Childminders, what do you do with mindees whilst your putting others to bed/feeding?

[Tapewormuprising]

Just that really.

I have an 15 month old and a 2 year old. 15 month old has a nap at 11, half an hour after 2 year old arrives. This requires a bottle and then a cuddle until sleep, usually about 5-10 minutes.

I'm struggling to know what to do with the 2 yo whilst i'm doing this. Bedrooms on the first floor, living room, kitchen and garden on the ground and play room at the top. If she plays on the landing, she goes into the bedrooms (out of bounds) and the bathroom and wakes the 15month old up. I hate to leave her where i can't see her for that period of time. I left her downstairs today as she was happily playing. I had the doors open and could clearly hear her babbling away to herself and the cat (she could see him through the window). But when i came down i just thought what if she decides to climb on a table or take a dive off the play kitchen!?

What do you do in this situation?

It depends on how open plan your house is downstairs. I make sure the front door is locked and keys out of reach, all the hall doors are shut except the playroom and that I close the stair gate behind me. Then the ones downstairs only have access to the playroom and hallway while I'm taking the baby up for his nap. I'm literally only out of sight for 2 minutes and am always within hearing.

Downstairs is hallway, downstairs bathroom and stairs behind the door that leads to the open plan kitchen and living room. Doors and windows all locked and i've made it as child proof as possible.

I'm more inclined to put her down here than in the play room though, simply because our craft area and blocks are up there. Lots of little and heavy things!

My babies sleep in travel cots in the dining room, which has glass doors to the playroom and lounge so I can easily see the other children.
Do you have space to do something similar? Otherwise, I'd put locks/bolts on the bedroom and bathroom doors, close stairgate and let toddler play with books or a box of toys on the landing. I wouldn't personally leave a toddler downstairs whilst seeing to a baby, for all the reasons you already said.

Could you not put her in high chair with some colouring in/snack/toys. It can be a juggling act but soon smaller one will be napping at same time.

How about if you go out, will smaller one nap in pushchair?

Or, How about you have a cuddle all together in a dark quite room, and then take 15mnth old up but don't stay around. I had two 14mnth twins a couple of yrs ago, and just had to put them down and shut door. They soon get used to it!

DP NOT LEAVE CHILD IN HIGHCHAIR, ESPECIALLY NOT EATING!!!!

I do nappy, then milk and cuddle in the play room, while the other children are doing something that will hopefully keep them relatively quiet. Then a quick, but gentle pop into the cot and return to play room.

I had one that struggled to get off to sleep once and transferred the travel cot to the patio, so I could put them where I could seem them easily. They were happy to watch the other children play and drift off to sleep. Didn't take long to make the transfer to another room though.

None of mine will sleep in pushchairs at the moment, as they are all tummy sleepers.

Give the 15 month year old his bottle and cuddles downstairs. Then upstairs and into the cot.
At 15 months he should not need feeding/cuddling to sleep. This is a habit that can be broken.
That way you only leave the two year old for maybe 60 seconds.
Ensure no dangers, ie if access to kitchen knives are out of reach, kettle empty. I would get a toy or game out just before you go upstairs, and say you will play it with him or her. Let him or her dirt out pieces. Or have a book box and ask her yo choose a book.

I agree look at 15 month old not the 2 year old. I have 2 one year olds and a 2 year old none of them are having a bottle in the day never mind to go to sleep too. If mindee still needs a bottle do it downstairs and off to bed.

I am only ever upstairs a couple of minutes at most settling down or though I may need to nip up if they don settle. To be fair which ever one I take upstairs the other ones are peering through stairgate awaiting my return

Either get both children napping at the same time, or do the 15 month old's bottle downstairs and then put her to bed.

I let the older one choose one TV program, something like Mr Tumble or Little Charlie Bear, and put some toys in the TV room. I also give the bottle/cuddle downstairs, and try to reduce my time upstairs to just a couple of minutes. My minded children usually choose one or two programs a day, with parents permissions and it's fine, keeps them busy while I put the younger ones to sleep. But I only look after three children so it's relatively easy.

Not sure why 15mth needs a bottle to get to sleep ...... Generally children this age don't have milk during the day - but obv what parents do - but I would suggest cutting it out and have a nap 9-10am before comes to you then would have a sleep after lunch with 2yr

But if must give bottle then do downstairs and then take up to settle while leavin 2yr downstairs - assume you leave them to have a wee etc - do will be okay for 2mins providing door locked and no dangerous objects around

Why wouldn't a 1 year old have milk in the day? I've not heard that before.

Most children give up their 10/11 and 2/3 bottle by the time they are 1 as should be having 3 healthy meals a day and then milk when they wake up /go to sleep in evening

Obv all children are diff but was a solution :)

Blondes my toddlers have milk every afternoon, but not in a bottle and after their sleep.

Most 4 year olds in school are still having milk in the day! I don't think there's any "should" about it.

'My' children have access to milk and water all day so can have whichever they prefer!

My 3 year old is easy, I can sit him down with some crayons and paper for 5 minutes in the playroom.

The 1 year old goes to sleep in a pushchair so 2 minutes of pushing back and forth and she's asleep.

The baby goes in the travel cot upstairs. I usually put her down last as she is quite happy with a couple of puppets in the hallway until the 1 year old is asleep.

If I have to leave them alone for a second they are usually popped in the travel cot in the kitchen with a few toys.

It is so difficult, I'm very lucky that the children all have very clear sleep cues and tend to nap at similar times (at the minute)

I find that milk fills them up so don't eat a decent tea - so I offer water during the day but as I said all children are different :)

Ah I see blondes. Bit different for me probably then, because the children have lunch at approx 1200 and then milk and a light snack mid afternoon, because they don't go home for tea until 6, so they need something to keep them going.

That makes perfect sense hsmm :)