Okay, so my 7mo wants to walk. He actually thinks he can, and who am I to tell him no? Mostly, he does a scoot thing, though, and he has only recently worked his way off his play area (large area rug in the living room). I always wanted a playpen/play-yard and was thinking that now is the time. He's got a little play station that he sits in and enjoys for a while. I want him to be "contained" in an area where he can move around and even sleep if he wants.
Here's my dilemma: My husband put him in the walker over the weekend. He's not used to it yet, of course, but my baby likes to be mobile. Is there a chance that he will be able to enjoy a playpen now that he's tasted the freedom of self-propelled mobility? We don't have the playpen yet, so I'm wondering if it would be worth the purchase.
ETA: I like the idea of gates, but I know that he will knock down barriers that aren't sturdier than that. He will sit and play, but he likes to stand, pulls up on everything...and then jumps. (Too cute--we have to spell J-U-M-P because if he hears it, he does it.) Oh, btw, I walked at 8 months, and then there was no stopping me. While he is very strong, I just don't see him walking unassisted in less than a month's time.
Cyndy P. - That sounds good, but how do I stop him? Push him down every time he stands up? He is very precocious. He won't even sit back in his stroller, unless he is sleepy. He sits up because he always wants to be up on the latest news! Even as a new infant, he was holdign his head up at just a few weeks wanting to see what was going on. I carried him around with me to do chores and such, because he made such a fuss about being on his back. He wasn't strong enough to sit up, and he wanted to see what was going on. I didn't mind that and still don't. When we go to the bathroom, he looks and wants to see what's going on in there.
If he is that mobile, I'd skip a play pen. Just babyproof an area of the house he can play and explore in! Sounds like a lively little guy!!! Enjoy
I had a port a crib....I never used it.
My kids could propel the side and get out.
As soon as they are mobile they will only sit still when restrained...
I personally would not waste the moola:)
get gates, and gate him in one or two rooms, like the living room and dining room, or just the living room so he cant go down stairs or get into anything dangerous.
I would suggest one of those exersuacers that have the wheels on half of it. It is stationary, but baby can move in a circle around a pivot point. Mobility for him, but stays in one place for you!
My last baby who is 2, walked at 6 months and two weeks old. No joke :) I feel ya, Mama :))
No way to know unless you try the playpen. You can get more of a "playyard" that is just sorta like a bunch o gates that you can make as big or small as you like,,then he can practice his walking :)
Good Luck!!
I had a kid corral. It was a 6 x 6 area enclosed that had their toys, a big cushion and other entertaining things. It was good for safe playtime.
I have an 8 month old who is doing the exact same things. This is my second child so I have a little more idea on what is going on.
With my first child, I installed a gate into the wall to keep my daughter in the den. Everything in that area was baby proof.
While I was on maternity leave I had my house repainted and the gate came down, I do not want to screw the gate back into the wall. So...this time I bought the same gate and connected it to my other gate and my son now has a huge play area. He pulls up on it and everything and it stays anchored. My daughter even goes in his area and plays with him from time to time.
DO NOT let him skip the crawling stage. It is a VERY IMPORTANT developmental stage!
I say go for it. Go to garage sales and pick one up. they are not cheap brand new.
What a smart mom you are! More than likely, he will not be happy cooped up in a playpen. My boys all walked at an early age and it was all over then!
What we did was use baby gates to fence in rooms. We made those rooms safe so that they could go wherever they wanted and be okay.
definatly. most kids are entertained by one thing for just a moment. we had a swing, johnny jump up, walker, play pen, rug time, and i am sure i am forgetting other stations or play spots we had for him. they like the different things like walking and playing on there belly , sitting in a box or running around. dont let that hold you back. you dont have to get a very expensive one either we had a really nice one (borrowed from my sil) for our first. she needed that one back for her own baby so when baby number two arrived for us we bought a 40 dollar play pin. its not used often but it does the job. sounds like your son is your first. if your planning to have more i would make the investment on a good sturdy one. if your only planning to have one i would not invest too much money as they are only going to be good till a year and a half or perhaps two yrs old? my three yr old crawls in and out of it freely.
Try one of those play yard gates - gates them in but allows more room than a playpen would.
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...
I agree goo ahead and baby proof the house. Our daughter also walked totally unassisted at 6 months..
When I would take a shower, I placed her in the walker.. We do not have any stairs so she was safe.
Also get ready for once they master walking, next is climbing. Our daughter could easily pull her self up and over her crib by 12 months in seconds.. She was a monkey.. No matter how low we placed the crib and forget the crib tent that was a joke.
I didn't think they even had walkers anymore?? My doc said years ago...no walkers. He treated more injured kids because of them...even for people w no stairs. Ditto the exersaucer. We LOVED LOVED LOVED the exersaucer. Kid entertained but not into things.
Hi heather!
I second scarlett about the 'yard' thing...I often had a 'littler' one in that with toys etc...either inside the house...or outside (backyard...beach etc)
The BIGGEST problem I ever had was that the 'olders' wanted to get IN it!!
Best investment I ever made.
***works on puppies too...if THAT is in your future***
Best Luck!
michele/cat
I don't know. I had a playpen with both of mine and they hated it. Screamed from the time I put them in there to the time I got them out. Even with lots of toys in there. I just had the house baby proofed. Mine did enjoy the walker (which we could lock down to keep them in 1 spot) and the exersaucer. But yours may love the playpen. I would try garage sales, resale shops, etc for one and try it.
