Getting anything done

[123beean]

Do people's 18 month olds let them get anything done in the house? My ds screams at me if I try and do anything. Every time I go into the kitchen and shut the stair gate he screams, if I run upstairs he screams basically if I do anything that doesn't 100% involve him he screams and whinges.

Even if I set up activities for him to do, makes no difference. Is this normal behaviour?! Do other people's 18mo let them get anything done?

My DS was exactly like this. I had some success with getting him to 'help" load / unload washing machine for example but many jobs (eg washing up and cooking) had to wait until he was asleep...! Did a lot of prepping meals in advance and freezing them to zap in the microwave for lunch etx

Yeah,
Gave up in the end and wizzed round in nap time.

Yep, I just had to give in and accept her 'help', even if it did take me 745 times longer to get anything done!

Oh no, was hoping for everyone to say it was just mine! Then maybe I could have fixed it 😂 guess I'll just be riding it out then! What age does it get better?! 😅

It's just getting better now he's turned 2... And of course dropped his nap doh!!

2 things got so much easier

Mine liked to be involved in everything at that age so I would carry them on my back to get things done. Then I had my hands free but didn’t have to leave them and no risk of them doing something stupid when my back was turned.Two of them were also total tele addicts and would be mesmerised so could use that but obvs didn’t like to for very long.

DS is 20 months and there are a few tasks he can ‘help’ with, which makes things slower but at least he isn’t cross. The majority of things though are done during naps or in the evening.

@PiesNotGuys that's such a good idea carrying them on your back! What an easy way of them not screaming 😂 unfortunately dd was just weighed at an appointment and he is very stocky, very slim but built very widely and is the average weight of a 2.5 year old 😅 I'd definitely struggle bending down and back up with him on me constantly! My wrist is already so painful, I basically haven't put him down for 18 months (always been very needy)

I do most things in the evening or during his nap, but he has a lot of food allergies so it makes meal prep difficult. He is dairy, wheat and fructose (sugar) free! So most things need to be made fresh there and then 😅

Mine used to every so often, but i would just leave her 🤷🏼‍♀️ stuff has to get done and normally they manage to distract themselves

Just accept their ‘help’. If nothing else you’ll get quite fit being on your feet all day to tidy up after them ‘helping’ to tidy up (I speak from experience).

DD1 is 3 and is now very capable of entertaining herself, however as soon as the baby is napping and I try to clean the bathroom etc, she now comes upstairs and puts on various dance shows that I have to watch and comment upon…

Lots of 'helping' here as well – helping at this age is defined as not slowing you down so much you're going backwards. I found there was actually a fair bit DD could 'help' with – loading and unloading washing (folding is tricker, but was often manageable if she got all the socks), sweeping, hoovering, dusting, unloading shopping. I figured anything I got done with her in tow was one thing I didn't have to do when she was sleeping.