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Original poster

so how much do you really watch them?

37 replies

bebemoohatessnot · 26/08/2010 19:19

I'm trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong, why I can't seem to accomplish things during the day.
Facts:
-16.5m dd. Very active, walking, running, climbing, talking, wanting to read, play etc. Somewhat independent.
-3 floors. Kitchen/wc/garage, living room/spare room/toilet, master bedroom/ensuite/nursery.
-typical housewife chores to do (barring ironing which I just don't do -sue me Wink)
-husband gone M-F
-5yr old cat
-ils live 2hrs away
-quiet neighborhood -everybody keeps to their selves despite me trying to be less shy and friendly toward them
-my family lives in States
-what few friends I have live hours away too
-no real money for nursery only one in walking distant is 25 quid for half day
-searched for childminders and none in area have room or will take for random hours during the week

So how much do you watch your kids? How do you get things done when it's just you?

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RonansMummy · 26/08/2010 19:24

I don't get anything done either :-(

FloraFinching · 26/08/2010 19:29

IMO when they get mobile to about 2.5 is the age when you achieve nothing at home. They've the mobility to cause chaos in the most innocent looking situations, but haven't yet got the sense to stay out of trouble.

After about 2.5 they get a leetle bit more canny, and don't need watching like a hawk.

Original poster
bebemoohatessnot · 26/08/2010 19:36

right... so this time next year I might get to the dishes... Wink

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Tee2072 · 26/08/2010 19:40

Playpen

Original poster
bebemoohatessnot · 26/08/2010 19:42

Tee we stopped using the playpen at about 9m because the little devil monkey angel climbed out of it by wrapping her toes around the bars. And the mesh sides that travel cots have...well she climbs up those two and flips herself (or it) over the side.

OP posts:
IMoveTheStars · 26/08/2010 19:43

child proof the living room and her bedroom and stick gates on the doors and you've basically created a giant play pen. Only way I ever got things done and even then it was 10 min jobs (hanging out laundry/washing up/wiping over the bathroom/emptying bins etc)

DP did the hoovering at the weekend.

SingleMumAndProud · 26/08/2010 19:45

I agree 100% with Flora.

I have a 2.5 year old and a 16 month old and totally agree with the above. I really struggle to get things done too.

Original poster
bebemoohatessnot · 26/08/2010 19:46

I could maybe put two gates one on top of the other...tho would that mean she would climb up both sets?! Or would her 'fear factor' kick in.

OP posts:
LittleSarah · 26/08/2010 19:56

I feel I get so little done around the house too. I have a 6 yr old and a 14 month old, plus my granny in law who lives with us... I usually get the basics done; dishes, laundry, general tidying, little else. It is frustrating!

And then when he naps I should clean but tend to come up here and go on the computer. Blush

At this age (the mobile to 2.5 I so agree) everything is horribly stop start!

LittleSarah · 26/08/2010 19:56

Oh, I'm also very isolated in the countryside with no car and no friends and am going slightly mad.

Original poster
bebemoohatessnot · 26/08/2010 20:02

Well it's kinda nice know this is 'normal'...

OP posts:
IMoveTheStars · 26/08/2010 20:19

bebe, oh dear she's a climber too?

OK, then balls to the housework for the next few months I'm afraid Wink

Have you tried one of the kiddiguard roller blind type stairgates? DS finds them impossible to climb, but you have to make sure there is no gap at bottom.

teaandcakeplease · 26/08/2010 20:23

My DD couldn't work out how to open doors for ages, so I could keep her to one room with me, whilst I did chores.

I second stair gates, if you buy the right one, she shouldn't be able to climb it. My DD is 3 and still can't climb the one into the kitchen or work out how to open it. I think it's a Babydan no trip one Hmm And she loves to climb but it foils her.

Failing that, can she climb out of her cot yet? As she could have some quiet time with a book in there, if you needed 10 minutes to do something from time to time?

Meglet · 26/08/2010 20:26

I don't get much done. If I'm lucky they will play quietly for a while or watch cbeebies but at most I will load the dishwasher and do some laundy, even then I can hear everything they're up to.

We have a stairgate across the kitchen door so at least I can cook without them under my feet.

Sinkingfeeling · 26/08/2010 20:28

Does she have a nap during the day? That was the only time I was able to get anything done when mine were little (now they're 7, 7 and 5). I didn't even attempt to do anything when they were awake, to be honest. Sometimes when dh was around at the weekend I'd give myself an hour to whizz around and do as much as possible in that time, but realistically it isn't easy to do housework with tiny children - though they do like to 'help' if you give them a duster, or some socks to sort out into colours etc.

sharbie · 26/08/2010 20:31

Def normal - my DD went to school just after her 4th birthday and that was when things got better.

Original poster
bebemoohatessnot · 26/08/2010 20:45

She's not figured out climbing out of her cot yet that's true actually because the slats are wide....
A little afraid of making her think her cot is a prison though because going to bed at night is (thankfully) not a problem most nights.

