Stupid question-how to use playpen

[Anonymous]

Ok, so I read that once baby becomes mobile, it's a good idea to put him in a playpen b/c it's a safe place for baby to play in.
My baby started rolling over so I am thinking it might be good for him to spend some time in the playpen so he won't hurt himself when he rolls over.
But, here is what I don't understand: if I don't put any toys in the playpen, my baby will get bored and will not want to be in the playpen-on the other hand, if I do put toys in the playpen, wouldn't there be a risk that he could suffocate/risk of SIDS? and if I need to watch him non-stop while he is in the playpen b/c he could get hurt from the toys, then what is the point of the playpen? He might as well play on the floor if I need to watch him all the time.
Is there something that I am missing here? How do people use their playpen? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I would not put baby in the playpen with toys until past the age of SIDS. But if your baby is just now starting to roll over, is he able to hold or really play with toys anyway? Or is he older? If so, some little rattles or a mobile or mirror couldn't hurt.

[Anonymous]

I've never used a playpen. I put my kids down to play on the rug when they are not yet crawling and then gate off the main floor once they are on the move.

[Anonymous]

OP here- so basically playpens are for kids who are at least 1 year of age? b/c if I can't put anything in the playpen then it's more fun for baby to be in his gym...?

[Anonymous]

I don't think people really use playpens for playing anymore. I only really used my pack n play for sleeping at friends/family's house. If your baby is rolling over, the risk for SIDS is much lower. I think a 1 year old will feel too confined in a playpen.

[Anonymous]

If baby can roll over on his own, he can roll away from a toy, especially when he's awake. But you're right--people don't tend to use the play pen as they did in the past, as a place where they can leave babies or toddler alone to play while they are elsewhere. We almost exclusively had the baby out on the floor with us.

[Anonymous]

We only use the pack and play as a crib when we travel. I don't know why people actually put their children in their to play? We always had our son on the ground playing. Of course you have to baby proof your house, but wouldn't you do that anyway?

[Anonymous]

agree - pack n' play is really too small to use as a traditional playpen. Agree with previous PPs who said people don't use playpens much anymore, but I did buy something called a "playzone" with DD when she was younger for short periods of time (like when making dinner) so she would be contained. It's kind of like a ring of baby gates. I know of other moms who used a exersaucer in the same way. Sometimes you just need 15-20 minutes where you can put them somewhere without keeping a constant watch on their every move.

[Anonymous]

We used a pack and play when our toddler was crawling. She had an issue with one of her hips that required surgery and a cast, so she crawled a few months longer than most babies because she was a late walker and we had to build her strength back up.

Our living room was baby-proofed but frankly I was really paranoid to go to the bathroom, or go fix her lunch or something, and not have her contained in a smaller space. Inevitably no matter how clean we kept the house there would be something on the floor for her to grab and eat. We also had a drawer she loved to open - it was safe inside but she could slam her fingers in it. Plus, we have a cat who is very sweet but I was afraid something would happen if I wasn't in the room and then I would be left wondering, what happened??? The cat has absolutely zero interest in the pack and play because he knew it was her zone and he wanted nothing to do with her! So she was safer.

Usually she was fine with it. She would sit and play with her toys for a few minutes. It was worth my piece of mind for sure.

[Anonymous]

I used the pnp as a playpen mostly between the ages when DC could sit unassisted and standing and hollering for me. I'd put her in there for 10-15 min with a few safe toys while I folded laundry, etc or just needed a few minutes of her being confined while I did something. She liked it until she could stand and was really crawling. Because she could sit and crawl there was no reason to worry about sids for a few minutes. She was never "unattended."

[Anonymous]

A baby isn't really going to hurt himself rolling over. I mean, unless there are stairs he could go roll down or something. You don't need to use a playpen unless you really need to confine him for some reason, like you don't want him to follow you to the hot stove or something. I always just put mine on the floor.

[Anonymous]

I have a five month old and do put him in the playpen for a few minutes when I need to do something. He has toys in there. OP, when you say toys and SIDS I am guessing you mean stuffed toys? Just put non-soft toys in there--rattles, ring toys, etc.--and then it's a non-issue.

I have dogs so whenever baby needs to be down but I need to use the bathroom or something, he goes into the playpen. He doesn't love it but with the right toys it's ok for a little while. We do some tummy time there, too. First and foremost, though, I have it on the first floor and use the changer function all day long.

[Anonymous]

My 9-month-old DD is mobile and is expert at getting into things. Our place is pretty baby-prrofed, but if I leave her unattended for a few minutes there is still all kinds of mischief for her to get into. I use the pack n' play when I need to go to the other room or do something that requires my undivided attention. She will play happily for 5-10 minutes before she's had enough. It has been great for us to have a safe way to keep her contained for a few minutes at a time.

[Anonymous]

Before DS could crawl (and he was a late crawler, like 10-11 months) I would put him on the rug on a playmat with some toys and he would entertain himself.

Now that he is very mobile, I only use the pack-n-play as a playpen in the mornings when I'm alone with him and I am blow drying my hair or putting makeup on in my bedroom. My bedroom is not very baby proofed, so I put him in there with some toys.

Sometimes he is ok with it, sometimes...not so much. Sometimes he just stands up and stares at me. Sometimes he wails and I let him out and keep a close eye on him (not fun).

So at most, he is in there for 10-15 minutes in the mornings. There's no way he could take it any longer than that!

OP, if your baby is in a playpen while awake and playing with some toys, and near you, I wouldn't worry about the SIDS risk.

[Anonymous]

Your baby might not be old enough yet (I don't remember), but we used the exersaucer for those times when we needed to contain dd. She liked it better than the playpen, I think because it didn't feel quite as restraining to her.