~It's Not A Prison Cell!~
By Jennifer
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
Valdosta, Georgia
April 5, 2017 4:05pm CST
Maybe I am old fashioned...I don't know. When I babysat the little girl this morning I had to put her in the playpen while I fed Josiah. The little girl can walk and she got up on my couch and was jumping on it! I sat her down but I didn't feel safe leaving her out and about while I fed him.
So I put her in the playpen and she FREAKED out. Her mother said when she picked her up that she never confines her at home! 
Well, I have put all of my kids in the playpen to make sure they are safe when I am busy and they are just fine. I always put toys in there for them so they can play and they were happy.
It's not meant as a prison cell-it's meant to keep little ones SAFE! I told her mom if she wants me to watch her she will have to be in the playpen when I am taking care of Josiah. If she doesn't want that for her daughter she needs to find care elsewhere.
I don't understand not wanting to use a playpen... am I old fashioned or something?
Well, I have put all of my kids in the playpen to make sure they are safe when I am busy and they are just fine. I always put toys in there for them so they can play and they were happy.
It's not meant as a prison cell-it's meant to keep little ones SAFE! I told her mom if she wants me to watch her she will have to be in the playpen when I am taking care of Josiah. If she doesn't want that for her daughter she needs to find care elsewhere.
I don't understand not wanting to use a playpen... am I old fashioned or something?21 people like this
23 responses
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
5 Apr 17
@dodo19 I have always used them when mine were small so they didn't get into danger if I had to do something or take care of a baby. My kids also knew not to jump on a couch too but she let's her at home apparently.
2 people like this
@dodo19 (47317)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
6 Apr 17
@LovingMyBabies Using a playpen is definitely a good idea. It's a safe place to put them. Sure, we didn't really use one, but we managed without it. My kids were still pretty good about it, and we always have an eye on them.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6 Apr 17
@dodo19 It's impossible to watch any child 24/7 so I think a playpen is the safest route. =)
Even when I use the bathroom, check the mail, take the dogs outside...I can't possibly watch a child during these times.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
5 Apr 17
My third child loved the playpen. It was her safe haven from her sisters. When she wasn't in the playpen, they would jump over her....sit on her....use her as their doll. Yes, she loved the playpen....it was her own protective space.
3 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
5 Apr 17
@Morleyhunt All of mine liked the playpen and I liked it because I knew they were safe in it.
I don't blame your daughter then-I would have found a safe place too! Lol
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
5 Apr 17
@LovingMyBabies when she was born I had a 21 month old and a three year old (barely 3). By the time she was 10 months old I had two boys coming daily....a 3 year old and one a week older than she was. I loved people's expressions when I was out with 2 ten month olds that looked similar....twins? No. They are a week apart. After a pause, I would calmly announce. One of them is not mine.
2 people like this
@marguicha (223021)
• Chile
5 Apr 17
Some children don´t like it. That does not mean it is not right. My eldest granddaughter only wanted to sleep in her parent´s bed at night. They had to put a door mat outside their bedroom and close that door at the doctor´s advise.
3 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
5 Apr 17
@marguicha Children don't like to be disciplined either but I still have to teach them right from wrong.
I just feel like the adult should be the adult regardless of what the children like or don't like.
2 people like this
@Tina30219 (81931)
• Onaway, Michigan
6 Apr 17
No you are not old fashioned this mom sounds like one that lets her child run all over the place and get into things. I think you are right if you are busy with the baby or doing something else she can be in the playpen it will not hurt her at all I did it with my kids.
2 people like this
@Tina30219 (81931)
• Onaway, Michigan
6 Apr 17
@LovingMyBabies I agree no child should have free run so they can get into everything. No if you have things to do the child should be happy with some toys in the playpen.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6 Apr 17
@Tina30219 Yeah she said at home she has free run of the place which is crazy to me but too each their own. It won't be acceptable in my home.
I did it with all of mine too.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6 Apr 17
@Tina30219 Yeah that's crazy to me for a little one-especially that little to be able to go and do whatever she pleases!
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
5 Apr 17
@KristenH Absolutely, I think children should always be kept safe-whether they like it or not. As the adults we know better than they do.
2 people like this
@KristenH (33386)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
6 Apr 17
@LovingMyBabies Amen for that Jen. Better be safe than sorry (and hurt.)
1 person likes this
@Morethanamom (1948)
• Canada
5 Apr 17
I used playpens with all 3 of my children. My middle child eventually figured out how to get out of it.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6 Apr 17
@Morethanamom Yeah I have always used it and loved it! The kids are safe in it.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6 Apr 17
@Morethanamom Stairs scare me, I am so glad we don't have any here. I don't blame you for having a gate up.
1 person likes this
@Morethanamom (1948)
• Canada
6 Apr 17
@LovingMyBabies For sure! Even now, we put a baby gate at the bottom of the stairs to keep my almost 4 year old off them most of the time. I seriously panic when I see him on the stairs, so it saves us both a little. He does use the stairs, I just prefer to keep him supervised while doing so.
1 person likes this
@MandaLee (3764)
• United States
6 Apr 17
@LovingMyBabies No. I agree with you. Sometimes you have no choice but to confine little ones for their own safety.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6 Apr 17
@MandaLee Thank you. Yeah, safety is my number one priority.
