Ideas needed: juggling a toddler and a newborn

[Lotties9]

Hi everyone,

Appealing to you more experienced mums for ideas on how to keep my toddler entertained whilst also tending to my newborn baby (2months)

My 2.5 yr old tends to run away when out and about so going anywhere 'open' is out. At the moment, we go to enclosed playgrounds which are great but winter is coming.....

I just worry he's having too much tv, so only want to use it when I need to get something done. We do some baking which he enjoys and colouring but need some more imaginative activities in my repertoire and don't have the mental strength to be creative due to sleep deprivation. I reckon you ladies will have loads of good ideas.

Btw, why does no one tell you having two is mental???? Please tell me it gets easier lol

Hmm... do they do library singing/bounce n rhyme sessions near you? Or any cheap church playgroups?

Some other ideas: train track, building blocks, going to a big pets store like pets at home. But I struggle when winter comes too!

I had 16 months between my two. I used to sit the toddler beside me on the sofa while feeding the baby, and tell her a story, or sing nursery rhymes to her, so she didn’t get bored or resent the baby hogging my attention. I used to wrap the baby up warmly in the pram and take the toddler out for a walk whenever possible. The baby was born just before Christmas, so we had three months of winter to get through (in Scotland!). DH died before the baby’s first birthday, but he used to take the toddler sledging, while baby and I watched. While baby had her nap, I used to take the toddler out to make snowmen in the garden. Newborns spend enormous amounts of time asleep, so you can do loads of craft, finger painting, baking, simple jigsaws, simple card or board games like snap or picture lotto, with the toddler before the baby wakes up.

Do you go to playgroups?

It's really really hard, mine have a 22 month gap. It does get easier, every few months I've realised life is a bit more straightforward. Getting bag packed and hair washed the night before helps. Then get up and ready and everyone out as soon as you can to wear the toddler out. Soft play with baby in sling, walking around the park wearing wellies, collecting leaves, play dates, coffee and babycino, library rhyme time with both on your knee, library to look at their toy library and board books, active play sessions at leisure centre etc. Once the toddler has done something fun, walked a bit, played with other children and got tired, the rest of the day is easier and they are happy to go home and chill out. I also downloaded stick man/ gruffalo/ bear hunt/ room on the broom etc on prime and cuddled up when newborn was sleeping to watch with toddler. I got some new toys for toddler to encourage imagination play eg teaset/ blocks/ wooden figures/ animals/ duplo and I can now set toddler going on that and say encouraging things and suggest what might happen next while still holding baby. Also when baby can sit up they will sit for 5/ 10 mins cooing nonsense at each other and both be entertained. I can do so much with that time now!

It’s a nightmare isn’t it. I have 23 months between mine and it’s so hard. We go to playgroups a lot so that’d be my first suggestion. Park with baby in sling. We play in the garden a lot in the afternoons so I’m trying to make that as good as possible - sand pit, bubbles, slide, mud kitchen etc.
Any craft activities you can bear - I make a big wedge of play dough and we do painting and drawing a lot. The library is ok too. And to be honest we pop to our local supermarket quite a lot to kill half an hour with them strapped in a buggy. I hadn’t bothered with a double buggy at first (just used sling) but I now have a double which helps a lot.

I find it so so so hard. I didn’t realise it would be so bad but my youngest is a shit sleeper which can’t help!

Thanks for the great ideas.

We go to playgroups which are great and pass the morning. The problem with my toddler is he is a speedy little fella (mum reckons not many two year olds are as fast) and he thinks it's funny to run away. Even after several stern words and threats, he still does it so even a walk in park is out as I couldn't catch the little bugger if he decides to do a runner. I blame DH as his mum tells me he used to be exactly the same....

You've given me some grand ideas for stuff to do at home so thanks

I couldn't walk anywhere with my bolter toddler without using toddler reins. They're worth thinking about if it would give you all a lot more freedom as well.

He sounds like my toddler (2.4) and I also have a 9 month old. When ds2 came along there were a few groups I simply had to stop going to as ds1 would escape if I took my eyes off him for even 1 second.

We go to groups in an enclosed room where I can see him, park, library, children’s centre. Usually go out somewhere in the morning then the afternoon we usually just stay at home and play with his toys and watch CBeebies for a bit. I’m hoping he will stop running off so much soon so we will have more option!

I bought my toddler some 'magic sand' and she loves it. And it's not a messy as I thought it would be at all. That will keep her occupied for a good while as will play doh and the craft box.
My husband has been away the last three days and its the first time I've been fully home alone for so long with toddler and 7 week old. It absolutely pissed it down with rain so we couldn't go out at all. We built a den in the living room (blankets over the drying rack, fairy lights etc.) and she was so happy to sit in there with books, music, audio books and her dolls. I lay in there and fed baby too.

Minai, we have the same issue!

I feel like I've maybe left it too late for reins, I can only imagine the almighty tantrum he would have if I tried to restrain him...although maybe worth a try.

Den building is a great idea, I'll def be constructing one next time. Never heard of magic sand but will look into it.

My toddler is absolutely obsessed with vehicles.... generally if it's not vehicle related he's not interested so I'll have to think of a vehicle twist to these activities!

What about those reins that look like a little backpack? My DS used to love putting a car, snack, whatever in so it felt like his.

Magic sand is sand you can play with inside. I bought a bucket of it in Primark. You can add a vehicle twist by playing with mini trucks and diggers in the sand. We did this! Good luck :)

A colander and pipe cleaners to stick through the holes can be madly entertaining for a bit.
Daytime bath
Play doh
Waterproof mat / shower curtain on the floor, washing up bowl or large plastic bowl full of water and plastic jugs / cups

Sticker books were a life saver for me. The usbourne ones aren't cheap but I'd get 2hrs of occupied toddler out of each one so decided it was worth it! I'd sit on the sofa feeding, with toddler doing the book next to me. Almost feeling nostalgic!