https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 01:04:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947933 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 15:24:45 +0000 sunshineandsushi 1947933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have that exact one. It worked when the boys were younger, but once they got mobile, they would scream bloody murder if we put them in it. And, they learned that they could work together to push it to where they wanted to go. One day, I turned around and found they had pushed themselves in the play yard into the kitchen, when they were supposed to be in the living room. </p> <p>It currently sits on the loveseat in our living room to keep the dog from getting up there. We'll probably use it around the Christmas tree this year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947918 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 15:19:02 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1947918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a metal one around the wood burning stove. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947777 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 14:42:20 +0000 photojane 1947777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved ours! We used it from 6-18 months. We created a play area for Sadie by tucking both ends behind furniture in our living room. It was a big enough area that she never felt like she was caged, and I felt like she was safe. I could leave the room to pee or quickly run upstairs without worrying. Thanks to that gate, we completely avoided baby-proofing. At 18 months she was a good enough listener that she wouldn't touch things that weren't allowed, so we tucked it away for future LO's. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947768 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 14:38:52 +0000 ShootingStar 1947768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our gate in action. Super classy, I know :silly: </p> [attach=2504/14/nf77wt.600x600.IMG_2925.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947766 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 14:37:37 +0000 twodoghouse 1947766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This seems to be super common among twin parents! If we had one, I might try to do without. But with two kids who can suddenly like MOVE I am all about this. We are trying to figure out what exactly we're going to do. We want to try to maximize the space they can access, but also keep them contained and safe. I want an enclosed pen thing and Alex wants a ton of baby gates. I think I might have convinced him on the pen thing when I sent him a photo earlier today. I was in the kitchen getting their solids ready and I turned around to grab them and they had both army crawled INTO THE KITCHEN. It gave me a heart attack! So whatever we decide, we've got to do it ASAP! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947755 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 14:31:43 +0000 ShootingStar 1947755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have one my parents gave me that they used when their dog was a puppy. We call it baby jail and haul it around the house. I like it and I use it a lot, but we mostly use it as basically a giant baby gate for the playroom. The room has this really wide opening and I haven't bothered to get a real gate for it. </p> <p>If I was to buy one for myself I'd either get this one that seems more lightweight - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Play-Portable-Playard/dp/B00KBGTRAC/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1416252554&#038;sr=1-1&#038;keywords=summer+infant+pop+n%27+play+portable+playard" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Play-Portable-Playard/dp/B00KBGTRAC/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1416252554&#038;sr=1-1&#038;keywords=summer+infant+pop+n%27+play+portable+playard</a> </p> <p>Or I'd get one with a door like this - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/North-States-Superyard-Colorplay-Ultimate/dp/B00NQ8YG62/ref=sr_1_10?s=baby-products&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1416252677&#038;sr=1-10&#038;keywords=north+states+superyard+with+door" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/North-States-Superyard-Colorplay-Ultimate/dp/B00NQ8YG62/ref=sr_1_10?s=baby-products&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1416252677&#038;sr=1-10&#038;keywords=north+states+superyard+with+door</a>. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947724 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 14:15:02 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1947724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have one that we use outside, either to contain lo in the carport or to block the stairs on our deck. I have never used it in a circle but the length of it is great for blocking large spaces. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947643 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 13:42:04 +0000 Anagram 1947643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I think this is the type of gear that you'll use if you have it, and you won't really miss it if you don't have it. We don't have one, and it's been fine....but I pretty much give LO the run of the house, and we've barely done any child proofing. I just keep my eyes on her at all times and when I'm cooking and have to open the oven door, I put her to play on the opposite side of the room and run back over to get stuff out of the oven before she can get there. ;-) That's the only time I can see it coming in handy.</p> <p>I take showers with her playing on the bathroom floor (I just bring some toys in, or I bring her to play in the bathtub while I shower).</p> <p>I'm planning to just put up our tree unprotected this year and see what happens! