do you use your playpen/playyard?

Question

is this something i definitely need for my baby? i registered for a medium sized one, but i'm getting overwhelmed with all of the stuff and wondering if it's something i would use or something that would just sit, take up lots of space and collect dust.

JoyRenee · Answer

That's definitely a bonus (the changing table)!!! I had a "changing station" (basically an unused corner of the dining table with a pad and the supplies) downstairs. But now that we use more dining table space and my daughter is enormous, I have to drag her upstairs and it is definitely a pain sometimes, especially when in the middle of something!

Hope2OneDay · Answer

OMG...I couldn't live without a play yard. We liked it so much that we actually bought two more! LOL PLUS we bought the 2-panel extension for two of them!

We kept one upstairs in our bedroom (we have a rather large bedroom) and I could put my ds in there with some of his favorite toys and he'd play for a good 30 minutes most days. We also would put in a Baby Einstein dvd so he could watch that as well. It was especially nice while we were trying to eat dinner, or just have a moment to ourselves to catch up on the day.

The other one was downstairs so I could cook, clean, etc... while he played and I didn't have to worry about what he was getting into.

We eventually added the third play yard to the one downstairs and opened the whole thing up to make a "border" around the living room. This gives him reign over the living room, but doesn't limit him to a "jail" so to speak. We have to step over the sides to get into our living room, but that's fine with us. It still gives us a place to put him when we need to step away. I know it's temporary, but for now he doesn't seem to mind it. He gets to explore the other areas of the house when we're with him, so that keeps him content.

Overall, I'd say a play yard is a must! OH...and they come in handy on trips as well! They fold up easily and will give you a "safe haven" for the baby while you visit with family or friends (or eat dinner at someone's house). This protects THEIR stuff, and your baby. 

OK...I've written a novel...about play yards...geez, I'm pathetic.

krissyy · Answer

thanks to each of your for your imput!  i got on my registry today and noticed that someone purchased it for me so hopefully i will use it!!  

joyrenee-i do have 2 dogs and live in a fairly large house...i was kind of thinking it would be a nice way for her to play without having the pups up in her face!!  i talked to my cousin about it and she said that it's nice to have one because you can use the changer rather than go upstairs everytime there is a messy diaper!

thanks again everyone!!!

LosingMyMindInGA · Answer

with my oldest she practically lived in her playpen.....with my other two it was a waste of money...they hated it and I rarely used it....as they got older and I needed to keep them contained while i did housework or something they either went in the swing or I got one of those playyard things that's just a bunch of links that hook together to make a large play area....and even that didn't get used very much.  I'd say nix the play pen.  I didn't even bother thinking about one this time around.

alaysha · Answer

My daughter never uses her pack and play unless she is being babysat by my mom or sister. But for those times it is a blessing so that she has a quiet room to sleep in where you don't have to worry about the baby falling off the bed or anything. It might not be something that you need right now but as your child gets older it may be very useful.

JoyRenee · Answer

I have one that sits in our closet folded up. My baby was either in a swing, bouncer, my arms, or the crib if they weren't on "tummy time" on a play mat on the floor. If you have animals (dogs mainly) or a very large home, then it would be worth it. But in a smaller place it's just going to take up space and probably not get used.

jesslee83 · Answer

this my 1st baby, and usually i agree with df that they are "baby jails" b/c most of the women we know with kids put the baby in it, and just ignore them pretty much....however, we have decided to buy my mom was as a "Baby-Nana" gift, so that when he's at my moms, she has something small enough that will go right beside her bed.....and then when he's old enough for a toddler bed, then chris said he would build one on rollers, that would be kind of like a trundle, to go under my little brothers bed.....that way, she can store the PNP in my brothers closet when the baby's not there, and when he is she can have him in her room.....but we won't have one at our house......when he gets old enough to crawl, i DO want to find the baby gate that makes one big yard, so we can use it in the yard and such....and my mom's boyfriend is a handy man, and he'd mentioned rigging a tent/cover, so that it would be about 4 ft tall, and cover on 2 sides, so the baby is never out of site, and can always see us.....but with the "fence yard" as i call it, he's not confined to a PNP when he's outdoors(when he's older of course)

mommyoftwo28644 · Answer

I personally used mine, esp the pack and play kind when we went on trips or the kids stayed at my moms or mils. But if you feel like you don't need one then dont get one.

mamaofonetrying42 · Answer

with my 1st I had an older one that didnt have all the ex. that they come with now an days, But i did use ours. it was perfect for the stage, where they start moving around and if you needed to step out of the room for a min. you can put them in there and not have to worrie......