How do you get ANYTHING done with a crawling baby?

[Pinkstuffs]

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.

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!

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.

For the jumperoo, put cushions under his feet.

@MyVIsForVendetta that’s a great idea thank you!

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.

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

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

That's what I was going to say.

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!

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.

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

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

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!

@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!

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.

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

This is the way

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.

Twins crawling. Now that was insanity.

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

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

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.

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.

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.