Any tips for helping an all most 3 year old with stuff

[newmommy2006yay]

I am due next month and I'm finding it hard to help my toddler now she is turning 3 next month she still needs help like pretty much everything do you guys have any ideas help with an almost 9 month pregnancy there day is working most of the time :(

Is this the wrong place to post?

What do you mean? As in she doesn't want your help and wants to do it herself?

Basically she's still needs me for a lot of stuff but I'm unable to do it am I feel kind of guilty about it

Of course she does, she's really little. Why can't you do it? What sort of things? Getting dressed, playing, making food, getting in and out of the car? You'll have to do all of that plus the baby when they arrive.

What do you mean? You have to help your child regardless of being pregnant. What are you struggling with specifically? Often parents do too much for their children at this age so maybe have a look at where you can have simple systems for her to start being more independent: hanging her coat up, getting herself dressed and undressed, toileting, brushing her teeth herself (with you finishing it off), putting her plate in the sink after dinner etc

@Anothercake@Swizzbizz honestly honestly I probably do too much for her the only real issues I'm having it's lifting her so it's really hard to get around I'm sorry if you guys didn't understand I have dyslexia sorry

I didn’t lift my child at that age. He was far too heavy. Of course I’d scoop him up for a cuddle but there was no other need to lift or carry him. He got about from the age of 2 on a bike or scooter. Does she have a scooter?

Your posts make sense, they just aren't saying much. I agree you don't need to carry her, but you do need to brush her teeth - it's recommend to brush them until children are about seven and have the dexterity to do it themselves.

Actually I got her a scooter for her birthday :) swizzbizz

I always do that after I change her for bed I get her to sit up and I brush her teeth @Anothercake

You have to teach her OP. Getting dressed for example, you really have to teach them how to remove / put on each piece of clothing. They don’t get it overnight. But she is three, you will still have to do lots with her even with a baby, she doesn’t stop being a tiny kid because she’s the oldest.

I didn't really think of it that way @CaffeinatedMumthank you

What sorts of things are you needing to lift her for? I remember teaching two-year-old DD1 to get in and out of our raised bath using a little set of two steps from IKEA (I steadied her so she couldn't fall and helped a bit with getting up and over the side, but she took most of her weight). The same steps got her up to the basin for handwashing when the plastic single step sort were too small.

Car seat she may be able to climb in herself with a bit of practice, but if the sides are high, you may need to support or boost her in a bit, but that's still a lot less weight than fully lifting her.

We cosleep so I still need to lift her on to our bed if that makes sense @skkyelark

Do you have a set of little steps? https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/trogen-childrens-step-stool-yellow-80371520/ are the ones we've got, but I'm sure others exist, or depending on how much of a climber she is, she might be able to use a standard IKEA step stool at almost 3. I would try having her climb up the steps then hang onto the bedding and swing one leg up – at this point you can give her a bit of a boost if needed to get her all the way up, but it should still be much easier than lifting her.

She is a smaller 2-year-old size will she still be able to clime it? @skkyelark

hence why I said the parent finishes off the brushing. A 3 year old is capable of brushing on their own and their parent making sure it’s done thoroughly. It shouldn’t be done entirely by the parent by that age.

I think so - mine were both using it by about 18 months, and the steps on it are lower than standard stairs.

@skkyelark@Swizzbizz I really hope it doesn't seem like I'm lazy it's just this pregnancy is taking a lot of me sorry

If it's just lifting that's the problem then just find workarounds.

I'm heavily pregnant and my son was 3.5 years old when I first found out. Since then he has learnt to climb in and out of his carseat himself, how to get in and out the bath without me lifting him (little step stool, fill the bath once he's in), use a swing at the playground with a grown up seat rather than me lifting him into a toddler one, and we also changed him from a cot to a single bed so I could stop lifting him in and out. It's a great time for them to learn some independence!

Be careful about filling the bath with a toddler in it if you don’t have a mixer tap! With a hot tap running when a toddler is in the bath, it’s a serious hazzard.

My DDs had a bed at 2. They could get in it themselves. They could climb up into a car seat. You have to up your expectations! This DS will be at school this time next year!

@ThatMintMember@MeetMeOnTheCorner I I only horny have a few more weeks left of this before I have my second baby

@newmommy2006yay So get teaching him then! Sooner rather than later. How does any mum manage with 2? DC1 has to learn independence. At 3 they certainly can.

After which you'll be trying to help her climb up ladders to slides with a baby in a sling. So crack on and teach her now while you at least have your hands free.

Ideal timing then! Better she learns to get a little less help now than feeling like you can't do things for her because of the baby.