Ask:
My 9 month old is very busy crawling and cruising. I feel this need that I have to let her free a lot to explore while I'm watching to make sure she doesn't get hurt or get into anything she shouldn't. However, I'm not able to get anything done. I have piles of clean laundry that need to be put away and tons of other stuff I just never get to. I try putting her in the playpen or exersaucer a little at a time but she cries and just wants to be free. When my older ones were babies I would do all my chores while they were napping but this little sweetheart doesn't like to sleep and her naps last only about 30 minutes. Has anyone dealt with this and have any suggestions? Thank you.
Answer:
my youngest would never go in anything, jumper, saucer, etc. She's one now and spent no time in those, always crawling free. My older two loved their jumper but I let them in it for around 20 mins at a time once or twice a day. Nothing ever gets done until after bedtime!
Answer:
I like them to be free- though what about putting her in front of the TV and in the exersacer and having her watch something like baby einstein. What happens if you put her in it and she crys though you are right there folding laudrey and talking/singing to her- will she stop crying and maybe even start to play? What about puting up gates and keeping her in the "play area" that is safe and you can do chores with her crawling area so she is happy and you know she is safe. It is hard at this age- I always say- this too shall pass and then on to the next situation
Answer:
I alwlays just took them room to room w/me when I cleaned and did laundry. Now dd throws my folded laundy on the floor every chance she gets so I do that when she's sleeping. But all the other house stuff I do with her. I do however put her in the activity saucer when I vaccum b/c I'm afraid that she'll bite the cord.
Answer:
DD spends a lot of time in her walker or exersaucer. At the sitters, she has time in the pack-n-play. She will whine for a minute then she stops. Nothing worth worrying about. The walker works best because she can still get around and I don't have to worry as much about what she gets into.
I don't think there's anything wrong with it. She doesn't need to be held all the time and things need to get done. It's not hurting her and adjusts just fine.
Answer:
My ds used to be in playpen watching blues clues. I always used a playpen or had him in a highchair with something to do.
Answer:
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions! I've figured out a place I can put the playpen so that she can see me when I'm folding laundry and stuff. Hopefully, that will work for a little while.