I fenced off the area I didn't want the kid touching. We got a toddlerroo play yard. And put that around one corner of the living room that had the stuff I couldn't baby proof. Retractable baby gates are also really great and you can get some room sized ones too!
I have seen a lot of people say a travel cot that has enough space in for them to sit with some toys then can nap in it during day too if needed. I'll be getting one as our lounge isn't big enough for a proper playpen x
We had the same conundrum. Play pen or baby proof a heck of a lot of stuff. We went for a large play pen (we got a few matching sets on Facebook marketplace, I think they’re the plastic Amazon ones) and made a space big enough that we could use it too (ie it has our couch in it… till he can climb that too 😂) We also got one of those large plush mats because now that he’s pulling up he’s falling a lot. Zero inhibitions 😵💫
We baby proofed. It made more sense to just put the few things away and up than add a big thing in our small place. We also taught how to safely get up and down things like our couch from an early age so it was one less hazard. It was one less thing to have to teach when she was walking as she had already practiced for months
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