Occupying toddler when you need to do something?

[Lavender14]

I'm a lone parent and ds (2) is with me all the time. Most of the time I just involve him in whatever I'm doing or set him up with an activity in the same room I'm in so I always have eyes on him but today I had to do a few things in the garden to set up for us spending time out there in the nice weather but I couldn't have him with me while I got the stuff out of the garage. I put him in his cot where I knew he was safely contained with a toy, explained what I was doing and left him for 5 minutes while I grabbed what I needed. Then ran in and out to check on him while I set things up and he was happy enough. But it did make me wonder what do others do when they're in this kind of situation?

I'm trying to reduce his screen time as he gets a lot when I'm at work and he's with my parents. Just conscious that he's also getting to an age where he could escape the cot if he really decided to (thankfully he's shown no interest in that yet!) So want to have some other ideas in my pocket! Thanks in advance!

Have him in a sling on your back? Or do it while he's in bed in the evenings.

Normally I leave anything that can wait until he's in bed and asleep but sometimes there's just the odd thing like today that catches me out. He's only 2 but the size of a 4 yo height and weight so I just can't wear him the way I used to - that was so handy being able to do that!

It won't be too long until you'll be able to either just leave him wherever he is playing with toys, or just let him follow you and warn him away from anything dangerous. Certainly by next year I think you'll be fine with that. For now the cot sounds like it works or you might be able to strap him into a buggy if he wants to watch you?

At 2 I wouldn’t have thought anything of having him with me while I did those things. What would be the issue in having him around while you’re setting up garden toys?

If I need to leave DD I strap her into the buggy, plonk a book in her hands and let her watch me. I do this when I have a shower or put bleach in the bathroom for example. Not ideal, but needs must.

She had to carry things out from garage and into the garden. Depending on the set up it could be tricky. A lot of 2 year olds do not yet reliably follow instructions to not run into the road, stay in the garden and don't come out of the gate etc. I would have the same issue with my 2 year old, she is a bolter and I'd have to strap her in the pushchair in the garden or similar while doing something like this where both hands are full.

Buy a play pen you can put in the garden or in any room of the house?

I was going to suggest this. My DF used a travel cot.

I suppose if the current set up is working OP should just stick with that, but it might be easier at 2 to just get him to “help”. Kids tend to be more biddable if they have a little task to do and feel like they’re helping you. I’d rather have mine with me than in a cot inside the house where he soon might climb out. 2 is the age where you really need to start teaching them how to come along and be involved with what you’re doing.

I have a nearly 3 year old so he’s probably only a bit older than your little one. At that age, I’d have sent him up the garden to his playhouse and set him up with some toys, away from where I was working but close enough I could see him, and the playhouse was all safe for him. A blanket and toys on the grass would work too. Then once the heavy lifting bits were out the way I’d have found something he could “help” with - I remember last year he “helped” me plant the bedding plants in the pots and then loved watering them afterwards! Alternatively, a playpen outside. I don’t think we were consistently using ours at age 2 anymore, but I definitely would have pulled it out for something like that. We had the the Joie Cheer pen, so pops up and down like a travel cot but was bigger space wise, and can double as a travel cot too.

Duplo bricks/larger sized Lego.

Yes I absolutely agree with what you are saying, and I think once all the stuff she needed was out of her garage and in the garden she did go and get him to join her. It is that few minutes where you can't leave them to it unsupervised where they are but can't have them with you as you need both hands to carry what you need. A lot of 2 year olds won't follow instructions to stay by your side and away from hazards etc. My DD1 would have just stuck to my side and do everything I asked her to but DD2 absolutely not- she would run into the road or similar.

The issue with leaving him was that our garden isn't secure and I was setting up some water-based activities and wouldn't have wanted to leave him unattended/ not be able to watch him closely with the water while I went back and forth until I was ready for him to actually be in it. Our garage is rammed and in need of a clear out so I didn't want anything falling on him while my hands were full.

99% of the time he's my shadow and I involve him in whatever I'm doing and he loves to help so it's been quite a while since I've needed to put him in the cot to do something and I was just more aware of his age and ability to climb which is why I wanted to see what others do. Thanks for all the great suggestions so far!

Back carrying is fine for bigger and older ones, I've carried five year olds.

Yes but presumably not while you're accessing a garage full of hazards and/or carrying heavy things?

I back carry my heavy 3.5yo but I wouldn't want to do it while doing physical work. It IS physical work!

Paint brush - bucket of water - get them to ‘paint’ the fence / paving with it. Chalk?