We had this thing called a "Johnny Jumper" that you put in the door way and they could jump and bounce around in it. My daughter loved it and would stay in it while I would cook dinner. It helps their leg muscles for sure and I never had a problem with it!
Good Luck! =)
I did the exersaucer. I loved it. I almost bought 2, one for our bathroom and one for the livingroom/kitchen. (Now, I am also a FT working mom and needed some solution in order to get ready in the morning and not run late... Ultimately, it comes down to Do what you have to!) Did the exersaucer delay walking?... uh, I don't think so. However, my two cents: my daughter was very verbal early on. Very verbal. She was also mobile (crawling right on schedule, then steps holding on to furniture). But she didn't really have confidence to walk until 15 months. Technically, that is not considered a "delay".
However, the doctors say this... Your child will either be an early talker or an early walker; but she will not develop both simultaneously. Its one, then the other. Because, it requires the same area of the brain to learn speech (and how to manipulate tongue, mouth and vocal chords) and to learn walking; the infant brain can not learn both skills at the same time.
I also had a bouncy jumper. She liked it but I always felt it appropriate to be nearby when she was in it, just in case... although there was never any accidents that occurred. The jumper was in the livingroom/kitchen when I was cooking. And we set-up a plastic gated 'play pen' that I could put her and some toys in when necessary... Play pen started more when she was 11-12 months. (Which I guess is why I never bought a second exersaucer...)
The exersaucer won't delay walking if you use it for 10 or 15 minutes at a time twice a day. They are fun for baby and she'll be busy while you are. I also carried my boys in a backpack around the house until they weren't interested in that anymore. The back pack is great because she gets your view of the world and you can talk while you are doing your thing and she'll feel so close and happy to be with you!
Exersaucers are AWESOME!!! My twins loved theirs and so did I. They were walking at their first bday party. So I don't believe their walking was delayed. Also a playpen might be an option for you. Or do that stuff during nap time or after bedtime...
I put my baby (now 15mo) in an exersaucer, bounce chair, and swing when I needed free hands. Give them a change of scene so they do not get too board. This didn't slow my son he was walking at 11 months. It will also strengthen their legs to get ready for walking. If nothing else you can put her in her bed where she is safe. But the exersaucer she can watch you cook which she will like to do.
My daugter had a full, almost body cast taken off at 7 months so she didn't move her legs at all. So she began at 7 months learning to move her legs. With her being chubby she has managed to crawl and begin to pull herself up by early 10 months.So I don't think I would believe the saucer theory.
I dragged her around with me on my hip while I did a lot of stuff one handed.Jumping baby gates going room to room. Helps lose weight if you need to. Unloading dishwasher and putting stuff away. Clothes from washer to dryer to laundry baskets. You can talk to baby the whole time telling what you are doing and where the stuff goes. Baby will listen.
I definetly have a playpin so I can toss her in to run to the bathroom or whatever.
the exersaucer is Great. we have used one sice like 5 months with our boy, no signs of prolonging walking. ( i have never heard that) or you can try a playpen..works great too.
Hi Lori,
I used to put my son in his pack-n-play...(playpen) with some of his favorite toys. He could walk aroung the sides and we could play peek-a-boo. Bring it in whatever room your going to be in so she still knows your there and can see you. Good Luck.
I think you're thinking of walkers, which delay walking. Exersaucers are fine and a great solution. Pack N Plays are good when they can sit and stand as well. A Jumperoo also worked well for my son.
One tip - start babyproofing. You're going to have to do it eventually, the sooner you do it, the easier your life will be. My house is 100% kid safe. I left my 6 mo old on his own several times while I showered and he was crawling - there was nothing for him to get into. He's now 1 and has free range of the house. All the dangerous places (stairs) are gated off, rooms with dangerous items stay closed. It's nice to have him wake up, put him on the floor and just him explore!
Stacy
We had a play yard which is a series of interlocking gates that makes a circle. This was great for when I needed to throw a load of laundry in, cook supper, talk on the phone run to the restroom etc. It collapses easy too so you can take it with you places and you can make it bigger or smaller depending on your needs. We also used it to surround the Christmas tree to prevent little hands from grabbing and toppling the tree!
I wouldn't leave baby in the play yard out of ear shot, such as if you were in the shower. The exersaucer may be good for that because you can bring it in the bathroom, but the play yard is great for other situations.
We loved our exersaucer. Both boys loved it, too. It's o.k. for them to be in it. I mean, it's only really 15 minutes or so at a time. Otherwise, think about getting a gate to "cordon" off an area for her to play in. That way she won't get too far away.
Hi Lori,
I had exersaucers for my twins and they both walked at 12 months. There was no issue at all with delays. I had them play in their exersaucer or in the pack and play. You can put her favorite toys in there and let her play. Hope that helps.
Our breakfast area is basically a part of our kitchen. We have a huge baby gate that we got at Lowes (it also makes a circle) and we gated off the breakfast area from the living room. Then I put up another gate so the kitchen is blocked off. The breakfast area is no longer a breakfast area--it is my daughter's play area. 100% childproof with all of her toys. Perfect! The big gate was high, like $150 bucks, but without it, I wouldn't have that area for her! Totally worth it!
I used an exersaucer with my baby girl and she started walking at 11 months. i wouldn't worry about it unless you leave her in it all of the time. I used to let me baby crawl around in the bathroom. i always keep toys in there for while I take a shower. As far as chores, sometimes I would put her in the high chair while I cooked. I would give her toys to play with. I hope this helps. Enjoy that baby girl!
Simply put: Place her in a playpen. Its what i did with my daugter when i had to do things. place toys in the pen with her or put some baby music on for her to listen to. I also put her into a walker and she was walking by 10 months, and running by 12 months.
You could give her the bottom drawer in the kitchen for small toys and Tupperware, in addition to a gate. That should help to keep her occupied!
I would highly recommed the Fisher-Price Jumperoo. It stays is place unlike an exersaucer. My son loved his.
Hi Lori!
We have two options that we use with our 9 month old. If we are downstairs in the kitchen we put her in travel crib with some toys. This keeps her entertained for at least 2 hours or more...which is enough time to cook dinner and eat too. When we are upstairs we use the fisher price jumper. It allows them to work on building their leg muscles and fine motor skills with their hands. This toy is really great!
Good Luck!
My husband is on his way to purchase a Rainforest Jumparoo we found on Craigslist…and the tupperware cabinet sounds great and the play pen for showers…all these wonderful ideas. Thank you!