She'll nap once a day (usually) for about 45 minutes, but lately because she's not been out running around as much (because of the wet weather) I cannot get her to take a nap. And even that being said... she's only just gone to bed after we've read books for a half hour. (but I'm being more indulgent lately with the book reading and night cuddles because she's just dropped bfing and I want to make sure she's still feeling secure and loved -bit silly of me but it's me too that's weaning Wink I'm getting used to not being needed in the same way any more)

OP posts:
teaandcakeplease · 26/08/2010 20:58

My DD went through a stage of playing in her cot instead of sleeping when I knew she was tired. She did fall asleep in the end if I left her, was a while sometimes though! LOL Thankfully she outgrew that stage and went back to taking a nap again easily. Thank God as it was the only thing keeping me sane, as my 2 DCs are 17 months apart and life was hectic enough when DS was born.

I don't know what personality your DD is, would she object to 10 mins quiet time with a book and maybe a drink in her cot? That shouldn't make it feel like a prison IF she's happy there? Hmm

So difficult... as all LO's are different and what works for one, doesn't for another x

Original poster
bebemoohatessnot · 26/08/2010 21:09

Well she might be ok with it...hard to say I'll give it a try tomorrow. In the past when I've tried to get her to just take a 'rest' (when I need a moment to close my eyes because I'm not well/tired) and given her a book -I've actually put books at the end of her cot that she can grab herself too- she's just screamed and screamed. But in the evening I put her in there in the same situation and she's fine and I can hear her reading/talking before she drops off.

She can and will sit quietly and read books in the living room and I often try to sneak out and quick put in laundry or clean the toilet or some such thing when she does, but it's like a 5min deal as I really don't want to leave her alone for too long by herself. The other day I left her a little longer than usual so I could feed the cat and do laundry and she managed to find (who knows where from) green felt 'feet' stickers -the kind so your knick-knacks don't scratch your glass table tops etc.- and she had stuck them all over herself and had one in her mouth too. She looked like very sickly/poxy Mr. Tumble's offspring. Grin

OP posts:
mungo8 · 27/08/2010 09:09

It is difficult isn't it.
When mine were that age I think I just took them everywhere if I cleaned the bathroom a basket of toys came with us I would plonk them down with my child close the door and get on with cleaning I could watch them and chat to them whilst cleaning. I think my children quite liked investigating the basket of toys (which I always varied) and having a potter around different rooms. I couldn't do the whole house but I could clean two rooms a day one in the morning and one in the afternoon I also got them to help if they were not interested in playing and just wanting to get up to mishief. Hoovering was a little problem for a while but a toy hoover helped with that DD and DS just hoovered with me, washing floors I just had to do when they were in bed.

AngelDog · 27/08/2010 10:28

Wish I'd not seen this thread.

I struggle to get the basics done and my DS is only 7.5 months, and happy to entertain himself while I get on with jobs. Mind you, trying to get him to nap takes half my day.

OP, have you tried a treasure basket? Google 'treasure basket' or 'heuristic play' and you will find some great ideas for keeping toddlers occupied in one place for reasonable lengths of time.

Original poster
bebemoohatessnot · 27/08/2010 10:56

Sorry AngelDog,Wink it's just when you're trying to get things done it's a challenge...I love dd to pieces otherwise because she is so very cute and funny (when she's not trying to use me as a jungle gym) :)

I do try to have a box of stuff for her to explore. though I've not thought to bring one around with us where ever we go. Today when I cleaned up all her toys in her room I separated the soft toys from the wooden from the plastic ones. They're all in big Ikea baskets now. Then while I was folding laundry I saw that she climbed into a basket, and was happy as larry digging around in there. :)

I may do a few specific boxes or baskets of things which fit into 'heuristic play'...though I don't need any more stuff to pick up... but after I (someday) get this place properly clean I can maybe have places to put them when they're not in use.

OP posts:
AngelDog · 27/08/2010 14:02

Apparently storing it in drawstring bags works well too, and it also means you can chuck them in any handy cupboard!

Orissiah · 27/08/2010 14:45

Ever since my DD was mobile I've encouraged her to play in each room I am cleaning/doing chores in. Each room has a box of toys in it and sometimes we sing. Keeps her entertained and out of mischief. Now she's 2 she's fine with me saying, "I'm just going to the kitchen to wash up" or "I'm going upstairs to hoover" and she'll either follow me or do something else. The thing is she doesn't get into things she's not supposed to and never has really (we never had to child proof anything). But toys in each room (and rotating them) are excellent distractions.

dolphin13 · 27/08/2010 14:59

bebemoohatesnot we fostered a climber once. He was 3 and would climb over the stairgate on his room and go into my sons room several times a night.
My wonderful HV told us to get a dog gate for his door. Same as normal stair gate but much taller. It was brilliant, get them in argos.

Also agree with child proofing. My living room is child proof with a gate so I can get on with stuff. I also use baby monitors so no matter where I am in house (3 storys) I can hear what's going on in the living room.

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