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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:
Mrsttcno1 · 21/11/2024 20:00

Smartiepants79 · 21/11/2024 19:46

You’re not using those pop in plug cover are you? Those ones are really not recommended and can be more dangerous than not having them at all.

Show quote history

No I’m not as I also saw that. The pop in ones I read actually increase risks so avoided those x

Deadbeatex · 21/11/2024 19:58

Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 19:41

The playpen is as big as our living room allows tbh but maybe that’s the issue. I was going to buy a jumperoo but he’s actually too small it was more like a swing. He’s very small.

Pop a cushion under his feet for the jumperoo and race around like a lunatic so he's not in it too long! It's a shitty stage and unfortunately sometimes a playpen and the tv are your best bet, he might get upset but assuming you're talking a short period to quickly get a task done and not hours then you'll not do him any harm, he's in a safe space albeit pissed off! Talk and sing to him so he can hear you and know he's not been abandoned

Marblesbackagain · 21/11/2024 19:55

I set up an area completely baby proof with a boundary play pen type fence. I had it in the middle of the open plan and was about seven metres square so plenty of room. I also had a traditional pen to pop him in if I had to leave the room.

And then I made sure I had a couple of places on each floor. I hear you my youngest crawled and walked early. I was completely caught unawares as my eldest didn't move until 15 months and never touched anything much. He did however have full on conversations early.

Original poster
Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 19:50

@MyVIsForVendetta that’s a great idea thank you!

OP posts:
MyVIsForVendetta · 21/11/2024 19:46

For the jumperoo, put cushions under his feet.

Smartiepants79 · 21/11/2024 19:46

Mrsttcno1 · 21/11/2024 19:42

Ahh lovely! I’ve basically reorganised things to minimise dangerous bits! So I’ve got those baby proof socket covers, and any cables have been hidden behind TV unit/sofa, I’ve moved the sofa closer to the wall so she can’t see/get behind it to where the cables are! X

Show quote history

You’re not using those pop in plug cover are you? Those ones are really not recommended and can be more dangerous than not having them at all.

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 21/11/2024 19:45

I found that my son was perfectly happy so long as I stayed down on the floor with him. So the skirting boards got some overdue attention, as did anything else I could manage at floor level!

Smartiepants79 · 21/11/2024 19:44

Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 19:21

If you read I have got a playpen but DS has realised he’s stuck in there and only tolerated it for a few minutes. Plus I feel a bit guilty leaving him there too long!

But what does ‘not tolerate it’ mean? He’s a baby.
He’s not a 16 year old who’ll walk out slamming the door behind him.
15-30 minutes at a time in a safe space with some stuff to explore is nothing to feel guilty about. I want to know who decided that children should never be anything but 100% happy 100% of the time. As long as they are fed, clean, warm and safe then it is perfectly acceptable for them to be put in a playpen in your eyeline for a short amount of time.
Unless your child has a medical need or Sen then I just don’t understand why some parents make things so difficult for themselves.
At the end of the day, if you are uncomfortable with leaving him in the play pen then there isn’t really some magic solution. Parenting is all about compromise. Housework v baby.

Mrsttcno1 · 21/11/2024 19:42

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.

Ahh lovely! I’ve basically reorganised things to minimise dangerous bits! So I’ve got those baby proof socket covers, and any cables have been hidden behind TV unit/sofa, I’ve moved the sofa closer to the wall so she can’t see/get behind it to where the cables are! X

upat4am · 21/11/2024 19:41

Baby proofing and playpen is the answer.

Wait until they start walking, then it really gets impossible!

Original poster
Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 19:41

The playpen is as big as our living room allows tbh but maybe that’s the issue. I was going to buy a jumperoo but he’s actually too small it was more like a swing. He’s very small.

OP posts:
110APiccadilly · 21/11/2024 19:39

I would use the playpen but as much as possible do jobs in very short bursts so he's not in there upset for too long.

You could try a sling - I did that quite a lot with my second one - she was happy enough in there if I talked to her about what I was doing.

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

bonkersplonkers · 21/11/2024 19:37

One word... Jumperoo

Original poster
Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 19:35

We get out as much as possible and he has a couple of good naps which buys me 1 or 2 hours a few days a week (there’s always days where he won’t go down or naps in the car)! It’s stuff like needing to put washing away/clean the kitchen/hoover that I’m struggling to fit in.

OP posts:
QueenOfWeeds · 21/11/2024 19:35

I used to sit DD in her highchair with some melty sticks and slices of cucumber to gnaw on whilst I did meal prep. Became a dab hand at washing bottles with her sitting wedged on the edge of the sink, one arm wrapped around her waist (safer than it sounds - sink was in the corner - but don’t recommend it you have a super wriggly child!). Other than that, almost nothing happened around the house. It’s so hard!

Metal cooking bowls and a series of small kitchen utensils (a mini whisk from Tiger was her fave) also bought me approximately 3 minutes of sitting still time - just enough to gulp down a cup of tea made five minutes earlier.

cestlavielife · 21/11/2024 19:32

Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 19:21

If you read I have got a playpen but DS has realised he’s stuck in there and only tolerated it for a few minutes. Plus I feel a bit guilty leaving him there too long!

Stop feeling guilty
Give some toys and talk calmly he will keep screaming or not
But is not coming to harm

Neurodiversitydoctor · 21/11/2024 19:30

Baby groups, soft play, swimming or rhyme time in the morning- home for a lunch and a good sleep, do you have one a clock clubs ? I know it's niche but we spent a lot of time in the science museum.

Parker231 · 21/11/2024 19:29

We used a playpen for DT’s literally from birth. Meant that they were use to it when they were older, kept them separate from the dog and cat and somewhere safe to put them when I wanted a shower, go the loo, make lunch etc.

Original poster
Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 19:27

@MummyJ36 yes I do feel guilty about this but Postman Pat allows me to have a shower every morning!

OP posts:
Original poster
Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 19:25

@pizzapizzadaddio the cable love is the worst, I can’t let him roam free in any room that has cables in. Even when I’m charging my phone it has to be in another room! I can’t imagine how I will do hoovering as he will be after the cable.

My standards on cleaning are already significantly lowered but some things have to get done!

OP posts:
MummyJ36 · 21/11/2024 19:24

Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 19:21

If you read I have got a playpen but DS has realised he’s stuck in there and only tolerated it for a few minutes. Plus I feel a bit guilty leaving him there too long!

The guilt is real but I promise there’s a huge difference between popping them in there for 15-30 mins and leaving them in there all day. Also because I’m a scummy second time mum I did also sometimes put on a bit of Mr Tumble whilst they were in there which always was a winner (although seriously frowned upon by most mumsnetters!)

pizzapizzadaddio · 21/11/2024 19:21

Mine loves cables too. I chuck her the remote control/my hair brush/her brother’s toys etc! It sometimes works but I can’t get much cleaning done. She’s been commando crawling since 4 months and I’m soo jealous of the parents of later movers.

Original poster
Pinkstuffs · 21/11/2024 19:21

If you read I have got a playpen but DS has realised he’s stuck in there and only tolerated it for a few minutes. Plus I feel a bit guilty leaving him there too long!

OP posts:
Pottedpalm · 21/11/2024 19:20

You get a large playpen.