Ideas for entertaining a toddler when heavily pregnant and with PGP?

[AntoinetteCosway]

So far this morning we've 'played' football (as in she chased the ball and I tried not to move too much), done painting, walked to a playgroup (ouch-and then it wasn't even on-grr) and watched cbeebies. I have PGP and pretty much any activity involving moving is painful now and I also find it really hard getting down on the floor to play, picking her up etc. I'm only 34 weeks so it's going to get worse! She's good at entertaining herself for a short while but without involved encouragement and me being involved she does get bored really easily.

Painting was a success, and not painful-bonus! What other things can we do over the next few weeks? I'm really aware that all the things I find easier-painting, play dough, reading etc, are fine but not active enough for her. She needs to blow off steam and run around while I sit and watch! Any ideas?

Can you get a trampoline?

Hm, we could look at getting a mini one. That's not a bad idea...

Baking? Biscuits, fairy cakes - things that she can decorate?

Crafts with collage type things - gluing and glitter and painting and colouring

She loves baking and crafty stuff but I'm just aware she needs to be more active while I'm getting more immobile. I was thinking maybe I could make an indoor assault course or something...

What saved me in your situation was a little soft play place that was in a garden centre. Cafe right next to it so I could sit and watch her play through the viewing window. Maybe search for something similar near you?

Oh and soft play is brilliant in this hot weather. We spent 5 hours there on DDs 3rd birthday as it was totally empty!! (And baby was asleep on me for 2 of those!)

Soft play is ideal but the only place around here is HUGE and requires a lot of active supervision. It's a real pain. I might have a look round though, there might be other places I've missed before. Good tip about them being quiet when it's not!

Water / sand table and / or paddling pool? My son can play for ages with a watering can and a cloth doing things like washing my decking and ivy leaves!

I would love a water/sand table for her-that's a fab idea. She does love playing with a watering can so I think it would go down well!

Been there, ouch! Got so much better so quickly after the baby was born (and I stopped breastfeeding). I relied on play dates, asking friends around so that their little one could tire out mine. I drove to parks that had big sandpits with benches right next to them and had no shame in asking to sit. Try to find a good chiro though, it made a huge difference. Good luck!

I put mine in nursery 2 days a week... massive relief

God, I didn't realise this could continue through breastfeeding. I assumed it would go straight after the birth...

Am setting up as many play dates as possible. She does go to nursery for one day a week. Maybe I should try and up that a bit-it's a good opportunity for her to be really active and wear herself out. It's so bloody expensive though

Pull all the cushions off the sofa and use them as 1)stepping stones on the floor 2)leant up against the sofa as a slide 3)built up into a den for them to push over.

This is a fail safe method of getting my boys completely worn out without leaving the living room :)

Great ideas here. I'm in the same situation, OP, though 35 weeks. Ready for baby to arrive, to be honest.

We have spent a lot of time outside over the past couple of weeks. I sit in a chair and DD plays with water/dirt/whatever she's in the mood for. It's cooled down a bit now, so some inside things are on the cards. I love the idea about removing sofa cushions.

(I've just dumped DD into the travel cot because she's tired and whining. It's too late in the day for her to sleep but I can't cope with the tiredness so she'll just be up late tonight. At least DH will be home to help out.)

Poor you OP! If she likes water, try filling the washing up bowl with bubbly water and sponges and getting her to 'wash' her plastic toys outside. Or putting old paintbrushes in there and watch her paint the fence with the water.

God, I didn't realise this could continue through breastfeeding. I assumed it would go straight after the birth...

It won't necessarily continue through breastfeeding, although it does for some women.

I had bad SPD (as it was then called) with DD1 and even worse with DD2, 4 years later. However the symptoms largely resolved within a couple of weeks of birth and I bf my children until they were 2.7 and 2.10

Certainly by the time I recovered from the EMCS with DD1 I wasn't aware of any pelvic issues, and I was walking DD1 to school with DD2 in the pram within a few days of having DD2 (who was a VBAC and a 10lber and didn't cause me any problems!)

There were definitely a few twinges each month when my periods returned but EBF can help to delay those.

Everyone is different. You might find you're ok.

But I do have huge sympathy for you.

How about sitting in garden and sending her on a hunt to bring you things. ....can you find me a pebble, a petal, some grass, a daisy , a ball ...run run run!!

I sat on sun lounger today and got my toddler to collect petals then we added a drop of water and we ground them up to make 'perfume' !

She also quietly played for 30 mins with a box of old baby toys I was sorting for the new baby....excitement of rediscovering her old jigsaws and baby rattles and stacking rings etc!

Can you take her swimming? Bobbing around in warm baby pool helps my PGP. (Although getting us both changed a bit painful - I treat us to lunch in cafe to recover and she then has a long nap !)

But am in same position and only 28w ...peppa pig on iPad is my best friend. So tired that hard to get motivated for exciting toddler activities! Good luck !

Ps last time mine got 80 percent better after birth and another 15% after I stopped breast feeding at 20 months.

So many good ideas here-thank you! I love the idea of 'painting' the fence and I know she will too. It's hard to be creative when I'm feeling so sorry for myself (woe is me!). I'm going to write all these down.

Fingers crossed it will disappear soon after the birth-it's encouraging to hear it does for some people. The idea of trying to breastfeed a newborn and look after a toddler while not being able to move properly is not very appealing!

Take her to a park?

I can't walk that far anymore and I also can't help her up the steps to the slide or run round after her.

The wiggles! I got the best of DVD from Amazon for a few £ It's a singing and dancing thing from Australia. My DD loves it. Good luck.

Ooh, will look it up on YouTube!

Get a bubble wand and you can sit tight blowing bubbles while she chases about popping them.

Sand box. Duplo. Videos.

Then my DH would take them out for exercise when he got home from work.

Mine went after a week after labour. I'm now at week 6 postpartum and feel normal. Breastfeeding has no impact on it.

A few weeks of less physical activity will be fine for your toddler. Imo.

I have a spare mattress on the floor so she could jump amd tumble on without needing me to do anything.

So far this morning she's 'painted' the brick shed wall (which she enjoyed!) and watched a load of Pocoyo. I am going to invest in bubbles and root out the megablocks this afternoon.