How should I entertain toddler and baby?

[crokky]

What do you do to entertain a toddler and a baby? DS is 2.4 and DD is nearly 4 months. I go to feed the ducks, I go swimming (with SIL's help!), I go to soft play and a group. But that still leaves a lot of time in the house with them both and my DS is bored, I think. He gets fed up after being in the house for ages and starts playing up so I want to do stuff that he would enjoy. Any ideas? Am prepared to pay to go out somewhere as my sanity is priceless!! PS DH is out before we get up and in after we've gone to bed, so there is a lot of time!

[mishymoo]

Get him a craft box and sit with him doing painting, cutting, glueing, etc. He'll have a ball getting all messy!

[Seeline]

I think most mums know how you feel. It goes through phases when the two children will interact with each other and keep themselves amused, but obviously no.2 is a bit young for that yet! Have you thought of some sort of pre-school for DS? That was my life saver. It kept DS occupied, wore him out abit, and gave me some time to spend on DD and me!

[theinsider]

More groups, 2 year-old old enough for classes - music, art etc. Other friends' houses, invite them to your, co-ordinate naps if you can...

Structure the day: one activity in the morning, home for lunch and nap, another activity in the afternoon. Activities include shopping, housework etc.

And don't forget the sanity-preservor that is tv

[MrsBadger]

agree with structure
also keep toys in separate boxes so it's easy to say 'this morning let's have out the lego' or dinosaurs or musical instruments then in the afternoon 'let's get out the cars' or teaset or farm etc

[theinsider]

Lots of parks when weather allows, but for different reasons - playground, feed the ducks (as you say), picnics... picnics anywhere at home and in the living room - it's all good fun.

Craft-style things if you can be bothered. Instigate periods of "quiet time" (I do this after childrens' meals so I can have mine in peace. Your oldest is old enough to understand "leave mummy alone while she eats". Then at least you feel you have a few minutes.

Cooking, either just add-an-egg cake mixes or pull up a chair to the work surface and let him help with whatever cooking you're doing. If you're doing any then cook ahead. Spend the afternoon with him cooking a shepherds pie (or whatever) then chill/freeze for later/next day thereby buying you time back another day.

[theinsider]

Should say if you're not doing any cooking

[Poppychick]

Go to look around pet shop, Woolies, Toys R Us (they can try stuff out there).

I have a set TV time (breakfast and just before bedtime story). I then don't feel guilty when I put it on as I know I'm doing other stuff too.

Walk to the coffee shop and share a biscuit / muffin with your toddler while you treat yourself to a posh coffee.

Play dates with like minded mums.

[StealthPolarBear]

"Your oldest is old enough to understand "leave mummy alone while she eats"."

I have a 14 month old and you have just given me so much hope

[Poppychick]

Library - those rhyme time things are okay and just browsing the books / toys there, plus it's free.

[MrsBadger]

oh and find out which streets the bin men get to at reasonable times (ie not 6am like ours)

a walk becomes v exciting if you know you will pass the bin men

also building sites - I have whiled away many a peaceful moment by parking the pushchair with a view of the cranes and cement mixers

what's the 2.4yo into?

[BroccoliSpears]

I have a 2.2 yr old and a 10 wk old.

a typical week for us goes...

Monday: Meet friend with children in park in morning. Coffee & bun in cafe. Home, nap, late lunch. Get toddler to help with sorting washing / washing up / cooking supper / amusing baby in afternoon.

Tuesday: Toddler group in morning. Lunch out with friend. Home, nap. Shops in afternoon. Crafts at kitchen table while I cook.

Weds: Tumbletots in morning. Home, nap, lunch. Supermarket in afternoon.

Thurs: Swimming in morning. lunch out. Invite friends over in afternoon.

Fri: Mooch about in morning. Play in garden if nice weather. Noddy dvd if not. Park in afternoon.

We also do trips to soft play places, museums, activity centres, different parks and playgrounds.

[crokky]

You all have great ideas, thanks! I laughed at the bin men idea - my DS loves the bin men and their lorry!!

[scrappydappydoo]

My two are exactly the same age and age gap... we go out to do an activity every morning which mostly revolves around dd1 - swimming, toddler groups, playground, farm visits, walks, feeding ducks. We can spend hours in tescos . Rhymetime in the library is great cos it engages both of them. I try to walk everywhere as it takes up time and I get dd1 to spot cars, trees etc
Then we come home dd1 has her nap I go on mumsnet
Then in the afternoon we do something at home - play in the garden, painting, cooking etc.
The worst time for me is in the morning at the moment as dd1 is waking up at 4.30am so we normally get up and then watch cbeebies or milkshake.

At the moment dd2 just fits in around us - sometimes joins in, sometimes just happy to watch from bouncy chair or play on play mat. DD1 is starting playgroup in September so I'll be able to do more things with dd2 then.