Hello. I have a baby girl who is about to start crawling (wow!) and I am wondering what other moms do with their infants when you have to start dinner, move the laundry, take a shower, etc. I hear those exersaucers delay walking. Are there other choices or are those exersaucers a good idea? What do you suggest? Advice, please!
I used an exersaucer with all four of my kids while they were at that stage and it was a LIFESAVER and they all walk just fine. They all started walking at about 11-12 months.
They didn't stay in there ALL the time -- just when I needed to get something done for a few minutes.
You can also get one of those big gates that you can wrap around one area of the room -- put some of their toys inside the gate -- and maybe they would be happy for a while.
I had lots of experience with the whole crawling/walking phase... Whew!! LOL It's a lot of fun, but can be exhausting at the same time. I love the exersaucers and walkers (not around stairs, of course).
Baby prooof life threatening problems, stairs, cords, plugs, poisons, and furniture that she could pull down on herself. Let her rome and teach her tthe word no early and often. In the kitchen, she had a cabinet that she could play in (pots and pans and plastic cups and wooden spoons and other fun things with tactile qualities and that make great noises) while I cooked.
Baby wearing is another great option that lets her see your world evey now and then and thus demystify it.
If I couldn't do it with her there, I would do it while she slept.
They learn a lot more this way than when they are set in and exeraaucer or play pin. This is a very exciting time for both of you. Have fun.
Exersaucers are a LIFESAVER!!!! They only delay walking if you leave your child in there ALL the time. I use it for when I'm cooking, or taking a quick shower. I also have a special cabinet, pull of plastic cups and toys that the baby can get into while I'm in the kitchen. As far as cleaning, I do that while's she's napping.
I always used a walker with my babies...just make sure they can't grab anything that can fall on them or hurt them or anything. I also used a playpen, but my 2nd daughter was able to climb out of that at 10 mo. old LOL Both my girls loved their swing as well (half the time they fell asleep in it!). Just know that it's ok if you have to be out of sight for 5 min. and she cries, it won't hurt her and when you finish what you need to do, you can pick her up and she will start to learn that just because you are out of sight doesn't mean you are gone! You can also try talking to her from the other room or singing or something so she knows you're there.
All the suggestions are great so far, also add a baby bouncer that they sit in. The one we had attached to the doorway. I would also put my daughter in her high chair and roll the chair into the kitchen(it had wheels on it) and she could play with toys on the tray while I did kitchen stuff.
I also would put her on my back in a carrier and she could look over my shoulder while I did some chores. I even raked and bagged leaves that fall. Once she was over 20 lbs. I couldn't do this anymore, but we would put a hat on her and she could be outside with my husband working around the yard.. Watering and planting. Working on the car.
She loved it and the other dads on the block started doing the same thing.
When I would have to make dinner or take a shower I would put my son in an exersaucer and put in a baby Einstein video. he loved them and was captivated. He still loves them. He walked at twelve months, has never had any problems. We play together most of the day there is nothing wrong with putting a video in for 20 minutes, they were a godsend.
Am I so stupid that I wasnt told about these "exersaucers"? What is that? Stupid me, I just put my kid on the floor....funny, she walked at 9 months....maybe she just wanted off the floor!!!
Seriously, my daughter is two and I never "put" her anywhere, except if I happened to miss a shower while husband was home, I would put her in her highchair outside my bathroom...talk about a quick shower!!!
She pretty much played at my feet during dishes, laundry, etc.
I always just made sure that my home was "baby-proofed" and I always had an eye on her. Perhaps my ignorance is why she doesnt depend on my every wink during the day now, at two years of age. She is a very non-clingy two year old.
Margaret :)
i am on my second daughter who is now 5 months old as well. when i need to do household obligations i try everything, the bouncer, the floor, the walker, the high chair, a pillow barricade on the overstuffed arm chair, tummy time on a blanket, or lately, in her play yard. whatever means safety and silence for you is what you should do.
protect your baby and also your sanity, so go for something you both can agree on, there is just about a thousand things you don't really ''need'' but may help with your peace of mind.
Hi Lori, the best thing EVER created for babies is a jumperoo. I received one (Fisher Price- Rainforest Jumperoo) for my little one and I put him in it at around 3 months. It has adjustable heights on it for when they grow, but even at the lowest setting he couldn't reach the floor so we put a pillow underneath for about 3 weeks until he could reach the floor. That thing saved me until he was a little over 1 yrs.old! I was able to cook, clean, do his bottles, etc. He absolutely LOVED it! A jumping, laughing maniac is what I called him :) There are so many colorful gadgets that help promote their skills too. I think all that jumping really made his legs strong- he started to crawl at 5 months perfectly and walked at 9 months. I have had 4 clients/friends that had babies and each one of them received a Jumperoo and thank me all the time, telling me how it is the best thing ever! After my son was too big for it, I just kept a foldable playpen in the kitchen with a bunch of toys to keep him occupied. Good luck to you & enjoy every minute of your little one!
