Baby crying in playpen

I feel like the worst mum in the world.

My baby is so clingy at the moment but has started crawling, so whenever I need to leave the room or do something, I have to put him inside his playpen. Sometimes this is just for a few minutes while I go to the bathroom, but sometimes can be for longer if I am making dinner or something. I am a single mum and live alone so I don’t know what another option is, but the whole time I leave him, he is crying hysterically. I keep thinking he may get used to it but he still hasn’t.

Is this bad for his development to be left to cry? Does anyone have any advice on other options?

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I don’t think this is bad for development if you leave him in the playpen. But for your own sanity. Have you gotten him an activity center? Maybe put him in there and close to you while you are in the kitchen. As he gets older and knows how to stand, consider a standing tower.

https://www.target.com/p/skip-hop-explore-more-baby-s-view-3-stage-activity-center/-/A-51462297

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You do not sound like the worst mum in the world. You sound like a parent who is alone with a mobile baby and still has to do basic things. A few minutes in a safe playpen while you use the bathroom or do other things is absolutely okay, a few tips: use a baby carrier! This has saved my sanity so much, especially with a super active baby, I use it for everything and it counts as tummy time as long as their head isn’t rested on your chest and they’re looking around. If he’s in a playpen near you, maybe try talking to him, narrating what you’re doing or playing peekaboo, As for development, there is a big difference between occasionally crying because you need to do something necessary and being routinely ignored for long periods. The first is a normal part of family life. Babies are allowed to be upset sometimes. You cannot and are not expected to prevent every tear.

My baby is anti playpen too. What kind of playpen is it? I think the mesh might be the issue- his dad got a playpen that is like wooden bars with spaces between and as far as I know my baby likes that better. Ive taken care of baby by myself since he was born and he is sooo velcro but has gotten soo much better since he started crawling. I actually rarely set him in the pack n play. I only put him in it if I cant supervise him while I'm doing something else. Which I usually can. So when I cook I put him on the floor and he'll usually get in the cabinets and dig out the pots and pans or roll a ball around. Sometimes I open the fridge and he'll play in there too. Sometimes he starts to wander off where I can't see him so I tell him to come back or go get him and get him interested in the cabinets or something again. Oh my best tip is giving baby snacks 😂 I put a few baby puffs on the floor when he gets bored of playing. Sometimes I spread them out a little so it takes more time to eat them.

Or I give him one of those snack bowls they reach in themselves. I dont do screen time at all and have found it very manageable. I bring him to the bathroom and the shower with me too. Also sometimes I'll set him in a box with snacks or toys and he'll chill in it for a while. Something on my list to try: taping sensory bags to the floor so he'll just sit and mess with them. It's an adjustment for sure but I hate leaving my baby to cry in the playpen. I have been thinking about whether its worth it to take the time to try and get him more okay with it though. But so far it hasnt been that difficult to just let him crawl around while I do tasks.

Do you give him something to do while in the playpen. I have the TV going on cartoons in the background and he has his toy cars and plushies in there. When he naps, I cover him up (it's kinda chilly in the room. I give him something to drink in his sippy cup if he is thirsty. But when I put him in there when we got back from our outing he cried for a little bit and threw a fit but after I gave him some toys he is sitting playing quietly with his toy monkey! Lol

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