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| |    The Use of Playpens by Dr. Benjamin Spock reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. Playpens can be a great help, especially for the busy parent, from about three months on. A playpen in the living room or the kitchen, where the caregiver is working, gives babies a chance to see everything that is going on without the danger of being stepped on, spilled on, or getting into trouble. When they are old enough to stand up, the pen gives them a railing to hold onto and a firm foundation under their feet. In good weather they can sit safely in the playpen on the porch and watch the world go by. When your baby becomes bored with his crib, try putting him in a playpen near where you are working or sitting. If you are going to use a pen, you should let your baby become accustomed to it at three or four months before he has learned to sit and crawl, and before he has had the freedom of the floor. Otherwise he might consider it a prison from the start. Even if he is willing, you should not keep your baby in a playpen all the time. It is important that you give him plenty of time for explorative crawling, which will require your undivided attention. Remember that you should not let a playpen become the reason for a decrease in your interaction with your baby. Your baby's healthy development depends on interactive activities, such as being played with, talked to, hugged, or perhaps being carried around in a chest carrier for a spell on a regular basis. Between 12 and 18 months, most babies will tolerate the playpen for shorter and shorter periods.
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