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How do you entertain your older DC whilst the baby naps?

8 replies

shirleycat1 · 18/07/2012 13:20

DS is 3.2 and DD is 7 months. DS has a lot of energy and before DD came along we would be out and about every afternoon. DD now naps for a couple of hours after lunch and I am finding it increasingly difficult to find stuff to entertain him at home.

We always go out in the morning, to a group or the park or something and I'll let him watch Cbeebies for an hour or so after lunch, but that still leaves me with an hour everyday which can really drag and as time goes on he gets more and more restless and starts looking for trouble.

We play games, do colouring/painting/sticking, make a train track. If the weather's nice it's easier as we can go out in the garden but what does everyone else do.

I suppose we could go out with DD, but I find if she's napping anywhere but her cot the nap is shorter and the quality of the sleep is less good, so then we have a grumpy tired baby to contend with at teatime who won't eat her tea.

What does everyone else do? Thanks in advance...

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
shirleycat1 · 18/07/2012 13:25

Oh and please don't start with the "oh my god you can't even entertain your DC for an hour a day" shit that I've come across here before. I'm on hand for entertaining most of the day every day, it's just this hour or so that I'm struggling with at the moment.

Thanks...

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BlueChampagne · 18/07/2012 13:46

Get him to 'help' cook dinner, put washing on, gardening etc?
Dressing up? Jigsaws? Stories? Lotto? Snap?

Zimbah · 18/07/2012 13:47

It's difficult with the weather being so bad. With DD I often do craft activities as she loves that - making musical instruments out of cardboard tubes and pasta, drawing on boxes, making cards for family members with masses of glitter that then covers the house. We only do painting if I'm feeling really brave. We play board games that I don't allow when DD2's awake - ones with small pieces that are a choking hazard. Do puzzles on the floor, as we can't do that when DD2's awake as she'll pull them up. Sometimes I get a kids magazines like CBeebies, and we do the activities in that.

If she needs to burn off some energy I've got a mini (adult) trampoline she likes to bounce on, or I'll put cushions on the floor in a pattern and tell her which one she has to jump on next, that kind of thing.

When I write it out it all sounds great! I think I am a much better parent in theory than in practice Grin I haven't mentioned the shouting

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Alabama100 · 18/07/2012 20:55

I've just come across this great website called the imagination tree, loads of great ideas on there!

Iggly · 18/07/2012 21:12

Do chores and get them to "help"? I use DD's naps to cook and DS joins in or plays with his toys for a bit and I join in.

AngelDog · 18/07/2012 21:49

Yes, The Imagination Tree is great - follow the link to her blog for lots of smaller-scale, less-involved ideas.

shirleycat1 · 19/07/2012 09:19

Hey, thank you. The Imagination Tree website is ace - will be implementing some ideas over the coming weeks.

I like the idea of an adult trampoline and jumping on cushions - he has a lot of energy to burn off!

He does like to help with stuff, but we usually do that in the morning nap.

Thanks again, and I'm happy to hear more suggestions...

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BlueChampagne · 19/07/2012 13:24

Just had a look at Imagination Tree and it reminded me of the moss gardens we used to make as kids! So there's another idea.

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