PnPs as playpens?

sechat322

so, somehow, we made it to 9 months without ever thinking to use our PnP as an actual... playpen.  but since the kiddo is now super-mobile, it seems like it might be a handy thing to do now and again when we can't keep as close an eye on her as we might like (running to the bathroom, checking on something in the oven, etc.).  right now, we mainly just bring her with us or do the mad dash (i think you all know what i mean about that one).

two questions:

- is it horrible to put the kiddo in a "playpen"?  she's not the most... patient of babies so i don't imagine she'd tolerate it for especially long, so it's not like we'd stick her in there and leave her there for hours.  i'm talking 5 minutes here and there, just so she doesn't simultaneously strangle herself with 20 cords, pull the dog's ears off, and eat a fistful of 3 month old tortilla chip crumbs she found under the couch... all while i move the laundry from the washer to the dryer.  i get the whole "don't cage your baby" business, but...

- if we still want to be able to use the PnP as a travel crib when we're away from home, is there something we need to do to make sure she isn't confused about the thing's purpose?  if we start using it as an occasional play-place, will she still get that it's for sleeping when we use it when we're out?

Mrs MoJoRisin

I've never used it as a playpen. If its only for a couple minutes while you do something quick, maybe just strap her in the highchair? My LO doesn't mind if I sit him there while I run and do something.

526SadieSadie

We use our PnP as a playpen/Livi corral once in a while.  When we're eating dinner and she wants to crawl all over the house instead of play with her toys in one spot; and in the morning when we're getting dressed, she watches Sesame Street and Sid the Science Kid and we can be out of the room without worrying about her getting into something she shouldn't.

She sometimes cries when I first put her down but I have a bunch of her toys in there and I can usually get her interested in one of them, or I give her an arrowroot cookie or some blueberries she can munch on while I get stuff done.

We haven't had to use the PnP as a travel bed yet, but I'm not really worried about confusion. I lull her to sleep before I put her down, so its not like there will be a "do I play in here or sleep in here?" thing.

aeh72

We've used it as both a place to nap (and sleep while traveling) and as a place to put DS when we need a some time to do things and know he's safely secured (we, too, throw in a bunch of toys to keep him occupied).  DS is 10 months and these days, he'll last maybe 15 minutes tops in there before he's standing up and crying to get out  But, boy, those 5,10,15 minutes when we need them makes a big difference in getting a few things done!

thechickencoop

We use ours as both (although both not too often), and I've never worried about Shawn being confused.  I keep it set up in our family room and will plop him in it with some toys usually when I'm bringing groceries in or unloading stuff from the car.  That's really the only time I worry about him because I'm in and out of the house.  My parents have their own PnP which he naps in at their house when they're babysitting and he's never had a problem going down in it.  I think as long as your LOs not in it all.the.time. it shouldn't be a problem...I mean...that's what it's for, right??

oliversmommy32912

We don't use a PnP as a playpen but we do put LO in his crib to play if we are doing something where I can't keep a close eye like bringing in groceries. He does just fine in there. We give him a bunch of toys and he usually just alternates between playing and jumping. He has not been confused about it being a place to play vs sleep. In fact I think it has helped establish that his crib is a place where he can feel safe. Instead of crying in the morning when he wakes up he now rolls around and plays until we come get him.

SteelCity44

My kid screams more in his high chair, so we use the PNP when we absolutely need 2 hands to do something. By "we," I mean me, when I'm alone. If I'm finishing dinner, and I can't hold/wear DS, then I'll plop him in the PNP in the kitchen. He'll play some. He'll eat some puffs, and then he'll stand in it and watch me. Eventually he will yell if dinner is taking too long, but I can usually talk him through it. We wheel it in and out of the kitchen as needed. It's much safer than leaving him unattended. You do what you gotta do!

He sleeps in one at his grandparents's house and has never been confused. When it's time for sleeping, there aren't any toys or puffs in it.

huskymomma94

aeh72:

We've used it as both a place to nap (and sleep while traveling) and as a place to put DS when we need a some time to do things and know he's safely secured (we, too, throw in a bunch of toys to keep him occupied).  DS is 10 months and these days, he'll last maybe 15 minutes tops in there before he's standing up and crying to get out  But, boy, those 5,10,15 minutes when we need them makes a big difference in getting a few things done!

This is what we do too. He is climbing on everything and sometimes we just need the 15 minutes or so to get stuff done. He also naps in in when we travel.

Nel11

I've never used it as such, but I think it's perfectly appropriate to use it in the instances you are describing. 

Do you have an exersaucer or the like?  I'll stick LO in there for a couple minutes if I need to keep her contained.  She is very curious/busy, so she won't stay in there forever, but it works for a few minutes when I need to finish dinner, etc.