I need some ideas...taking my toddler anywhere right now feels impossible. He is a runner and I just can't keep up with him anymore, so we are going to be spending the next 3 weeks at home. Aside from insane amounts of screen time (which we are already doing) any other ideas?
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Is there a (small) indoor playground near you? We did that a lot towards the end of my second pregnancy because she couldn't escape and I could keep my eye on her everywhere.
We also did lots of arts and crafts / painting / playdoh because she would sit still for that!
Hang in there!
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Agreed indoor playgrounds are our savior for letting her burn off energy while being able to sit and watch.
At home activities: play doh, Kinect Sand, finger painting/panting, coloring, ect. She also enjoys helping me bake, so we make cookies, cakes, ect. that helps her keep busy.
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Agreed with the above! We did a lot of crafts (painting on its own or with shaving cream, seasonal decorations with glue, a banner to welcome the new baby). We did a lot of stationary outdoor activities on our porch (bubbles, chalk, kinetic sand). And like the posters above, indoor playgrounds were great for that period. Our local mall and Chick Fil A were particularly good.
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play doh was awesome. baking together was fun and you get yummy treats when you're done!
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I don't really have any suggestions, but it was hard for us too. You're nearing the finish line! We have this cute little cafe that has a nice playplace where someone watches the kids while you have coffee and stuff, it was enjoyable. I also took her to the mall and let her run.. can you put a harness on him so he can run within reach? Good luck, you're almost there!
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We have one of those indoor bouncy house places. My DS doesn't care to bounce/jump so we haven't gone but I my girlfriend who is in the last 2 weeks with the 2nd one takes her DS there.
Chick-fil-a has been good because you can sit and eat a snack and watch them play.
We've also found that when we get my DS and her's together they entertain each other and give us a break. -
@MrsB2012: You must have been reading my mind
Nearing the Finish Line was the title of a blog post that just published 
We have one of those cafe places in the next town over...I may need to check that out! @HappyBaker: @LuLu Mom: @rattles: @turkeylurkey: @jmarionsmith: Great suggestions! I need to look into indoor playgrounds. There aren't any around here that I am aware of, but we do have Chick-fil-a and an open gym for kids at the community center that could be fun!
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Bumping this to vent and ask for more suggestions or just someone who can commiserate!!!
Ugh. I'm 31 weeks. 2.5 year old son has been waking at 6a. I hate all of my entertainment choices : screen time (we've been trying to cut back and it's been baddddd), park (so hot and exhausting!), indoor places (so much drama with parking, walking, toddler dawdling, fuss over going home), same old toys at our house (boring and leads to screen time demands. Someone come and take away all the tvs please!)
I'm just feeling huge and tired and longing for the days when I spent my third trimester working a desk job (though I love getting to be home with my little guy when I'm not a large slow version of myself).
Thanks for letting me complain.
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@Mrs. Lion: I know this is old but basically are we the same people with the same kids? This is the story of my life!
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@charlotte: Is it possible to hire some part time childcare for a few weeks? Maybe someone could take him to the playground for a few hours while you rest.
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@charlotte: I'm almost 36 weeks with a 2 year old, and am really trying to keep the screen time to a minimum (i totally use it during my doctor's appointments). It IS hard though. I feel pretty tired every day, but I feel the day goes faster if we keep somewhat busy. And my feet swell less if I walk more.
Do you live in a super hot area? I live ouside NYC, so it's hot but not terribly terribly hot just yet, although today is super humid! I've been trying to keep to our "out of the house twice a day" schedule. I also wear a fitness tracker, so it's motivation for me to get out and walk.
We live in a walking city, so my LO is pretty used to the stroller at this point. Our typical day is:
6:30 wakeup
play around house, LO has independent play time
7:30 breakfast
more house play time while I get dressed and dress LO
9:30 out of the house for a play date or just walking to a park
Home by 11 for snack.
11:30- LO naps
Wakes at 1:30-2 p,--then we eat Lunch
Play around house for an hour
3 pm--back out. We either walk to run errands (bank, doctor's appointments, chiropractor for me, supermarket) and stop at a park before coming home. Sometimes play dates.
6 PM home for dinner. This is when I let LO watch a show if I'm going to. If she's willing to play alone while I make dinner, I let her. If not, it's Daniel Tiger time.
7 pm--dinner for LO
Then my husband comes home and will play with her, usually take her outside for a walk. Then he gets her ready for bed while I relax and sometimes I do the last part of bed time routing.It IS tiring---but I've gained less weight this pregnancy staying active!--I'll ignore the fact that I started out about 15 lbs heavier, so I'm still super super huge.
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@Anagram: I am very very impressed! I can only force myself to get out once a day, usually 830-11ish while it's still cool-ish. Our heat is about the same right now and I definitely swell more when I'm out / walking...I probably need more water but it can be hard finding a good time and place to use the bathroom when we are out. I miss being able to hold it a few hours.
What does LO like to play independently with right now? That's part of our problem...when we are playing around the house it's always "mommy do" and I end up crawling around picking up thrown trains or pieces that fell. I need to encourage more independence for sure!@ElbieKay: great idea and I am embarrassed to admit that we already have someone come over a couple times a week so I can get a break but I usually use that time to grocery shop alone or do other errands (like tomorrow - dog vet appt). I probably need to work more rest time into those breaks.
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@kjpugs: ha! I'm glad I am not alone
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I'm struggling too. I'm 36 weeks pregnant with a two year old, and I'm a SAHM, so I have to keep him entertained during the day. He gets bored easily if we don't go out, so I try to go to the park with him in the mornings before it gets too hot. There is a nice one close to our house that has the entire playground area fenced in. That's great for me, so I don't have to worry about him running off. We also do Gymboree and take advantage of the open gym time. I'll admit that I'm starting to feel lazier and it's harder for me to have the motivation to take him places. I know I don't have much longer, so I'm hanging in there!
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Same boat here as well. We have been going on errands where my 2.5 yr old will be in a shopping cart in the mornings and then rotating between 4 rooms in our house ( baby's, basement family room, upstairs family room & her toddler room).
Coloring has been her main go to activity, but she also will stay entertained if we are working on a job and she can help. Like putting cloths in a basket, or throwing away trash from a built up mail pile.
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@Jone0603: is it weird that I'm going to start a mail pile just for this? Haha. He LOVES to help. I cannot close the refrigerator, wash a dish, open the dryer etc without my helper insisting on stepping in. He also loves to throw away trash so that's a great idea. Ha
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The end of my pregnancy is when DD1 got a leash backpack. That she earned and I didn't feel the least bit guilty about using. I was so sick of chasing her and peeing myself.
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Writing down these ideas! I've got 10 weeks left, and LO is a runner. Even now, taking her out seems to be exhausting - I can't chase after her, and when she flails, she's impossible to contain.
Nearing the Finish Line was the title of a blog post that just published 
We have one of those cafe places in the next town over...I may need to check that out! Reply
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