My 17 month old has just learned to climb out of his playpen! (I knew I was on borrowed time with it anyway.) Now I need some suggestions for how to contain this very busy, very curious, into everything, climber when I need to go into another room. It isn't always practical to take him with me. The other day I went into the bathroom and he climbed onto the piano and was walking on the keyboard and knocking over all the knick-knacks on top.
Hi,
The best thing I ever bought was a play yard. It is almost like a corral. I love it. You can get extentions for it and make it as large as you want, so that the kids have plenty of play room, but stay out of areas they are not supposed to be in. I hope this helps!
Well C., it may not help, but I have a very active 21 month old and we baby proofed the living room. Basically there is a gate at both entrances to the living room, his toys and not a whole lot more. He still finds trouble because you can not remove everything but we also needed a safe place to leave him for a couple of minutes because he manages to get into everything so you may want to consider baby proofing a room - get gates, plugs for the electrical outlets, remove anything that his resourceful hands may get into that he shouldn't - Good luck!
We have used a gate and tried to teach my daughter she is not allowed outside of the gate. Of course that lasted about two minutes when she figured she could either just climb over it or push it really hard. Then a friend at daycare recommended using a sock in the door. It essentially "locks" the door on them, and takes a bit of muscle to push the door open. That has been a miracle for me at times. My daughter is 32 months old and will not stay in her room at certain times. We will have to remind her that the door will get closed if she cannot stay in her room. She hates the door being closed adn will mostly comply but sometimes she just wants to push us and we close that door and it stays closed until we open it again. It sounds harsh but I was considering putting a lock on the door on the outside and felt that was too drastic. This is basically the same thing but doesn't feel so permanent as sometimes if she gathers all her strength and is mad enough she can open the door. Hope it helps.
Not to sound holier then anyone, but I don't see any reason for containing a child to a playpen or small area while you go to the bathroom, or another room. To me small children are just that: little people who need to learn and understand why things are done and how things work. If you're going to the bathroom, explain the potty concept while you're in there. Show him how the lid works, tell him about the tissue, show him how to wash his hands when he's done. If you're in another room ironing or folding laundry show him the ironing board and teach him to collect the socks for you into a pile.
I guess this takes more time and makes chores longer, but really aside from emergencies, I just never saw a good reason not to include a child in day-to-day activities.
However, if you need to contain him for some sort of hazardous situation (dropped a glass and gotta clean it up) use a gate or try to playpen tent...I can't attest to it's value since I never had one, but it seems it would work for a climber.
Anyways, you're obviously a caring and nurturing person or you woulnd't be making the sacrafice you are, and I commend you for it!
I have an 18m daughter. I tend to take her everywhere with me. I bought her a seat for to use to sit on while I'm 'busy'.
M.
Crib tent, definitely! My son was 13 months when he climbed out of his crib, and could not "reason" to not do this or not touch that. We put the crib tent on the crib and it helped him stay in bed during the night and during those well deserved naps!! As far as when you are doing "chires" or going potty..You may wnt to get one of the tents for the play yard, as they have it for that size as well. Hope this helps!
they make gates that you can hook together to form a playpen.
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...
My sister has a climber in her day care. I bought her a crib tent from the internet. They make some that are specifically for playpens. It has been a true lifesafer for her. The little boy cried for the first couple of days because his freedom was being taken away. After that, though, he plays in there without protest and he gets really good naps too. Good luck to you.
We bought a crib tent from Babies R Us when my first was little. It was the best kids invention ever made. It made things a lot easier. I could actually go to the bathroom without worring that he would get into something cause I knew he couldn't get out of it.
Hi C..
They have play yards that are made of vinyl that snack together. You can get them at Toys R US.
You can get a rocking horse and little chair to put in it You can put it next to the piano so he can strike the keys when he is bored. He can ride the rocking horse or sick down and think about things.
Hope this helps. Good luck. D.