One of those Evenflo bouncer seats.
When my son started crawling, I went to Toys R US and they have this plastic fensing and I made a play pin as big as my living room and added a play house and he used it untill he started walking and still used it after that as a play room. Everyone made fun of me and said he looked like a puppy in a cage but you know what? He was safe when I needed him to be safe and never worried about him getting into something he wasn't supose to. I put all his toys and he was content and I wouud get in with him and he also took his naps in there. My mother in law also got one as well.
We use the Jumperoo and the walker!!! The best things!! We also have aa jumper the goes in the doorway for my shower time and when I'm working out.
Before my girls started walking, I'd put them in the exersaucer for a quick shower, unload the dishwasher, prep dinner, etc. After they started walking, I put them in the pack-n-play (play yard) when I needed a couple minutes use of both hands :) Good luck!
Well once they go mobile girl, it is never the same! Sometimes(like now!) my house is just dirty. Keeping up with a toddler when my hubby is gone for about twelve hours a day is a big job all in itself! However I agree with the other moms that during the crawling months, any form of "lock down" is just fine for a little while. My son just loved this rain forest bouncy seat and I think it might of actually helped him develop his little leg muscles. But I have such an active boy that he wouldn't say in it for long anyway, so your little one will probably tell you when she has had enough:) As far as showering, I usually just shower before he gets up, after he is down for bed or during nap time, I used to put him in his exersaucer and grab a bath, but now we are well into todderldum so those days are gone:) Best wishes and get ready, it's on when they get moving!!
Gates-babyproof- close doors to keep them in the room with you. We used a professional baby proofer for the first one and that was well worth the $200 dollars (16 years ago- don't know what they charge now). They put locks on all the dangerous cabinets, plugged up all the electrical outlets,and told me some things that I would not have thought about. Also left one cabinet open that had the plastic ware and a drawer w/ cookie sheets. All 3 of my kids LOVED playing in those while I cooked. (I had a cabinets like those- but by the sink- the babyproofer wisely told me to move it across the kitchen- out of harm's way - duh!) I also used bouncy seats, walkers (we were in a one story house)and sometimes just let them roam. That's why you babyproof. You just learn if it is quiet then they are into something they shouldn't be. My middle one rolled places at 4months and one day- she was completely mobile once she figured out how to roll front-back-front. I put her down in the living room 4 months after she was born and looked up to find her in the kitchen. She never stopped- walked at 8months, ran at 8 months and 1 week. NOTHING contained her- and she had been sitting in her walker so I don't believe it delayed anything!!! Just have her in the room with you- you will quickly realize it is not that big a deal. Give her a toy or two- she'll entertain herself.
Mine just followed me around. For the kitchen, I used a superyard since it can be configured any number of ways.
Exersaucers are God's both of my children walked at 9 mths. sounds like your little one may be on the same track...trust me let the baby stand and play, it did not delay either of my children's walking!
Around that time, I babyproofed my daughter's room REALLY REALLY well, and put a gate on it. I could leave her in there with some interesting toys for a few minutes at a time to do quick chores. I would peek in every couple of minutes t make sure she was ok. It helped her with independance. I also gated the kitchen off so I could keep her on the floor in there with me while I did dishes, made dinner, etc. I put her inn the pack and play in the bathroom with me while I showered. It was my intention to not use any of those walker devices, as I had also read that floor time is best, and that children shouldn't be aided into positions that they are not yet able to get into themselves. Once I set up my house for it, it was pretty easy. Good luck!
My children hung out in an exersaucer or in a high chair with finger foods while I was showering. It was never a super long shower, of course. I have not heard of an exersaucer delaying walking, but I am guessing that is extreme cases where a child was in an exersaucer for long periods of time. I don't think 15 minutes while you are showering would cause a delay in motor skills.
When I was in the kitchen cooking, my children were playing in the next room with toys on the floor or playing with plastics (Tupperware) in the kitchen. I made sure my house was completely baby proofed with cabinet locks, toilet lid locks, door knob covers, outlet plugs, etc.
When I did laundry, the kids often played at my feet. Sometimes I gave them the clean socks to play with while I was folding the other clothes. My kids didn't do much chewing on non-food items, though. LOL.