Tips for looking after crawlers / toddlers and doing housework?

[hilaryhippo]

FTM question here! If you have a crawler or toddler please can you give me tips about how you look after them during the day? My 10mo has started moving around now. Today I made some quick breakfast muffins and he sat in his high chair to watch, which worked well until the last 5 minutes when he was restless.

I obviously sit and play with him and also try to get out and about now that things are opening up. But if I need to do chores I'm never sure what to do with him. Laundry is ok because he likes sitting in a pile of clean clothes! But I need to change the bedsheets and do some tidying today. Where would you put him and how do you manage with doing things like quick washing up etc?

I had a gate on the kitchen and made sure the living room was safe to crawl/play in.
You can put them in a cot or playpen as a baby when you need to do something like change bedding or have a shower.

Thanks @DarcyLewis We live in a small flat so I wasn't sure if a playpen would dominate the living space! I might have to see what I can do!

Whatever room you're doing the housework in just take him with you?
Involve him in what you're doing - chat or sing to him, make him laugh, get him to 'help' or bring a couple of toys for him to play with. I'm sure he' love hiding under sheets, playing peepo, climbing piles of bedding etc. whilst you change the beds. Yes, it takes longer and is harder work with a toddler in tow, but that's just being a parent isn't it? Anything you especially need to concentrate on, do it when he naps or when he's in bed in the evening? Children learn best just by being with you whilst you get on with life, chatting, teaching and involving them.

Jumperoo, you can get foldable ones, Cbeebies while sat in her toddler chair thing, travel cot with toys chucked in, they fold small. or just babyproof the room if you're leaving but can still see and close by.

I used to put ds in the travel cot with a pile of toys and board books if I needed to get anything urgent or that could be dangerous to him done, for the rest I worked round him! Worked for about 6-8 months, then he learnt to climb out!