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947626 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 13:31:56 +0000 My Only Sunshine 1947626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: We have the exact one you linked to. It was super helpful when she was crawling and just learning to stand, so for like 3 months. Now that she can walk, we got rid of it because she would just stand in there and whine "mama mama mama" until I set her free. And she's pretty trustworthy so I pretty much just let her roam the first floor if I'm down there. We tried to use it flat as a way to prevent her from going to our bookshelves, and it just fell over if she leaned on it. I think if it's not attached in a circle, it's not all that sturdy.</p> <p>Over all, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, just because we used it for such a short period of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947542 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:58:14 +0000 Kemma 1947542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had one for our early crawler and it was really handy when I was cooking dinner etc because I knew she was in a safe place and out of harms way. It also provided a barrier between LO and our big dog! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947515 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:43:32 +0000 PurplePeony 1947515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use ours a lot. It is in our living room, so it keeps most of her toys contained -- when we don't need to pen her in, we leave the gate open and she goes in and out. You can affix it to the wall instead of using it as a circle, they come with mounting hardware. Just make sure you measure and get the extra panels if necessary (also good for using it in a circle, it's pretty tiny without the extra panels). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947511 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:40:34 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 1947511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just got that one to put around the tree to save it from my younger son. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947508 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:39:32 +0000 wheres_c 1947508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use ours around the tv since its a big heavy one that we didn't want him to knock over. </p> [attach=2346/14/nf72dw.450x600.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947505 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:39:17 +0000 .twist. 1947505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wrapped ours around our entertainment centre instead of keeping him in the play yard. </p> <p>I will do the same with xmas tree and gifts (if he can't keep his little paws off it! :P ) </p> <p>I do like it a lot, and I find it useful, I just hate how bulky and ugly they are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947500 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:36:47 +0000 MrsKoala 1947500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have one and if my kid didn't have such horrible separation anxiety, it would work like a charm. Unfortunately, he will not stay in it alone so it doesn't work that well for us right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947491 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:33:07 +0000 Foodnerd81 1947491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have one and its a bit of a life saver! I can't leave her in there for long but it's allowed me to occasionally shower while she's awake, empty the dishwasher without her climbing into it, use the oven without worrying about her touching it... It's definitely short lived- best for when she is crawling to early walkig, but now at 15 months she gets pissed when I put her in it. I bought it used on Craigslist and it was worth the 30 odd dollars. </p> <p>We also have it set up behind our couch in a book so it isn't right in the center of the living room. </p> <p>I'm also curious if it could be affixed to the wall somehow. Not sure if it's possible.</p> <p>Eta: we have a totally open concept living room and kitchen, so we can't just fence her out of the kitchen. It's babyproofed well enough that I leave to use the bathroom, but not to take a shower. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947486 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:29:41 +0000 rachiecakes 1947486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we had one - live in a small loft-style townhouse, w/weird metal railings that overlook the floors, on stairs, etc.<br /> It was impossible to babyproof so this was PERFECT for us. J was an early walker (10 months), so this gave him enough room to safely play. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947480 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:27:27 +0000 hilsy85 1947480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think if you use them to fence things out (like a christmas tree, tv stand, etc) that would work fine. However, I know my LO would have HATED being fenced in and would have immediately started trying to find a way out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947473 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:25:12 +0000 blackbird 1947473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're getting one to keep E away from the elliptical </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-baby-play-yards#post-1947462 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:22:13 +0000 Mae 1947462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The kind in the picture below (not the pack n plays that they call play yards for some reason). </p> <p>Do you have one? Do you love it? How do you use it? </p> <p>My mom asked if I'd want this for Christmas for our LO and I'm not sure. I don't know that I would use it in a circle to just pen her off... but maybe? </p> <p>I'd be more interested if it could be a solution to keeping her away from our entertainment center and bookcase (see pic below) but I don't know if it could really be used to set up in front of them without falling over? I'm not entirely sure how they work. </p> <p>Any thoughts or recommendations appreciated!</p> <p>[attach=4140/14/nf71l1.511x401.Screen-Shot-2014-11-17-at-12.20.01-PM.png] </p> [attach=4140/14/nf71m1.600x450.image.jpg]