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How can I keep them entertained?

2 replies

mamahappy · 15/06/2012 00:29

I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle most days. I have a nine-month-old and a two-year-old.
The two-year-old currently spends most of his time doing the opposite of what I say to him and then throwing himself on the floor and screaming, even to a simple question such as "would you like a drink?"
The nine-month-old is a happy little fella but does seem to spend lots of time screaming also. He doesn't want to cuddle, he doesn't want to lie on the floor, he doesn't want to go in his walker, he doesn't want to go in his bouncer, he can't walk, he can't crawl, he is just so frustrated as he wants to do whatever his older brother is doing so spends most of the time grunting or screeching at me. God knows how he'll ever learn to crawl as he just gets so annoyed if I put him on the floor.
His screaming often upsets my eldest so I'm walking a tightrope to keep them both amused and give my poor ear drums a rest.
We do go out of the house but obviously there are times when we have to stay in and during those times, I need to leave the room to perhaps visit the loo or make the lunch or put the washing on but he just screams so much.
I'm pretty exhausted. He wakes at five am every day and won't go back to sleep. I cook healthy meals for him with plenty of protein and he also has his milk. It's hard to get both of them to nap at the same time and so I can't try and rest or do any jobs while one is asleep as the other one will be creating a fuss in one way or another and demanding my attention.
The eldest can obviouly entertain himself for a while if he has to but the little one just wants to do something new and more exciting every 35 seconds.
I do feel sorry for him because even when we go to the park, the eldest gets to enjoy the swings and running around and he just has to sit and watch because I can't get both of them out of the buggy.
What can I try to do to keep the little one more entertained and the older one a little calmer to help me become a little more sane?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
CogitoErgoSometimes · 15/06/2012 12:13

Do you have a room you can gate off and make reasonably kid-proof? Thrown together with a few toys, they might find each other interesting enough to give you five minute's peace

IsItNearlyBedtime · 15/06/2012 21:59

Hi, thanks for your reply. Yes, the living room is where they play and as child-proof as poss. I always put toys out for the older one, and some for the baby, although the older one thinks only he is allowed to play with all the toys!
For some reason, when his daddy is in the room, he tends to roll around playing or will sit in his chair and watch tv, but when I'm around he vies for my attention all the time. I suppose it's because he's used to me giving him attention. I was only just reading something today that said baby's at this age get a bit clingy (although he's always been like it) especially with their mammy's. I know this will all pass and I'll have forgotten about it soon but I just kind of wondered what other people got up to with their nine-month-olds at home and how they acted.
I do feel incredibly guilty today though, as he's got a raging temperature which I can't keep down, and he's been a quiet little mite and it's funny how quick I want my noisy baby back :)

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