What to do with 11 mo old while getting things done?

[Hopeeee]

I have a hard time getting things done with my 11 month old. Nothing keeps him entertained, which I fully understand. He wants to be exploring and learning how to walk.

I feel guilty putting him in the high chair, crib or walker while I attempt to do chores because he really doesn't like it. I know it keeps him safe but it makes me feel like a bad mommy that I'm not crawling around, chasing him and playing with him 24/7 like he wants me to do.

what do you do?

 

[noon_child]

If he's happy in those places then don't feel bad (unless it's for hours obviously) as you'll have plenty of time later to be crawling around with him when he's at an age where you CANT put him in a chair or crib and then nothing really will get done!

You could give him a pan and spoon to bash in the high chair maybe, or some soft books.

I suppose it is all about getting a balance and what you view your job as while being at home with LO (is housework a major part of it, or are you mainly taking care of him while just banging on the odd bit of washing here and there and tidying up after yourself.).

My LO quite liked helping at that age too. I'd sit her in the laundry basket and shed pull all the dry laundry out of the tumble dryer all over herself for example. Tiny jobs used to take hours though!

 

[DaisyDreamer]

Does it help if he can see you while you do chores? Z is ok for about 5 minutes then he starts moaning to be rolled over or picked up. He just likes to be moving around and can't quite get there yet

But I've noticed if he sees me and hears me talking in the kitchen and I keep him moved around he is much more accommodating for me to get some chores done. So he will be in his cradle while I do dishes, then I put him on the floor on his tummy when I'm fixing lunch, then I put him in a boppy in the bedroom while I fold laundry etc

Sometimes though I have to catch him on a nap or wear him as I do chores. Would it be feasible to break the duties up over a few days?

 

[JumpingIn]

We ditched anything that kept Zach contained in a small space after about 10 months. His high chair we kept, but it's only used at his set meal times and he's straight out after. Mobile babies need room.

I've struggled a lot with your issue and I found that as soon as he was mobile it got a lot easier. Does your baby crawl or cruise? If so, ensure the room you keep him in while you are busy (a baby safe one, obviously) has plenty of cruise-height toys or surfaces. Our son cruises around the sofa, the coffee table, his toybox and the TV stand and these have purposely been positioned so he can make his way around the room.

Rotate your toys. Don't always make it real toys either, but use household objects, pots and pans, keys, rice in bottles, shredded paper...Anything baby safe and potentially exciting. Mix it up every day.

Depending on what you are doing, another option is to let baby "help" with your chores. Obviously this wont last very long, but it does give me a few extra seconds. Today for example I let him play with the pegs and the peg basket while I folded some laundry. I sometimes let him play with the safe cutlery while I unload the dishwasher, and his favourite is pushing the vacuum on his knees! I humour it, let him do that for a minute, then vacuum for a minute, then let him at it again, and so on. It stretches chores out but it avoids that horrendous baby whining while you're trying to focus situation.

Don't be afraid of leaving baby while you're busy. Install a playpen or baby gates if you have to. Cover corners with foam edging and all that stuff and then just let go...You've done all you can and baby will be safe for 10 minutes while you clean or even grab a coffee!

I personally also use the TV occasionally. People have different opinions on this, but up to half an hour a day gets the OK in this house and saves my sanity.

I also find changing baby's location can help. If he's been in one room for more than an hour, mix it up. Take baby outside or upstairs with you while you do a job there.

Oh, and work chores around baby, not vice versa. Today I watered the garden and put out washing when Zach made it clear he wanted to play outside. I loaded the dishwasher and swept the kitchen floor while he ate lunch in the kitchen. And so on.

It's really, really tough, but I hope there are a few tips here to make it a bit easier.

 

[CRWx]

My LO isn't 11 months but I put her in her bouncer/play gym/poddlepod where she can see me whilst I get things done.

Don't feel bad

 

[lau86]

For me, the answer was I didn't do it while they were awake. I would do two minute jobs like putting washing on/ taking it out but big jobs no. I left that for nap time or when they were asleep.

 

[Tasha]

My eleven month old just follows me around so I give him things to help (mess) with.

 

[kellyc1987]

Stalking this thread, my 14 month old is a nightmare, will literally wrap himself around my legs whilst I'm trying to do chores/cook... He cries if I put him in the high chair

 

[zorak]

Personally I cherish our alone time once the kids are asleep so I do try and get everything done during the day. I split tasks over the week though. I take my 11 month old around with me unless he's content to play in his room (it's baby proofed with a safety gate on the door) . He likes moving from room to room with me and investigating. This may mean he plays with clothes pegs, laundry, tupperware, toilet rolls (unused!) but I actually think this exploration is also important. He loves the vacuum and happily tries to help with that too.

I think maybe it's just trying to recognise that if you want to do housework with baby around it will take longer but is possible if you think outside the box. I also think it's good as it sets expectations from the kids too. My almost three year old understands he can't have my attention 24/7 but has built the skills to amuse himself. He also knows what his 'jobs' are, happily clearing his toys, carrying his cup to kitchen etc.

 

[Left wonderin]

Don't feel bad .. By Introducing quiet time now babies start to learn about self regulation . Its a good thing that babies learn how to " switch off " its a long learning process .so 15/20 mins doing an activity in high chair / pram or play pen is good learning remember babies are like sponges even watching you do chores they are learning . Check our little baby bum on u tube .it has brilliant nursery rhymes you listen to while do chores

 

[jodilee6]

Our living room/dining room/play room is all connected and baby proof so I'll either leave DS happily playing (re destroying stuff) while i whip round the rest of the downstairs

When I need to do upstairs I take him with me - again it's pretty baby proof so he just makes more mess while I tidy!

I've always encouraged independent play from a young age just so that I can have 5 minutes to have a sit down/coffee for myself without having to play every second of the day!

I agree with PP as well, my evenings are precious, I'd rather sit down and relax and leave dirty dishes soaking until the next morning than spend all evening cleaning up

Don't feel guilty for having to do things and not constantly playing, it sets them up with realistic expectations for life as they grow

 

[Bubbles1088]

I could have written this post. Keeping her mobile doesn't always help me, especially at dinnertime when I have to cook. She can see and hear me but she isn't allowed to come in the kitchen (though she does have the entire living room to crawl/cruise around in) as we just moved recently and there are too many things she can get into so she just throws a huge tantrum until I come back, then I better hold her or the crying continues. Sometimes, I just have to let her cry; she has plenty of things to entertain her but at dinnertime she just wants me and/or DH (who doesn't come home until dinner is ready and then goes back to work). It is very frustrating but many things I have to do when she's napping or asleep for the night, otherwise she just wants me and is so clingy right now that it's sometimes quite suffocating. It's just a phase though, this is the time where they are figuring out emotional attachment from what I understand.