A walker for chore time. She can roam around some, follow you some, but not get into too much trouble. A playpin with good toys for shower time (with a video when you want to make sure you get a good shower). Just don't over use either one of them. If you use them habitually, but not abused, they will work wonders. I required all my kids to stay in the playpin, and they will without crying if they know they have no choice and that Mom will not make them stay there too long (15-30 minutes). I also didn't pick them up out of the playpin when they were crying; that enforces the no crying aspect of it. I also used a gate on the bedroom door at times too.
My son had a walker and a exersaucer. The one had a flooring and stayed in place. He walked at 13 months. It seemed like he held onto things walking for a very long time. He still hates falling down. Once our son started crawling we barricaded the living room. My husband made a wooden thing that wouldnt fall and we covered it with a blanket so if my son did crawl on the side of it he wouldnt hurt himself. Now he has room to crawl and walk all over the house. When I need to take a shower I usually wait for his nap or just put him in his crib with some toys. He does cry but eventually plays with his toys. Its hard to grasp they will be fine for a quick shower and hair dry. I turn the baby monitor way up, but dont actually look at him because this would only frustriate him. Good luck.
use a playpen, exersaucer, bouncy chair, or carry her in a bjorn
Whatever happened to the good old fashioned playpen? You could put baby in with toys and mobiles and know exactly where he/she was while you dealt with everything else. My 3 all were great in there for good stretches. Start early and give her lots of entertainment and stay in the same room with you.
You can either do the house work while the little one is napping, or let her follow you around or baby proof the living room & invest in babygates. That is what the best, that way she can crawl around & play while you slip into the other room for a few seconds. Give her interesting toys & things to occupy her with while you step out to the potty or laundry room.
My son loved the exersaucer! If he wasn't in it, he would get upset until we would put him in it. When we decided to start limiting his time there for him to explore other things, he figured out how to stand up or even sit on the outside of it to play! I had also heard about it delaying walking, but I've learned to take everything in stride. How many times have they told us eggs are awful for us, then they're good, and back to bad again?? Everyone has an extreme bad situation for everything in life.
My son started walking at about 8 or 9 months. We thought he would skip crawling all together, which of course is bad too depending on who you listen to (though not according to our pedi). Unfortunately he had a fall that scared him pretty good and he decided he wouldn't try that again for a while. He was walking completely on his own by 12 mos.
Other ideas if you don't want to use the exersaucer- put her in a playpen with some toys or in a swing (though my big boy was way too big by 4 mos!).
Hi Lori, Looks like you've gotten some good advice. I just wanted to add that I allowed both my boys to use an excersaucer (NOT a walker) and they walked quite early at 9 and 10 months. I guess the important thing is to be sure baby has plenty of time out of the excersaucer...tho I'm sure it varies for each child. Anyway, good luck...this is a dilemma until they are about 21/2 and not getting into everything constantly. I think the perfect solution is involving her in your chores but that takes so much patience...I was never very good at that. :o\
My son and daughter both loved the exersaucer. They are fine for short periods of time (not hours at a time). My daughter walked at 11 months and my son started walking at 9 months and both played in that exersaucer every day. As long as you don't keep them restrained in any kind of toy or swing for long periods of time and allow them time to explore on the floor, then you have nothing to worry about. My son also learned how to play around the outside of it when he wasn't sitting in it, so it can be a good tool once they are pulling up too. Good luck! My son is all over the place now walking everywhere and he's only 10 months old. I can't keep him in anything now or he just screams, so I just have to try to keep an eye on him while I get stuff done. His big sister helps though by telling me when he is touching something he shouldn't....although I'm sure I'll be telling her not to tattle soon enough...hahaha.
I use this lil' play zone
I put a foam mat on the floor and put a lot of toys.
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=6683&cmSource=CrossSell&relatedProductId=6193
(you can find cheaper foam mats but without letters or numbers at Sams Club)
I also use the exersaucer, my baby girl loves it and it won't delay walking. I understand that is the walker what is not good. (which is as dangerous as having your baby crawling around by herself)
Good luck!
Michelle
My exersaucer was a godsend. We started putting our son in one when he was 2 months old just so he could sit up sometimes. It definitely didn't hinder his walking. He started when he was nine months and is now 14 months old and running. He loved his exersaucer. Also we purchased a couple of baby gates, baby proofed the living room and let him have free run. It surely helps when needing to do chores and run to the restroom. I hope this helps even a little.
