The debate rages on about the "playpen" aka playard/pack 'n play. Over on Slate.com, Tom Vanderbilt does an excellent job of exploring the playpen- from its history to its place in modern parenting, if any...
"What Ever Happened to the Playpen?"
Slate.com
A 1925 newspaper advertising something called the "Kiddie Koop" put it this way: "There is no thrill like that of holding and caring for a baby in your arms," it began. "Yet the modern mother with her manifold duties must—simply MUST—forego such maternal joys at times, or the 'regulation of household affairs' will suffer."
On the other side, many arguments have been made that too much time spent in the playpen can slow development and even affect reading and writing skills later in life.
By the end of the article, Vanderbilt leaves us with this quote from the newly released "The Philosophical Baby" by Alison Gopnik, "Parents should try to think not 'How will this affect my baby in the long run?'—who knows?—but 'Is this helping my baby and me to thrive right now?' "
You can find the article in its entirety here.
Illustration by Charlie Powell.
Comments (15)
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I have a pack n play that was passed on to me from my aunt. I use it for maybe 15-30 minutes a day. We refer to it as the baby's cage, I think some people take things a little too far, I certainly don't neglect my child because I put him in a cage occassionally. It can be useful for limited amounts of time.
view arcamp83's profile
My child LIKES his pack n play. I'll put in some of his favorite toys and he quiets down and plays for quite a while. Does that make me a bad mother? I don't think so. It allows both of us some space and we are happier for it. I don't need slate or some other site to tell me otherwise.
view inkstainedwriter's profile
I WISH my daughter had liked her playard when she was a baby. I had to hold her all the time... just 30 minutes to tidy up, or even to simply not be holding her, would have been welcomed. Certainly don't think a kid should spend the whole day in one, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with an hour or so. Some kids love them!
view Libberator's profile
They are going to be in a 6'x6' cage 40 hours a week when they go into the workforce...may as well start to 'discipline' them and teach them to obey their masters now. :( We certainly wouldn't want to let any "free spirits" or "outside the box" thinkers loose into the world, now would we? :D
view nicolemarie's profile
I live in the hippie-dippiest of areas and I've never heard anyone speak disparagingly about pack 'n plays. I can't believe the article compares them to poultry battery cages where birds are stuffed wing to beak and live their lives that way. Silly.
view DressageRider's profile
our boy never liked it once he could crawl. it basically became a storage bin for blankets, toys and whatever he could throw into it. it was also served as a nice barrier in front of the fire place doors.
view hundredsofseabirds's profile
I never used one, and I can see how such things can be abused by unlicensed home daycares or neglectful parents.
view stickyricemama's profile
My son hated his pack-n-play with a deep seated passion so therefore he was never in it. However, I do not see how a child's development could be remotely stunted if he/she is put into one for 30 minutes a day. Everything in moderation. A baby does so much during the day I just don't believe a short visit to the pack-n-play can do any damage. It's just another 'activity' for him/her to do throughout the day.
view Megan in AZ's profile
@ nicolemarie
lol!
view Libberator's profile
we used ours for time outs.. it was otherwise useless in our home.
view deeboyayay's profile
We were able to contain our little guy in the family room with baby gates, but I know that doesn't always work in some rooms. The pack and play only seemed to get used at Grandma's house.
view farleece's profile
we only used the pack n play for its bassinet and changing table when he was a newborn. it's been in storage since he's was 5 months old.
we DO intend to set-up a large play (roughly 10 sq ft) area enclosed with a playgate once he can walk on his own. There are times the caregiver (me, my husband, my mom) will need to go to the bathroom or fix a drink, and can't let a 1 year old run amok and possibly tip something heavy over.
But it won't be used for long term 'containment'... definitely 15 min and under.
view modern on long island's profile
If a parent was going to neglect there kid they could leave them in the crib all day too. Pack and play isnt the bad guy here.
view jackied302's profile
pack n' plays are great! What is the problem here... ?
It is the perfect place to put your small child in when they first start crawling, so you don't have to worry about them getting into the wrong area, or putting something in their mouth that they shouldn't while you are nearby doing your own thing. Once a kid can walk, then its time to move on from it.
view Toker's profile
It depends on the parents' intent and the child's temperment. I have three kids, all older now, but my eldest son loved being in the playpen with toys and actually used the sides to help learn how to balance and walk. My daughters were more active and preferred playing out of it. Also, I basically used it as a place to put them when I had to answer a phone call or use my hands and couldn't trust them to stay in a safe area; I would do the task for a couple of minutes and take them right out. It was really like a movable crib.
It is not abusive unless you use it abusively...
view jgphotomom's profile