My 2 year old is too much - please help.

[mamablondie2]

Hi
I posted recently about my almost two year old who will not spend even two minutes (not an exaggeration) occupying herself with a toy etc.

I’m pregnant, have SPD and am pretty much sofa bound. Husband works from home and is shut away for five hours of the day so it’s just me and her. I’m at my wits end, I have tried jigsaws etc she does them for 30 seconds and is then back trying to clamber on my lap.

I am not talking about wanting to leave her for hours on end but 10 minute spells, I worry that when the baby is here she simply won’t cope with me sharing attention. Breastfeeding seems unimaginable right now with how she is being.

I am willing to try anything.

I don't know whether this is recommended, but I ended up getting the playpen back out when my dd was that age. It allowed my 5 minutes peace and it meant I could leave the room for 2 minutes to get a cup of tea etc, and know that she was safe. It also encouraged her to entertain herself. there was a thread a few years back (you can read it here) where the mother did the same thing too, although her dd sounds different to yours (struggled to keep her dc from getting into mischief). You could fill the playpen with balls and make it a ball pit, and put some fun toys inside to make it a nice place to be. I'm not saying to leave her for hours but 5-10minutes doesn't do any harm and saves your sanity levels.
Might also be worth trying her with a live stream class? toddle and sign are running free toddler sign language classes. if you can get it up on yor tv, you could sit with her on the floor and you on the sofa and do it together?

all the best x