Have you tried a "pen" - some of them can be constructed to give kids a lot of room to roam!
I Used a pen. I got it from Toys R Us and it was about $100. It was white and made of a heavy plastic and the corners were all curved for safety. It makes about a 10x10 but you can make it smaller or purchase extenders to make it bigger. It worked out great expecially when cleaning or cooking. I would put him in it and play music or cartoons for him while he played with his toys. He even had a riding scooter toy in there.
My daughter loved her "saucer" and started walking at nine months! She is now 11 and has stopped moving since!
I used a playpen... that way you know she is safe in her little area and she can be in there with some toys to keep here entertained. As she gets older, she can stand and still be safe in the playpen.
If you live in the San Antonio area, I have one that I'm selling for $65. It's a 3-in-1. It can also be used as a crib, bassinet for taking naps. It's portable and comes in a carrying bag. Contact me if you are interested or would like more infotmation.
Wow, you have lots of advice already, I didn't read them all but just wanted to say that my oldest (now 12) played in an Exersaucer from the time she was 5 months old. She absolutely loved it and walked at 12 months so it didn't seem to affect or delay her walking at all. Unfortunately my next two children didn't care for the exersaucer so rarely played in it (and actually walked later than my first). So I don't know what the statistics say, but the exersaucer did work for one of my children and didn't cause her any harm. It was a lifesaver for me.
All my kids used exersaucers and they started walking when they were 8 and 9 months old. I don't really think they delay walking at all. And so what if they do, the babies seem to really enjoy the freedom and independence they get from being able to be on their own for the first time.
My daughter was fully crawling by 6 months and she spent a lot of time in the exersaucer. Do not believe that myth.
But since she will be mobile she might not want to be in there for long periods of time. When my daughter started crawling, my husband and I purchased gates. We gated off our den. It was the safest place in the house and she could not get into any danger there.
For a long time, this was the only place she was really allowed to play especially unsupervised. Now, that she is walking, she is still only allowed to be in this area while we are trying to cook or clean. When we are not doing one or the other and we are watching her, she is allowed to walk back and forth from the den and the kitchen.
Good Morning Lori!,
I always put my baby in the walker or his activity bouncer When he was younger. Now that he is 18 months old, I put up a baby gate (or 2) in a room close to where I am, or I put the baby monitor in with him if im upstairs & he is downstairs, so I can hear him while im cleaning. I dont feel the excersaucers delay walking, My actiivty bounce is simular to that, but they can exersice thier legs in it because it has adjustable straps to adjust to thier height & the can bounce in itYou could also use a baby swing, but the walker & bouncer allows movement. I am getting ready to sell his walker (Disney Lights & Sounds) it still has the box & looks brand new & his activity jumper which also has lights & sounds & the seat spins around so they can play with all the little "toys" around it....like new, incase your looking purchase one. Im not trying to advertise, just letting you know incase your looking for either in excellent shape. Im in the Pasadena area, you can email me privately if you'd like me to email you pictures of them.
Lori the excersaucer was my favorite piece of "furniture" (LOL) for several months! My daughter loved it up until she was about 9 mos then wanted no part in it because she knew it meant mommy was going to walk away for a few minutes. However, she is now 10 months and started walking yesterday-it did not delay her walking at all! Now, we have a baby gate, but when I cook dinner or do kitchen stuff, usually I just let her play in the kitchen floor with tupperware and that works! But mostly I just put her in her high chair in the kitchen with me with toys or a snack! When I do laundry or vaccuum or mop she wants to be with me, so i just stick her in my sling and she does it right along with me! The sling I have is the BEST! It holds babies up to 35lbs and can be used in tons of different styles for different weights and ages-here is the link-they have lots of different fabrics other than what is listed-send them an email if you are interested- www.sissysdesigns.com
I put my son in his room, left the door open, and put a baby gate cross the doorway. I could hear him playing in there and see him as I walked about the house doing chores. It was a safe place that he could be while I was in another room doing laundry or making dinner and needed him out from under my feet. I also kept the baby moniter clipped to my waist so I could hear him.