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04.21.09, 07:20 AM General Topics
56 replies
Do parents still use playpens? I don't seem to hear much about them, see them in the higher-end stores, etc. Are they considered un-PC now? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 04.21.09, 07:20 AM Flag
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Yes, thousands of parents still use play pens. Yes they are considered un PC by a bunch of ill informed martyr moms who center their lives around their children. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 07:33 AM Flag
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i was with you until "martyr moms who center their lives around their children" - I absolutely center my life around my children. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 07:35 AM Flag
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np: I don't. I take great care of them. But I am also a wife, mother, business owner, sister, friend, voluntering member of my community... I balance my life. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 07:51 AM Flag
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lucky kids. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 07:52 AM Flag
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indeed they are. The ones I know who were raised by those moms with no life, no interest, who centered everything around the children are crippled in the world as young adults. Mom even tries to call employers to "help" negotiate salary. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:04 AM Flag
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np: not to mention divorced, or have dh's who have affairs... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:06 AM Flag
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well, i do all the things you listed in your "life" (plus running) but my raison d'etre right now are my kids - that is all i meant. be careful you don't fall off that high horse madge. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:06 AM Flag
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What high horse it that? What is the matter with you? I chimed in that my children are not the center of my life. I explained (in a nutshell) the roles I have - with none being more or less important than the other. Why did you decide to insult me? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:11 AM Flag
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neigh... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:14 AM Flag
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to the Mom that does all the things she listed, I'll tell you: IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. I don't see how it's possible to be an available mom to children AND have time to do all the other things. Sorry, I'm speaking from experience and I'm a very organized person. I don't BELIEVE YOU. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 01:53 AM Flag
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[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 07:39 AM Flag
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this is an old post. it is an older lady with kids in college. she is a nutbag. think jenny on geritol. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 07:49 AM Flag
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np: i find this post very intriguing. i think i'm a balanced person but everything in my life is centered around my children. just b/c their needs require my actions. the time i wake up in the morning is based on what time my kids need to get to the bus. the job i have was chosen b/c of the hours i needed for dcs. our budget is centered around them. i don't think it's a bad thing. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 09:21 AM Flag
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it isn't. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 09:22 AM Flag
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When I had my 4th, I vowed I was going to bring back the playpen concept so I didn't have to have gates on every doorway and toys all over the place all the time. The fact of the matter is before they can crawl, they're completely safe just sitting on the floor without a playpen. After they can crawl, they just want to move all the time. So they will stand up in the playpen and yell/scream/cry until you take them out. It's a great place to confine them if you have to do something in particular, but the baby is more content for longer if she has a babyproofed room to roam in. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 07:34 AM Flag
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i agree with this. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 07:52 AM Flag
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Theya re called pack n' plays. We sued one constantly from 7-9 months when we needed to get a break to eat or go the bathroom, and our son was into everything and falling over a lot if we weren't right there for him. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 07:38 AM Flag
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Actually a pack n' play is different then a true play pen. Pack n' plays are for infants and they are generally crib alternatives usually used for travelling. A play pen is bigger and is good up through toddler age. They work great if you have a child who is walking or crawling and you need to do something (like cook a meal or answer the phone). You know they are safe and contained. Also, they usually have mesh sides, so the baby can see you depending on where it is placed. I love it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 07:26 AM Flag
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Thanks for bringing this up! I'm pregnant with my first, and I fully intend to get a playpen. Yes, they are un-PC, but I think my baby can live with spending twenty minutes a day with his blankie and toys in a playpen while I vacuum the dang apartment and pee. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 07:51 AM Flag
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you can save yourself some money and some space and just put them in their crib. We have a Pack N Play, but we use it solely as a crib when we travel. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:01 AM Flag
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Proportionately? A baby in a playpen probably isn't much different than me in my bedroom. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:14 AM Flag
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but cribs are for sleeping-not play. loved our playpen. just make sure you rotate the toys you throw in there so it doesn't get too boring [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 09:15 AM Flag
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the pack n play is much bigger and colourful, and if you keep toys in there that dd can only play with if in the PnP they'll love being in it. much roomier than a crib. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 07:06 AM Flag
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sorry, not pack n play...we actually got a big square playpen that was multi-coloured and had mirror, toys etc on it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 07:17 AM Flag
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This is weird. You don't need a playpen for God's sake. We have never used one, three kids later, and I was always able to "pee". And vacuum, and make dinner... There is almost no reason at any time to confine your child to a netted square yard of space in a clean, child-proofed and safe home. And yes, with a baby gate here and there. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:03 AM Flag
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what's your issue with a playpen? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:12 AM Flag
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You don't "need" any of the baby gear. Doesn't mean people who want and use playpens are weird. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:14 AM Flag
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Perhaps not weird, but lazy. I equate it to plopping kids down in front of Baby Einstein on a regular basis. Just isn't a great idea. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:31 AM Flag
