Playpen Yes or No??

Karen - posted 4 days ago

I say no
A Pandora's Box of maladies
Neurological dysorganization, decreased manual dexterity, impaired balance, and problems with vision, reading and speech abound when children are not allowed to develop naturally and are confined to a playpen. Stifling the development of mobility will impair development in the 5 other areas of brain development, involving seeing, hearing, sensation, language and manual dexterity. A child will, comparatively speaking, minimally develop the natural talent and grace he is potentially endowed with when he is prevented from crawling and creeping. In extreme cases where psychotic parents or caretakers chained children to bedposts or locked them in closets, the children became idiots and only grew to half their normal size.

Marina - posted on 12/27/2010

I still use a play pen with my 18mo son and he can get out but doesn't. I put a few toys he likes in there and keep it in the same room I'm in so I can talk to him. I used it with my 3.5 year old son too. I don't use it as a timeout, just a safe spot when I need to grab a shower or something. He is used to it so it's not a big deal for him. Most of the time he runs free but us Momma's need a minute here and there!

Kaleigh - posted on 12/24/2010

I used a playpen as an alternate play area with my son until he learned how to climb out. Now that I'm pregnant with my second this dilemma has become a concern as well. As it stands my hunni helps when hes around by occupying the destructor but when its just my son and I we just go about our business and worry about the housework later. I get done what I can but really just try and focus on my son and rest when I need to for baby #2. The dishes will still be there the laundry isn't going to run off (unfortunately lol) and I've been teaching my son how to help with things like putting groceries and toys away, washing tables and sweeping. The thing to keep in mind is if it's going to get undone in a second anyway its better left till bedtime and if you stay well-rested you can afford to stay up an extra hour afterwards to just whip through and get everything tidy. You need to conserve your energy while you can and encorporate the chores into your regular day so your lil one can learn to help instead of demolish. You really just need to find your own niche which takes time but the thing that matters most is that you and your child(ren) stay happy and healthy, that includes rest!

Cara - posted on 12/23/2010

I have a now 2 yr old and am due in feb with my 2nd. I couldn't do the playpen as she would have just climbed out of it anyway. She started getting where on some days she just will not take a nap which is hard when you are sooo tired. I started with rather than "Nap time" she has "rest time" so mommy can have a break. She stays in her room for about an hour (possibly a little longer if she does fall asleep) and she's in a room where I know she is safe and can't get hurt on anything. That gives me a chance to take a short nap on days I feel really tired and just plain time to myself on days when I'm not as tired. Sometimes use the time to clean, shower, read...etc, other times to take a short refreshing nap!

Ashley - posted on 12/20/2010

Playpens are great. It's not that you are disciplining them, you are just giving them a smaller space to play. Another thing that works is making their room the play area when you try to get things done. Put a gate in their doorway and they have their entire room to play instead of a playpen.

Sarah - posted on 12/12/2010

alternate play area is a great way but he may not like it... i am 14 wks pregnant with a 13 month old and i swear without the playyard i would lose my mind we just moved and have stairs and she loves them. so i think if it helps you its nevver a bad option just be careful not to overuse it :) and exercise should help boost your energy level a walk or a pregnancy workout video in the morning does wonders for me if i get used to it :) hope that helps :)

Jessa - posted on 12/06/2010

My first 3 kids played in a playpen while I did my household chores and sometimes even when I needed to just rest a bit on the couch during my pregnancies. They all played fine and didn't seem to mind it one bit. I'd put them in it with toys they hadn't seen in a while and go about what needed to be done.

My 4th however, well there isn't a cage or tie that will hold the lil stinker. He has managed to get out of every crib or play pen we have tried, he climbs over the couch and out of the room if we try to gate him into the living room. He has been this way since he was 8 months old and is now 16 months, he is strong and can push through most anything as well, even moving furniture if he can't climb it!

If you are able to get your little one to play in the playpen for a while, go for it! It won't hurt them one bit to play in it as part of their regular routine and it will give you a much needed break. (Which being pregnant with my 5th I completely understand...my oldest by the way is 6) And if you find you have the same problem I have with my lil guy, well the household chores will always be there later, lol. Some days I get more done than others and I have had to learn to live with that, hopefully he will outgrow his escape artist stage!

Good luck to you and enjoy your kiddos!

Kelly - posted on 11/30/2010

I had the same problem. I used a baby gate on her bedroom. I have also found Zumba to be helpfull. It ok to do while preggers and you walk away with so much more energy. Plus its a great time to be an adult and not just 'mum' all the time. I go twice a week and seem to only need about four hours sleep a day these days. Its fantastic. Baby gates are great when you need to shower or clean. good luck.

ASHLEY - posted on 11/28/2010

my son is only 16 months but if i put him in a playpen he would just climb out. try getting one of those play yards that has like six sides that may work better. I have my house blocked off so he can only go in his room and the living room which are both super baby proofed I admit I have dozed off on the couch more than once this pregnancy.

Kayla - posted on 11/28/2010

i am 29 weeks now along in my 2nd pregnancy my son will 18 months next month and in the beginning it was extremely difficult cuz he has just learned to walk and was getting into everything. my bf and i did make use out of the playpen a LOT. mainly when yes he was being extremely rambunctious or when he would get into something he wasn't suppose too..just cuz baby gates are expensive and to get enough to block all openings would be ridiculous. but yeah don't feel guilty at all for shoving your hyper child in the playpen..now we don't use it all anymore haven't for like 2 months now cuz i have my energy back. but if you have it use it! just don't make a habit of it.

Alecia - posted on 11/23/2010

i used my daughters pack n' play for awhile with her and she loved it. when hanging out in our room we would use it, so that she could have a safe play area. she is 14 mnths old and we still use it sometimes. its not a bad thing if u have something to do and feel he would be safer in it. as long as he isnt in it 24/7 its not a big deal at all. they can be very handy.

Sarah - posted on 11/23/2010

I know how you feel! i usually use baby gates. Either lock them in a room with me if I'll be in there a while doing something, or lock them in another room with toys to play with if I'm going to be going back and forth a lot, so that they're not following me creating a tornado of mess behind me. lol
Definitely nap as much as you can, there will be a time in the future when that is impossible :)
As far as using playpen as timeout or play area, I don't think its a terrible idea. lol I know supernanny says kids don't really understand disciple til they're about 2, but I personally don't think its ever to early to start showing that there's consequences for bad actions. If he's breaking one of your rules, by all means put him in a time-out. It may make more sense when he's older, but hes not dumb, enough times of being put in there specifically when he breaks a certain rule, he'll figure it out. lol
Good luck and hang in there!