How to stop toddler from playing with all the baby things for new baby?

[Mybellyisaneasteregg]

I want some positive behaviour ideas about how to stop ds 2.9 from playing with the new baby's swing, Moses basket, rocker etc.

At the moment I haven't put them out as when I have briefly taken them out he has been very interested in trying them out and I don't want them broken.

I want to set them up a few weeks before the baby comes so they become part of the furniture and so he learns to leave them alone but I'm not sure how to approach this.

Honestly, with my toddler the best way for him to leave stuff alone is to be allowed the chance to have a good nosey in them first.

Get the stuff out, give him a toy doll to play with and play putting the baby to bed etc.

If you try to keep him away from them, they'll just become much more desirable and then think how he will feel to see the new baby being 'allowed' to play with them!

Maybe just let him play with them? By the time baby comes they will have lost their novelty value then.

I think forbidding him from touching them could make him resentful of the baby. I'd maybe keep the Moses basket on a stand though - climbing in there needs to be a no-no.

Just let him play. He's just curious. Give him a doll/ teddy to play with and show him how the baby will use them.

That is what I am afraid of shergar :( about the new baby getting all the new 'toys' I really can't afford for them to get broken and then having to replace them. But I will have to take the risk.

That is a good idea about giving him a dolly to have a play with while playing with them

Yes, agree with the others. Let him play.

Ok I will have the Moses basket climbing a big no, similar to no for climbing on tables. That is logical.

I will just have to let him have a play on the swing and other things and hope they don't break. Fortunately he is light for his age.

Ds (3) loves all ds2's (3mo) toys. I just let him play with them. He wasn't allowed to climb in Moses basket tho!

I would try telling him that he is too big, and mummy is too big, but dolly/teddy is the right size. That way teddy is allowed to swing but he isn't.
I wouldn't want him swinging on the swing and breaking it, so direct the play towards playing with a toy on it, rather than letting him climb on it.

Is he playing with them or trying to use them (ie trying to sit in chair,climb into moses basket)?
If he is just playing I would as PP have suggested give him a doll or teddy and play with him.
If he is trying to use them, he maybe needs a bit of reassurance that he is not going to be "ousted" by the new arrival. It isn't uncommon for children to act more babyish when a new sibling comes along in a bid to maintain their parents attention, this is generally short lived once they realise that just because they have a new sister/brother doesn't mean you love them any less/ they don't get as much attention from you.

I found with my older two dc, the only time they were interested in the baby gym was when I got it out for the next dc.

I would explain to him that he can't go in the Moses basket, or in the swing as he's too big-but then the baby can't go on the swings at the park or his bed because they'll be too small.
Letting him use them with a teddy/doll/other toy sounds a god compromise. It is fine to say "this is how we use it" and show him, probably better than just letting him try.

Does he have a toy buggy or pram? Try and pick up a cheapest one and he can be just like you. Taking care of his own baby.

Agree with others, let him play - push buttons/put dolls and teddies in etc - but obviously don't let him climb in. Good to reinforce this now before baby is here and gets squished! My dd loves putting

Agree with letting him play with them - he'll lose interest once he realises his own toys are more fun. My DS was 2.5 when his brother came along and when we got all the baby things down from the attic he had to have a shot of everything (including the little bouncy chair, which thankfully stood up to the test). He also spent most of one day wearing a jumper that someone had knitted for the baby - it didn't come past his belly button and the sleeves were up to his elbows but he refused to take it off

He played at being a baby for a while, and still does occasionally, but he's lost interest in the baby's things now.

Sorry - posted too soon!
Agree with others, let him play - push buttons/put dolls and teddies in etc - but obviously don't let him climb in. Good to reinforce this now before baby is here and gets squished! My dd (2.2) loves putting on all the musical bits of baby's toys, but she understands they are only for baby to go in. Even the jumperoo which I thought would be the big temptation.

I got dd to help me set things up for new baby. It made her feel like a big sister, she was 2 at the time. I would also get her to chat to my tummy to tell her new db all the things she had done that day and she always finished off the chat with "are you coming out soon"

Dd and ds love each other to pieces, they are 12 and 14.

Agree with other posters that doing things with a tester teddy and maybe your ds could chat to your tummy about all the great things the bear and him have done that day would make him feel like a big brother and give him the responsibility to keep the things safe.

It is a fine line between keeping him from breaking things and causing resentment to newborn.

Why do you want to give your toddler the message that he's not allowed near/to touch any of the baby's stuff? Will you let him touch and cuddle the baby? Toddler's can't look without touching - it's part of his environment and he'll be naturally curious about them, you can't discourage that.
My toddlers weren't interested in the stuff like the cot/moses basket but I did get a new rocker that was suitable for toddlers to sit in and also a beanbag so they could both use it (now used as a floor cushion as the baby is 4).

My toddler played with more baby toys than the baby did - he was too busy playing with the toddler toys as soon as he could move!