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what's the big deal. They have plenty of room, you can put several toys in there. it encourages independent play. Can also help a baby practice getting up and down. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:35 AM Flag
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poster is right, you are a martyr mom. Gates, great mom, play pen lazy mom. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:36 AM Flag
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Well, I can say unequivocally I don't feel like a martyr, so while you may feel clever saying it, it isn't sticking or even remotely pushing a button. I just don't think they are particularly necessary, nor are they a good idea. Babies are much happier exploring and roaming safely than being confined to a small netted space. And time gets away from us easily. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:45 AM Flag
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your babies and your experiences are not the end all and be all. Your post sounds as if you have interviewed every baby as to what they "prefer". MY baby was perfectly content to play in playpen. No scars. We all have different children and do things differently. NO ONE has the best way. No matter how much you want to believe you do. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:50 AM Flag
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Listen, this is about advice and opinion. I happen to dislike them and see them as potentially being misused/abused as sitters. That is my opinion. You have yours. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 09:09 AM Flag
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martyr mom spotting. Gates, good mom, playpen bad mom :) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:15 AM Flag
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I sort of agree with this. It is a potential slippery slope, play pens. Why? What good are they in a safe home? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:30 AM Flag
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My son fell a lot at a certain age. Also, we did not want to totally baby proof 100% of our house. Wanted to teach our baby to not touch things, etc (of course there were no life threatening situations). The pack-n-play just helped us to have 5-10 minutes to do something without having to follow the baby around. or to sit on the couch and eat a quick lunch without the baby coming around the plates, trying to pull them off the coffee table. I honestly was not really comfortable leaving my baby in a room I wasn't in until he was 10 months. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:34 AM Flag
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we neither baby proofed or got a play pen and somehow survived. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:42 AM Flag
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NP: Then you had a DC who wasn't prone to putting him/herself in life-threatening situations. I had a DD that would have survived childhood if we had never babyproofed a thing, followed by a DS who walked at 10mos and spent every waking minute thereafter trying to kill himself, break something, or kill himself while breaking something. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:51 AM Flag
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they're all prone to putting themselves in life threatening situations - that's why you have to watch them [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:57 AM Flag
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Some much more so than others - trust me. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 09:05 AM Flag
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right, because your two make you able to comment on all. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 09:17 AM Flag
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who's the pot calling the kettle black? lol!! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 07:09 AM Flag
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it's not about "surviving". sheesh. some kids actually love having a play space of their own. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 07:09 AM Flag
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There seems to be a lot of 'judgmental-ism' in this thread. I have the same question (more or less) as the OP, and found this site thru a Goggle search. My wife and I are looking for just such a thing, for reasons others have stated: so we can cook, or clean... It seems to me that as long as one does not leave one's baby in it as the PRIMARY way of baby care it should be just fine. Many of us spent time in them and somehow managed to make it to adulthood w/o emotional scarring. "Build a bridge", people! They can be a life-saver, both figuratively and literally. GENERAL TOPICS [ REPLY | WATCH | OPTIONS ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 01:50 AM Flag
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i didn't, some do. pick for yourself. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:31 AM Flag
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Well of course, but this is UB, and opinions are the order of the day - Duh! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 08:34 AM Flag
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If this is all you're worried about, you lead a charmed life. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 09:01 AM Flag
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you missed a few postings. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 04.21.09, 09:07 AM Flag
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There seems to be a lot of 'judgmental-ism' in this thread. I have the same question (more or less) as the OP, and found this site thru a Goggle search. My wife and I are looking for just such a thing, for reasons others have stated: so we can cook, or clean... It seems to me that as long as one does not leave one's baby in it as the PRIMARY way of baby care it should be just fine. Many of us spent time in them and somehow managed to make it to adulthood w/o emotional scarring. "Build a bridge", people! They can be a life-saver, both figuratively and literally. GENERAL TOPICS [ REPLY | WATCH | OPTIONS ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 01:49 AM Flag
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Sorry for the double posting, I goofed. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 01:53 AM Flag
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So many people come here to judge and to vent with out accountabilty. Do what feels right for you and your family. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 02:02 AM Flag
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Do what feels rightfor you and your family [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 02:11 AM Flag
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I have a pack and play that I used for the bassinet with my 1st and wish I used more to assist teaching her to self-entertain. I definitely plan on getting more use with now that I'm expecting my 2nd db. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 05:11 AM Flag
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I used the bassinet on the pack n' play for my daughter when she was a newborn. I now use it when I have to take a shower and just the 2 of us are home. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 07:03 AM Flag
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we used one with dd...didn't last very long, but it was so useful and she LOVED it. it was hers alone, clean, all her toys were in there and she could stay in there for 1/2 hour without even looking up at me when i walked by. when she got very mobile and wanted to walk around the house, we put it away. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 07:05 AM Flag
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playpens are great but they take up more room than some people have to spare [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.24.09, 07:47 AM Flag
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