3 weeks before due date, I will be going on maternity leave. Since I have placenta previa, my obgyn has asked me to limit or avoid any type exercise. This means I will be spending endless hours with my 22 month old in our backyard less apartment. I'm not sure how to keep us both entertained without having any screen time. Any suggestions?
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Could you take her to the library for storytime or somewhere else with low key activities? There's a toys store in my neighborhood that has train tables and a play kitchen so I go and sit there with her for 2 hours sometimes (!) while she plays with the other kids.
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Can you still take her somewhere so she can still blow off some steam? Library time, or indoor playgrounds/cafes are great places to go.
Also, i find that art activities are the best and i can usually entertain my 21 month old for 30 minutes by getting messy with paints. Ooh, and toddler scissors! They love those!!
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Play doh? Especially if she's never played with it before you can get a lot of mileage
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Lots of books, messy arts and crafts and toy time!
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Can you set up a few activities in advance like stickers and paper, put together the supplies for shaving cream and food coloring in a bag, get contact paper and cut up scrap paper etc? Pull those out when you sense a distraction is needed.
Will bath time be too chaotic? If not stock pile things that would be fun in the tub, I love raiding the recycling bin for fun options.
I also like making obstacle courses, pile pillows up on the floor and have your lo climb over them, crawl under chairs, rescue stuffed animals etc.
Best of luck to you! I know it won't be easy but you will all survive! If anyone offers to help always say yes and suggest gross motor activities. I am not a huge fan otherwise but McDonald's play places are great this time of year!
Eta: rotate out half her toys right now so that when you are on leave you can pull them out one by one for added excitement.
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Also, I'd suggest being kind to yourself. Being practically on bedrest with an active toddler is not an easy thing. Some extra screen time will be ok, and it won't last forever.
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Invite other kids over for playdates!
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@sarac: +1
Do your best but take care of yourself and keep in mind, this is a short period of time. A few weeks of tv will not forever ruin your child.
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i was also going to say that this might be an exceptional circumstance where you can make an exception. But i get that you still wouldn't want him to only watch TV all day long. So i also second ideas like indoor playgrounds that are safe and you can just sit back and watch.
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Stickers and bubbles!
Maybe explore the craft section of Michaels and get some play dough, water colors etc.
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