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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

How do you get ANYTHING done with a crawling baby?

82 replies

Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 19:13

DS is 6 months old and has been crawling a couple of weeks ago. He is into EVERYTHING, he has lots of toys but ignores them all in favour of anything he sees that might be dangerous - doors, fireplaces, furniture, cables etc - so obviously needs constant supervision. He has a playpen but won’t tolerate it long, especially once he realises he can’t get out.

How do you get anything done? Before he could crawl I would put him on a playmat in whichever room I happened to be in and could clean etc as he’s quite an independent little guy and will happily play by himself. But now I obviously can’t do that unless each room is baby proofed which is difficult and even then, just when I think it’s safe he spots something I’ve missed!

So what do you do? Am I missing something obvious? Once he’s in bed I’m shattered and still have to wash bottles etc. He’s up at 6 so can’t get up any earlier to do jobs.

OP posts:

Fizzadora · 21/11/2024 23:39

Ah see now your Grandma will have just strapped your Mum in the big pram with a doll for pretty much the whole day while she cracked on doing the weekly deep clean. She turned out OK didn't she🤣🤣🤣

I used a baby walker but they are very frowned upon nowadays.

HappyMamma2023 · 21/11/2024 23:35

We used a jumperoo or highchair and some books for quick jobs like washing up, making lunch etc and things like changing the bed just shut them in the bedroom with u and involve them and make it a game. It takes longer but they think it's hilarious which is cute. My little boy is now getting a dab hand at handing me clothes from the maiden for me to fold and put in the laundry basket. But if I'm not quick enough he 'helps' and takes them out the basket again lol

Bubbles332 · 21/11/2024 23:34

Mine is 7 months and on the move. I have several 'boxes of shit' as a previous poster mentioned (treasure baskets for heuristic play as I like to call them when I'm feeling posh) dotted about. I also have a laundry basket that I sit him in with loads of scarves and scraps of material tied to the slots. He'll sit in that and eat/pull at those for 15 minutes at a time. I also put him in front of dancing fruit when I need to clean the kitchen after his tea. 20 minutes screen time > living in squalor.

Opentooffers · 21/11/2024 23:32

My son was happy in his travel cot with lots of toys and would just doze off after playing a while. He was a good sleeper though so generally easy to get stuff done. Never really got to propper crawling, was more combat style on his elbows so not a fast mover.

SouthLondonMum22 · 21/11/2024 23:30

Playpen. Let him whinge for a while because stuff needs to be done.

Original poster

Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 23:29

sanityisamyth · 21/11/2024 23:22

Sockets should not be baby proofed. They already have a safety feature (the earth port). If a socket cover is used and it snaps off in the earth pin, the live and neutral pins are live and can electrocute anyone who puts something in them. Socket covers should not be used.

Show quote history

Thanks I already know this as DH is an electrician.

I have to keep him away from cables as if he pulls on them whatever they’re plugged into will fall on top of him though!

OP posts:

Babyboomtastic · 21/11/2024 23:28

You don't.

Welcome to the next few years of your life.

sanityisamyth · 21/11/2024 23:22

Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 19:18

@Mrsttcno1 i remember you from the due in April thread! Pleased to see we’re in the same boat. How have you babyproofed things like plugs? He LOVES cables, he can spot them a mile off. In the living room I’ve had to block them with cushions but that’s kind of temporary.

IVFmumoftwo · 21/11/2024 23:16

That is easy compared to a two year old. To answer your question. You don't. You have to wait for a nap and cram it in.

Applesandpears23 · 21/11/2024 23:14

Some ideas, jumperoo, huge box of wooden blocks scattered around him in a circle, we shut all the upstairs doors and the stairgate and put toys on landing. My son likes to lie directly under the airer and watch me hang laundry. I let him grab the odd sock. Highchair with finger food whilst you do stuff in kitchen. Visitors! New to him every day objects to explore eg clean plastic bottles, spatula, wooden spoon.

OhNotNow · 21/11/2024 23:07

I just used to put mine in a playpen, which was actually a travel cot with a load of toys.

Bex5490 · 21/11/2024 23:04

8 month old baby here and find baby will stay for a little bit in the highchair with toys that stick on like these…

https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/baby/highchairs-and-booster-seats/highchair-accessories-and-toys/c/SM06020104

Didimum · 21/11/2024 22:25

Twins crawling. Now that was insanity.

TheWittyBird · 21/11/2024 20:54

Smartiepants79

What true world, I'm 100% with you . I'm a granny to my first who is 5 months old and wee got the travel cot out the other day yes he cried when put in it but he was also tired and went for a 15min sleep while me and his papa got a cuppa tea.

SuperfluousHen · 21/11/2024 20:45

Pottedpalm · 21/11/2024 19:38

DHD has a huge playpen, big enough for several adults to get in too. She doesn’t object to it as there is so much space to move around. There is a corner for books with cushions

This is the way

Edingril · 21/11/2024 20:44

I just did it, my baby followed me around so I just did jobs around them they got used to it and got bored of me removing them from where they shouldn't go so we just worked it out

Parker231 · 21/11/2024 20:42

Surprisedcupcake · 21/11/2024 20:39

Oh I'm glad it's not just me!! The first six months were so blissful but now my LO crawls, it's like looking after the tazmanian devil. I didn't get to shower this morning 😭 i get the occasional 20 minutes where she'll hang out in her cot with some toys or play in her bouncer but I'm so burnt out I dont get much done! I generally end up slumping in a chair and taking the time to just do nothing for a bit!

Why don’t you put her in the cot or playpen whilst you shower or get things done ? Worked for us each day with DT’s.

Original poster

Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 20:42

@Surprisedcupcake if I put him in his cot he thinks he’s going to bed, so that doesn’t end well either. I know he’s just a baby and won’t be in any danger but I hate listening to him screaming!

OP posts:

Surprisedcupcake · 21/11/2024 20:39

Original poster

Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 20:32

@NewGreenDuck this is a fear of mine as he is starting to pull himself up!!

OP posts:

NewGreenDuck · 21/11/2024 20:31

I'll cheer you up by saying both of mine walked at 7 months. Nothing was safe.

LostMySocks · 21/11/2024 20:25

Make the playpen into a little fun area with the door open most of the time. Then when you need baby to be safe shut the door. Hopefully that way it will become his area and he may be a bit more tolerant.

paristotokyo · 21/11/2024 20:16

Box of 'stuff' worked really well at first so filled with random toys but then I had to move on to regular household items like a sieve or measuring cups etc 😂 those worked for a while until they didn't anymore. Now I strap him to a high chair with ALL THE SNACKS and that's working for now... it's really hard!

tillytoodles1 · 21/11/2024 20:07

roastiepotato · 21/11/2024 19:14

You don't it's really annoying

That's what I was going to say.

mnreader · 21/11/2024 20:05

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

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