Baby jail?!?!?!?

The term 'baby jail' is enough to make any mother feel like a bad person. Try ditching it from your vocabulary; I had to. My oldest LOVED his playpen. He has always been a quiet, easily self-amused child, and had no beef with 'doing time' in there. But, I still felt rotten every time I put him in there.

I think the worst part was not feeling needed. He was so content in his playpen as I bustled around the house, getting things that I'd put off for months. He would look up and smile at me, and I remember thinking "Why don't you need ME? I'm busy, don't you want to interrupt me?"

We feel bad because we are moms; therefore, we are too passionate, too overanylitical, and too sensitive.

Nope, I don't feel that way. My son likes his play pen which is awesome. It's really a good thing, don't feel bad. Now that you know he likes it you can take it when you go places so he has a safe place to play and sleep. I put my son in there when I'm cooking or cleaning. Just give him some toys and let him play. It's really the safest thing to do while you leave the room that way he doesn't choke on something while you're out of the room. That would REALLY make you feel horrible.

haha I felt the same way....my son is 9 months and I put him in his playpen when I want to get the dishes done or you know...do housework.

But don't feel bad...he is having a blast in it and it isn't much different from being on the floor, yes he is confined to small space but it is for his safety and so you can get some things done.

Oh good grief, don't feel guilty. It's not like you are plopping him in it the moment he wakes up and using it so you won't have to watch him, then taking him out to put him to bed at night. You're using it to keep him safe while you get something done, and then letting him out. If he's happy in there right now, let him stay there. It's a happy place for him because he knows that mommy will let him out.

You're not a bad mom for this.

I only feel guilty when my daughter cries and i still need to hurry up and complete something before i can rescue her.

I do understand how you feel though. It's like you just want him to have the freedom to roam, but you must place him in there for saftety reasons. He's not crying in there and you've placed him in a safe place where he will not get hurt so try not to feel guilty. Your a good mom.

Because we're moms that's why we feel guilty for putting our baby down for a little bit to get things done. He's fine. Hes in his "own space".

You are keeping him safe.

I feel the same way when I put Mag in her crib sometimes...behind bars ;)

Jatay said yesterday her daughter will run her binky back and forth on the crib bars like an inmate in prison...ha ha...I got a funny mental picture of that...

We all have these feelings I think.

As long as he isnt in there all day then i dont see a problem with it, you have to get things done around the house sometime!