment place". You can get this gate at One Step Ahead.com, Target, BJ's Wholesale. It breaks down and travels fairly easy. My husband used to take him to work every Friday and we would use this there too. It is the SuperYard XT-Target-$59.99 for 5 sections $16.99 for a two-section extension-makes it a square. It's a little more expensive at One Step Ahead, but through them you can also buy canopy for outside use (must use without the extension piece) It was a LIFESAVER-As long as you don't use it as a babysitter all the time and leave the baby for long periods of time so you can nap or something, I don't see anything wrong with it's use. I would much rather use something like this than have the child injured while your doing chores. My child is perfectly fine, very smart and extremely active-no ill effects of any time spent in there. It also taught him that he could play by himself for 10 or 15 minutes and not have need outside stimulation every minute of the day.

Answer 8

If I can't be in my son's immediate presence (I have to go potty or someone comes to the door, etc.) he will usually go in the play pen for a few minutes. When I'm sick, he stays there until someone can come take him. I only use it when I can't be right there. If I need some alone time, I will put him in his room and gate up the doorway and turn on the monitor while he plays and I relax! He's 13 months old and it works for us!

Answer 9

If you feel you want to use a playpen, then use one from the beginning or your child will hate it and learn to climb out. My son, 13 months now, has a special batch of dishes for himself. I bought a container to put everything in, and bought some throw away containers with lids, goodwill silverware, and Easter eggs for him to play with while I am in the kitchen. He cooks with me, cleans dishes with me, and whatever else. When I wash dishes, I put just enough water in the largest container to cover the bottom and gave him a sponge. Usually he ends up cleaning the floor instead, but he stays out of the way and has fun doing it! I have chose not to use playpens except for sleeping in at families homes when we visit. Makes him feel like he has his crib. We do have a pretend kitchen for our older children whom love to help cook when allowed.

Answer 10

I think they are absolutely vital for the safety of the child...we cannot watch our children 24/7...there is life beyond the child. To let them run loose unattended is courting disaster. These things are not cages, but safe areas..simple as that.