How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

Right now I am basically forcing Tyler to stay in the exercauser every morning for about 20 minutes while Jack eats his breakfast (Otherwise Tyler goes after it)

He hates it, and I know I have to retire it. How can I contain him for those few minutes every day? I have a pack and play down here - filled with toys, but he hates that too. Actually, he hates being confined at all and just wants to run around the house.

I'm thinking I should just get rid of the exercauser and move the PNP into it's spot.

What do you do when you need to get stuff done?

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

I put James in the PNP with some of his favorite toys. It can buy me up to a half-hour if he doesn't see me. One he sees me, it's over.

I also stick him in the high chair with some snacks (usually cut up fruit or veggies) and he'll stay there for any amount of time.

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

I would always put Luca in his high chair with some snacks so I could wash dishes, etc... now that he's older I give him a coloring book and crayons. I sometimes put him in the PNP but like Vanessa said, if he saw me, it was all over

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

I would just let ds roam. 90% of the time he was up my butt anyway. It was easier then listening to the screams from the crib. That was worse then him following me. Now i hand him a swiffer and let him dust while i do big stuff. Keeps him busy and out from under me.

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

i just got the superyard gate. I got 2 of them (3 panels each) and put them together. so now Ian has a 6'x6' play area in the den. theres a padded mat underneath and all his toys. sometimes he cries if hes in there alone, but hes getting used to it.

he likes to pull up the mat:



"I am He-Man"!!

Message edited 10/5/2010 8:40:35 AM.

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

I would let him roam or can you feed him breakfast too?

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

Yes - the second he sees me he starts screaming. I will actually duck down behind my couch if I need to get something

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

I never contain him, but we did gate off the kitchen. He cries and stands at the gate sometimes, but maybe you could gate the kitchen and have Jack stand in there? Or hand Tyler some pretzels or something while Jack eats?

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

I'll have him in a PNP with one of his favorite dvds playing. I have to say my little guy can watch a whole Disney movie from start to finish. Of course fill it up with some toys he hasn't seen in awhile. I also have a PNP in another room for change of scenery (lol).

I would also put him in his Chicco travel seat that works great with my wood kitchen table. I don't recommend it if you have a glass table. Give hime a couple of new kitchen utensils and cheerios he's good to go.

Chicco Seat

In his own crib with a bottle and some toys but this will only last me about 20 minutes. What I do a lot of times also and my husband hates this but I rearrange the furniture so that he's able to move around freely but can't wander off. He LOVES climbing the fire place and I have glass end tables, it's just a nightmare and I have to do this. This is not going to last though now that he can climb couches.

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

If I need to contain him while washing up in the morning, I put him in a PNP set up in the bedroom. If I need to contain him in the kitchen area, I put him in his high chair with snacks. In the den I have an enclosure. The living room and dining room are pretty much baby proofed and have french doors so I can watch him from outside of them. Sometimes he really protests and it's not fun He does not like to be contained.

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

i let ds roam. we had the superyard but that only worked for a couple of months until he figured he can use it as a walker and push it throughout the whole house.

I usually wake up early to do things around the house or wait for him to take his morning nap to do a few more things.

but thats all easier bc i only have 1

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

we have the playard also but my son figured out how to get out. He pulls himself up on it and with his body weight it will sway downard and he'll slither down from it.

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

I let Mason roam around. Usually I put on the TV for him for a bit to distract him so he doesn't get into trouble. He's usually pretty good and watches TV, plays with toys or follows me around

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

The pack 'n play and the even better than that...the superyard gate! She loves it, gives her room to crawl around but still contains her while I need to get stuff done. Sure it takes up most of my LR, but whatever works..

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

at that age, there was no containing my dd. i just babyproofed everything and would try to limit her to one or two rooms. her fave dvd would also work.

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

High chair with snacks or PNP with fave toys in front of TV.

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

Sean is usually content is his highchair -
Before he started climbing on the freakin' couches I could leave him alone in front of the TV while I took a shower ..........those days are gone.

It's either the highchair or his crib -

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

I was lucky, I guess. Both girls LOVED the pack and play. It was my saving grace and they both used it until the could climb out
We had the Graco bugs play yard and it is bigger and roomier to play in. I did find that they played longer in it if I was not in the same room.

Message edited 10/5/2010 9:26:58 AM.

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

I have the playpen chrisdee posted. That, some toys and a barney video buy me a little time. Otherwise I use that and the ottoman in my family room to contain him (but I am close by)

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?

Re: How do you contain your 1yr old - 15 mnth old?