https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:29:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2552425 Thu, 19 May 2016 14:36:34 +0000 gingerbebe 2552425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just had our baby Sunday and DS is 20 months.</p> <p>We set up a more accessible play area in the living room. A low coffee table with a Little People car track and a bin of cars, a bin of books, a bin of play food. We set up a bigger toy box with music and sound making electronic toys and another of blocks and Magnatiles for building. That creates like 4-5 stations or activity by type. We also moved his chair and baby's bouncer out there so we can all hang out together.</p> <p>We set up a play area on the covered patio. We put down AstroTurf rugs and put his push car, cozy coupe, water table, and a makeshift play kitchen out there. We also got an inflatable kiddie pool and stuck his slide into it and filled it with ball pit balls. We can use it as a pool or ball pit depending on what we feel like. We have folding chairs and a card table back there for DH and I to sit at and once DS2 is bigger we'll haul the PNP out there for him to hang out in. We also put a sandbox in a shady corner of the yard for him to dig in as well.</p> <p>It's been working pretty well in the week before delivery and while I was in the hospital for DH and my mother to look after DS. It's very hot where we live so parks aren't always feasible especially with a baby. </p> <p>Before baby we scouted out some indoor kids play cafes and splash pads and kid-friendly restaurants and took DS to them on dry runs to see what he liked and how much assistance he would need while we were there. Some places I know I will need another set of hands, some places I know I can go myself, but I'm glad DH and I ran through them so we would have a list of places to go. </p> <p>We also started using a regular sitter in my 3rd trimester so that DS had a familiar face watch him should I need more help after the baby arrives. Usually if I can get the 3 hour block between breakfast and lunch or between after nap and after dinner, I can manage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2552280 Thu, 19 May 2016 12:55:03 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2552280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, we keep a bag of extra happy meal toys, little prizes etc. When needed, we use it like a treasure box and pull out a treat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2552276 Thu, 19 May 2016 12:53:02 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2552276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love the idea of getting small bins that could be pulled out with quick activities! Even just something simple like stickers would be fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2552266 Thu, 19 May 2016 12:48:47 +0000 mrsrain 2552266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I filled a box with things from the dollar section of target, to be used as emergency distractions! Things like chalk, stickers, little toys, window gel stickers, etc. When I need LO2 to calm down or just give me the chance to nurse/pee/cook/whatever I can give her something from the box. When she's done it goes back in the box for another day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2552252 Thu, 19 May 2016 12:40:57 +0000 jhd 2552252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runnerd: LO has the vehicles one but I also just ordered the abc one. I love that he can use it anywhere. By the time he gets to the last page the first page is often dry again and ready to use. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2552237 Thu, 19 May 2016 12:31:09 +0000 runnerd 2552237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: bonus points for not messy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2552213 Thu, 19 May 2016 12:13:23 +0000 jhd 2552213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>These aren't very active, but my LO loves the Melissa and Doug water wow books. We took one on a 9 hour plane ride and he "painted" for a long time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2552129 Thu, 19 May 2016 11:23:31 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2552129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A big amazon box with some crayons tossed in bought me hours. Mine oldest two are 23 months apart. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2552125 Thu, 19 May 2016 11:20:07 +0000 nana87 2552125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's messy, but cornstarch + water makes ooblek, which my lo looooves! I add glitter and food coloring, and put play doh toys and plastic animals in and she goes to town. </p> <p>It's easy to make cloud dough too.</p> <p>we similarly made a big Michael's trip before a big winter storm a few months back, and other big hits include foam stickers, a variety of markers/crayons/chalk, and glitter glue, which she "paints" with with a brush and sometimes uses as actual glue, though she mostly just gets it on her hands, lol. she likes play doh and stamps too. oh and washi tape. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2552113 Thu, 19 May 2016 11:12:30 +0000 runnerd 2552113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: sand with trucks - he would like that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2552025 Thu, 19 May 2016 10:27:07 +0000 catomd00 2552025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My friend got a ton of ideas off pinterest. I don't know what she came up with, but she had like 20 small plastic bins - each one was a different activity. I think for instance, one was sand with trucks in it, etc.) It was super nice how organized it was! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2551956 Thu, 19 May 2016 10:00:22 +0000 runnerd 2551956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: haha I like that idea!</p> <p>@Anagram: water table if definitely on my list! and FX for laid back #2 - they can't both be high demand, rigghhhht?? :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2551930 Thu, 19 May 2016 09:49:22 +0000 Anagram 2551930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runnerd: Do you have outside space that you can see from inside? I would get a water table (tons of activities with that), lots of sidewalk chalk, bubbles, etc.</p> <p>I have a small balcony and my LO was at the water table on the balcony a lot last summer when I had a newborn. She would also paint and blow bubbles out there.</p> <p>Inside, I filled up the water table with rice and gave LO lots of pouring cups. LOT of rice got on the floor, but I could vacuum it up afterward in about 3 minutes, so it's worth the mess.</p> <p>LO1 also liked finger painting, paintbrush painting, water painting, drawing, etc. We had several Ipad apps that I used for a while there.</p> <p>For me, the newborn stage was fairly easy because LO2 slept pretty easily and was pretty content not being held and would nurse wherever. The infant stage was more challenging as LO2 started the daily "witching hour" (more like hours) from 3:30-9 pm every night and was very high maintenance. And then after that, feeding became challenging because LO2 was too distracted to nurse unless she was in a very quiet room.</p> <p>From a very young age, I only "ignored" LO1 during LO2's feeding time--then LO2 had to learn to go to sleep by herself, on her own. I just didn't think it was fair to LO1 to be alone for 20 minutes while I was nursing LO2, and then another 20-30 minutes while I rocked LO2. So I would just nurse the baby, lay her down and leave, only coming back every few minutes to paci replace.</p> <p>This was obviously doable because LO2 was a pretty laid back baby. It would be different if she were colicky or something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2551913 Thu, 19 May 2016 09:42:26 +0000 avivoca 2551913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runnerd: Give him a bucket of soapy water and let him go to town on the car. Seriously, it kept H entertained for at least 30 minutes the other day. She also likes to spray the hose, so we helped her spray off the car. Those two doors are really, really clean. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2551896 Thu, 19 May 2016 09:36:01 +0000 runnerd 2551896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: thanks! going to check it out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2551870 Thu, 19 May 2016 09:24:23 +0000 ShootingStar 2551870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You should check out busy toddler. She's on Instagram and has a blog too. She's got tons of activities for kids to keep them engaged. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-me-think-of-at-home-activities-for-2-yr-old-maternity-leave-survival#post-2551861 Thu, 19 May 2016 09:20:05 +0000 runnerd 2551861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm about a month away from having #2. #1 will 23 months, and I will be on maternity leave for 12 weeks, alone with both for about 9 of those weeks. </p> <p>#1 will go to daycare 2 days a week, and be home with me alone 3 days a week. He is a high energy, engagement-required kind of child. We basically structure our weekends around a morning and an afternoon activity out of the house to keep him sane. </p> <p>Help me think of awesome and EASY pinterest-style activities I can do with him at home that will hold his attention for more than 10min and not require me to be involved every step of the way! I thought maybe I can try to make a Michael's trip and build up my "activity kit" this weekend.</p> <p>I still plan to do lots of park trips, library, trampoline park as I can, but I'm worried he will be a little bored, and I don't want to lean on the TV any more than I already am guilty of lately with pregnancy exhaustion. </p>