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Parenting

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Original poster

How do you shower when home alone with an older baby?

84 replies

lurcherlover · 30/07/2011 21:43

When DS was tiny, showering was easy - I had his bouncy chair in the bathroom and he was perfectly happy to it in it and play with the toys on it while I showered. But now he's 9 months and has outgrown it and I don't know what to do with him...he isn't crawling, but is desperately trying to, so I don't want to leave him just sitting on the bathroom floor - although he sits very well, his crawling attempts make him liable to topple over, and it's a tiled floor. Even if I sit him on his changing mat his head would still hit the tiles. If I leave him on his own in his cot with some toys he cries. I can't wait for nap times as they're not early enough in the day. Any suggestions please?

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MoragG · 30/07/2011 22:43

Inflatable ring (as in here).

baileyslover · 30/07/2011 22:46

My DS is 8 months and I put him in a door bouncer hanging on the bathroom door and he loves it. Don't know what I will do when he outgrows it

mousymouse · 30/07/2011 22:46

shower at night when the dc are in bed. mornings are just too chaotic here.

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FrameyMcFrame · 30/07/2011 22:51

Buggy and books, or buggy and toast and jam? Put the buggy in the bathroom and shower with the door open so you can watch him?

I didn't do that though as I just managed with watching mine while in the shower. If they're about to do something dangerous just jump out and grab them!

rathlin · 30/07/2011 22:53

Put him in the cot and had a very quick shower.

bonkers20 · 30/07/2011 22:54

9 months is a tricky age for that sort of thing. When I was home alone I would either leave him in his cot or if he was grizzly would put him in the high chair in the bathroom, which was a bit of a squeeze, but worked.

Lorens1771 · 30/07/2011 22:58

i use either a bumbo seat outside in hallway and leave door open or i put dd in door bouncer in doorway just at the right height for her to reach her table activity thing.

anonymum11 · 30/07/2011 23:07

I miss being able to put dd in her bouncy chair and move it around the house with me - I've not managed to get through all the ironing since. She's a good sleeper so I usually manage to get up early and have a shower before she wakes, but have also had to leave her in the cot.

trixymalixy · 30/07/2011 23:14

I either put them in the cot, locked them in th bathroom with me with toys or took them in the shower with me.

notsuchayummymummy · 31/07/2011 07:25

I bath while my two are in bed at 5/6am. Dc1 now 17 mths always used to scream so now I time it after dc2s (3mths) feed and before dc1 wakes.

IvyAndGold · 31/07/2011 07:41

DD is loving books at the moment so I put a pile of board books in the bathroom for her to look at, and she likes dancing (or rather wiggling her bum) so I put music on my phone on too. We have a glass panel rather than a shower curtain so I can keep my eye on her.

tinker316 · 31/07/2011 07:55

I have my shower early evening when my DP gets home from work- or shower in the morning 'normally' when it's his day off.
It is ssooo difficult!! My DD would get hysterical if I left her in her cot But the showering 2gether idea maybe worth a try??
A friend if mine has done that with her DS from a very young age

EverythingsNotRosie · 31/07/2011 07:57

I let my DD crawl around on the floor while I have a bath- I like it too hot to let her come in with me. Or I shower before DH goes to work. I'm not sure how this will work once she can pull up and potentially grab things!

cantpooinpeace · 31/07/2011 08:03

Cot - surrounded by books/toys and with a story CD on. Never been a problem!

mnistooaddictive · 31/07/2011 08:05

Dd1 used to go in the door bouncer while I showered. With dd2 things were more complicated so I generally get up before them. Mine are not seriously early risers though!

CountBapula · 31/07/2011 08:06

I leave DS in his cot with books/toys and make it very snappy in the shower, but to stop him screaming crying, I put his favourite music (Alphabet Zoo) on in his room. It seems to keep him company and distract him from the fact that I'm not there. He loves that album and has done since he was three or four months old (he's 10 months now) - does your DS have music that he likes?

susiey · 31/07/2011 08:10

I put them in a play pen in the lounge with the tv on and a selection of their favourite toys
I think at some point they have to learn to play on their own otherwise they never learn to get anything done.Its much easier to learn it at 9 months than older.
My dd is number 3 and I have done this for all of them they hate it at first but it is only a very short time.

HoneyPablo · 31/07/2011 08:10

Have a bath together in the morning and wash your hair at night when he is in bed.
Or put him in his cot or playpen or strap him in the pushchair and put it in the doorway.

StarryEyedMama · 31/07/2011 08:22

Cot with some toys or put him on the bath seat at the end of the bath.

Graciescotland · 31/07/2011 08:24

Watching this with interest too, DS is 11 mo and we've struggled ever since he figured out how to escape from the bumbo.I normally wait for nap time c. 9:30am but as other posters have said it's a struggle if you have to get somewhere. I don't really want to pop him in his cot as it's where I put him when he's to go to sleep. We're finally getting to the stage where I can pop him down and walk away at nap times which I don't want to jeopardise.

bananamam · 31/07/2011 08:27

One of those door bouncer things?then you can see him? I had a stair gate as bathroom is upstairs and just got on with it

Octaviapink · 31/07/2011 12:51

Pile of towels on the floor and let him roll around. Floor time's usually pretty welcome for them at this point anyway.

allthefires · 31/07/2011 12:59

You either get up half hour before them or leave in cot/bumbo.

Dog left downstairs with no access to bathroom or outside if open plan/bungalow

allthefires · 31/07/2011 13:03

I'm aware this may sound harsh and so people won't agree but if he cries for 10 mins he crys. He won't hurt him and although it may not be nicest shower experience for you he will get used to it.

superjobee · 31/07/2011 13:13

i took DD in the bath with me i even used to BF in the bath if we were rushed then when she was bigger and we had the shower installed i just popped her in her cot for the 10 mins i was showering/getting dried/dressed etc some days she cried, some days she didnt its sods law. but 5/10 mins of crying wont hurt your DC :)

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