Playpen VS Portacot?

[AnyDream]

Hi I have a newly mobile baby and need a quick, safe "drop zone" for her, for when I'm showering, getting hot food out of oven, etc. I never thought I'd hear myself contemplating a playpen but I have an older DD with a tendency to leave unsafe things around, and DH works away frequently so I'm going to have to do something or I'll be a ball of nerves.

So just wondering - do I need a playpen or is a portacot just as good? Interested in hearing from people who have used either and how useful was it, really?

[AnyDream]

*bumpo*

[alioops]

It depends on how much room you wnat her to have. I have used the portacot but she finds it too small and wants to explore and find things. I would get a playpen and just erect it around her so she doesn't feel like she has to stop plaing with what she is playing with iykwim.

[AnyDream]

I guess the flipside of that is how much room the thing takes up in the room we want to use it in...hmmm. Anyone else?

[Astrid]

We got a play pen that could be used indoors and outdoors. It barely got used as a playpen, more for a toy dumping ground when I needed to do a quick tidy.

[fionas]

I just saw an excellent tip in a book today which was to get a stair gate and put it on the baby's room (assuming they have their own room) so they can't get out of the door or get trapped behind the door while you're trying to open it. That way, they have the whole room to explore safely. Not sure if that would suit your situation but it's another alternative.