@averygirl72 (37845)
• Philippines
6 Apr 17
It is safer to put children in a playpen but maybe some are not use to it
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6 Apr 17
@averygirl72 Well here I don't give kids a choice on what they like or not. I'm the adult.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6 Apr 17
@jstory07 Yeah exactly I cannot watch the kids at all times. I have to use the bathroom, walk the dogs so they can use the bathroom, feed and change Josiah, etc...
@moffittjc (121586)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Apr 17
The playpen was a godsend with my two kids! I don't know what I would have done without one to keep them safely contained while I took care of chores or cooking or whatnot! And they were never in it for a long time (unless they fell asleep or were happily playing in it).
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
7 Apr 17
@moffittjc Yeah, I feel the same way. It is a huge help! Let's face it nobody can watch their children 24/7-it's not possible so the playpen is where they can be safe.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
10 Apr 17
@moffittjc Aw that is so cute and sweet! =)
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121586)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Apr 17
@LovingMyBabies I always tease my kids, because when they were really little, I used to put them in the laundry basket to keep them safe and snug! And I still have that same laundry basket even after all those years!
{of course, there were no dirty clothes in it at the time! lol}
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67085)
• United States
6 Apr 17
Some parents / people just don't care to make sure kids are safe. I myself would put the child in it too. If they arent really moving, thats one thing. But if they walk and jump.. thats another.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6 Apr 17
@Courtlynn I know and I don't understand it at all. I always want my children safe or any kids in my care.
Yeah she was jumping on my couch-there's no way I could have caught her with my baby in my arms. She would have gotten badly hurt.
1 person likes this
@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
5 Apr 17
Children need free movement. keeping them in Playpen will restrict their movement. If you can not take care without keeping the baby in playpen better you tell the daughter about it. She will make an arrangement for this. This is clear now. This is not a question of safety but the question is relating to their free movement and growth. You can not keep the baby in playpen and move here and there as your age is also may not be permitting to deal with the baby without playpen.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
5 Apr 17
@shivamani10 When I'm not taking care of the baby she's not in it but I cannot make sure she doesn't get into things when I'm holding my newborn.
1 person likes this
@workathomefan (8957)
• Prairieville, Louisiana
9 Apr 17
A playpen is small enough to be a prison cell.As a baby I was happy in a playpen sitting up and playing with toys.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
10 Apr 17
@silvermist Yeah my kids didn't mind ever being in them but that's because I started them in it from the beginning so they were used to it.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
12 Apr 17
@LovingMyBabies If she wants you to babysit,definitely it would be useful if she trained the kid at home.
@allknowing (136446)
• India
6 Apr 17
We had this toddler brother who just could not be controlled. So mother would tie him to the dining table while she was busy with her chores as we would all be at school. (lol)
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136446)
• India
7 Apr 17
@LovingMyBabies A two year old who would crawl around just put anything in the mouth needed supervision (lol)
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6 Apr 17
@allknowing Tie him to the table? Wow! I have never had a child uncontrollable.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
6 Apr 17
I would think that is the best solution too especially since you can't monitor her and want her to be safe while feeding your son. If you weren't busy and you placed her there just because you wanted to then that'd be cruel and a different story.
But you are not. You are busy feeding your son, and even though you have her on your eyes or not. It would be safe for her to play in the pen for a little.
Did she cry or anything? Or her mother made that remark after seeing her there when picking her up?
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
7 Apr 17
@LovingMyBabies
Well at day care, sometimes a parent cannot be too picky considering you have children to care for also and that is the best option.
Even though she cried, it is probably just she was not used to it but she was safe. And you took her out immediately after not like she was trapped in it all day.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
7 Apr 17
@infatuatedbby Yeah I want all children in my care to always be safe. That's my first priority. I took her out as soon as I was done feeding him.
Yes she cried when she was in it because she's not used to being confined at home at all. No she wasn't crying when her mom came and she wasn't in it.
I told her mom since I want to build a trust relationship with all my clients. The mom didn't seem too happy about it which is why I told her she can find another provider if she doesn't like my rule on safety.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37355)
• Toccoa, Georgia
6 Apr 17
I think you have every right to want to use a playpen. It protects the child. The Mom would be more upset if the child was running around while you fed your baby and ended up severely hurting herself!
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6 Apr 17
@Leapea2417 Exactly, the mom would be furious I'm sure if her little one got hurt. And I don't want any kids getting hurt in my care.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
8 Apr 17
@paigea There's a lot of things my kids haven't liked but I never gave them a choice in the matter. I'm the adult and parent-that's just me though. I'm a tough parent.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
6 Apr 17
Nah! Just different parenting styles. Like having different opinions.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
6 Apr 17
@Daljinder I guess but I don't see why any parent wouldn't want their little one safe.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
6 Apr 17
Not at all. It is best to have them safe in a playpen then to have them getting hurt while you are doing something else. You did the right thing by telling her that.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
7 Apr 17
@Happy2beme Yeah I agree! Playpens are the safest way to go with little ones.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
7 Apr 17
@LovingMyBabies Definitely. I always used playpens.
1 person likes this
