So my husband and I decided to put the tv in storage for the summer. We just feel it has been having a negative impact on family life and we wanted a break. He works til 8 or 9, and at 11 am nap time and 7 pm bedtime, I am on my own with a baby to put to sleep. I used to have my 3 yr old watch a dvd while I did this, because baby is a very light sleeper and it takes quite a while to get him to sleep (otherwise we have a screaming fit for longer than I can bear to hear). Now I can't, because as soon as we had unplugged the tv to put it in storage, I went upstairs to rock the baby to sleep and my 3 yr old knocked it over and broke it trying to turn it on. =)
I am looking for ideas of a daily routine activity I can use to keep him quietly entertained. Something he knows and looks forward to doing each day at these times that keeps him from getting mischevious. What have you other seasoned moms done to resolve a problem like this?
If he's a book lover, like my 3 year old, I suggest you buy some book sets that come with a cd. The cd narrarates the books to them and prompts them when to turn the page. Plus, my daugher loves to hear the same books over and over at this age and I can only take "Belle loves the Beast" so many times before I start to lose my mind! This is a great solution! Check the disney store. All the sets we have are from disney. Good luck!
Play quietly in his room.
Color with crayons.
Eat a safe snack at the kitchen table.
I always have my kids follow a similar schedule. So if I was putting baby down for a nap, that meant quiet time in their rooms, and absolutely no interuptions until I come out. Then quiet time remains until baby is awake. My kids love playing alone in their rooms or together - but that's rarely quiet. And bedtime routine is the same everyone. At 7:00 we all go upstairs and get them ready for bed. The older 2 can either clean their roooms or read or play qiuetly or write or draw until we can get the youngest settled. Then we read them a book and let them do something they enjoy until it's lights out.
Just be organized and consistant and it can work.
A.
Puzzles are entertaining and quiet. There are plenty of puzzles for 3 yr olds. You could get a whole bunch ,maybe even have your son pick them out and he can only play w/ them when your putting the baby to sleep.
How about music? You can check your local library for their selection of children's cds. There are some where the child has to listen and do what is said, like the hokey pokey, animal action, going on a bear hunt, head shoulders knees and toes.... Or if that is too noisy get some soothing or just fun to listen to music.
Hi,
Try to have a craft ready such as playdoh, coloring, or something like that. I have 3 children and when the middle was born the oldest was only 2 so it was a challenge but I used crafts to get her attention when I had to put the baby to sleep.
D.
