100 ways to entertain a child while pregnant

[Ying]

no I don't have any tips to share, but I'm asking for them ok, 100 ways may be a bit much, how about just 10? actually any will do now as I'm almost at my wit's end.

It's been pretty difficult the past few weeks. I've been really sick with m/s and Becky has been suffering from mummy deprivation. seriously, the constant calling "mummy, mummy, mummmmmmmmyyyyyyyyy" is really getting me. everytime I try to rest, she'll drag me out of the couch and wants me to do something with me. frankly, I don't think she knows what she actually wants but she just wants me to do something for her. I'm struggling every day, I try DVDs (which is easy because I can lie down on the couch with her) but then she'll ask me to keep changing them every 2 mins...grrrr or wants to watch something on ABC kids that isn't on air atm.

I tried reading stories, nope not interested until bedtime. puzzles, yeah sorta work but not all the time...

what do you do when you're pregnant and have to look after an active toddler? I can't just ignore her because she starts to run into problems (eg. the cabinet incident on monday). oh and the new thing she does to annoy me is she keeps saying "mummy, I want...", I give it to her and then she simply says no

I don't want to get cranky with her but sometimes it's so hard not to when you're so tired and well..cranky!!

[Musikat75]

Congratulations Ying! I haven't been around here much so it's news to me! How exciting!

Re the entertaining a toddler. What about drawing/colouring in? Or cutting? Get a pair of safety sciswsors and a pile of magazines and get her to cut out faces or pick something like flowers or animals and she can then stick them to a piece of paper and make a collage? It is a bit of effort to get everything set up and obviously needs supervision but at least you can sit down and have a cuppa while she's busy. Oscar used to do this for at least half an hour. Or what about playdo?

Hope you're feeling better soon.

hugs
Kat

[milasmum]

Oh Ying I hear ya!

5 days in hospital was good in a way as she now wants daddy to get things ....but thats no good when Im on my own. Here are some of the activities we do. Since M and B are the same age she may like them too

* her favourite atm is a spray bottle of water, paintbrush, and a cloth. She sprays everything outside, then paints what she sprayed and then wipes clean lol

* I bought a jumbo colouring book and a bunch of stickers and she just loves to colour in now. She also likes me to tell her what to draw

*felt farm. We bought this at a toy shop and she enjoys sticking the felt bits on and making pictures

* doll. Loves playing mum. I set her up with the doll a nappy, dummy, milk bottle, wipes, bowl and spoon, blanket etc

* tea set. She would make tea for me all day long if she could. I just sit there asking for more, and then more sugar and milk and if she can mix it for me etc. then we have cake. I fill the teapot with some water.

*balloons. she loves playing catch and throw the balloon

*playdoh. what a mess! but she can play with this for hours too and also likes me to tell her what to make for me

* shops. We make coins with foil and put them in a bag and then go around the house buying things.

* collage. cut out pics from magazines in advance and give them to her with a big piece of paper to stick and make a picture with them. She can draw on top of it too

*lego

Umm thats all I can think of at the moment. Many of the things only require me to sit near her. So I hope that gives you some ideas

[Ying]

Thanks Kat The problem with Becky is that she doesn't really play on her own and always wants me to participate while I just want to lie down I know I'm slack but boy how could you not when you feel like throwing up every 5 mins...

Thanks for the ideas Sarah Becky does like a lot of stuff you mentioned. The only thing she doesn't do is colouring in. She loves painting but she needs a close supervision otherwise she ends up with paints on her lips and face like this morning grrr...

She starts to love playing mummy but always wants me to show her what to do. After several demonstrations from me, she still wants me to keep doing it for her. I don't know if she's simply lazy to do things herself or she just loves me to participate all the time Luckily she loves Little People & Megablock so much she spends a lot of time playing with them (but only when I tell her I really need to nap and she has to play with herself for a while ).

Haven't tried felt things though, will go to the shop this weekend to get some

[michellew]

Big hits here, that I can at least sit down to do, are playdough, bubbles, painting the walls outside with water and a brush. Water in a bucket with some pretend fish and a stick for a fishing rod work well too. Lego is a good entertainer her too.

Michelle

[alineanne]

amelie doesn't really play by herself that well so my suggestions are limited!

how about organising a playdate at a park? (fenced, and without swings!) then the kids can play together and you can sit down.

a paddling pool? (or stick her in the bath? some kids can play for ages .. not mine but i have heard of others who do!)

the best time i get is when amelie and benji hole up in their room and make a giant mess and jump on her bed. not something i'd really recommend tho

[Linds]

Oh yes i do ABSOLUTELY know what you are going through!!! The only thing that saved me was Grandparents and auntys!!!! Get someone to come and take Becky out for the day occassionally if that is possible? Evan had a few days out with Daddy, grandparents and auntys when i was really unwell - it was good all round because he got out and doing 'special' things and i got a really well needed rest. Sleep overs are even better

[mummygeorgie]

Our 'bed' is just a mattress on the floor atm so I lie down and let Alastair do tumbling runs all over the mattress - I have to watch he doesn't jump on my tummy but most of the time it works out quite well.

When I was pregnant with Alastair, Emma was a few months older than Becky, but I used to take her to indoor play centres and just sit while she played ... took a few goes for her to get more independent, but after that it worked out really well! I sometimes even got to have a coffee and read a magazine. The one nearest us is aimed at kids only up to 6, so is nice and small, but even at the bigger ones they have toddler/under-3 areas. Plus if you're there during school time there usually aren't any/many bigger kids.

[Leah]

I was sick as a dog for 23 weeks with Amara, Ying so I feel your pain. Eliza is extremely active and very attention hungry. We did:

Playdough (home made not bought)
Gluing - glue stick, cotton balls, crepe paper etc
Bucket of water and a paint brush outside
Chalk on concrete outside
Babies (dolls)
Cooking - Eliza loves her pretend food and little oven
Puzzles
Blocks
DVD sometimes for quiet time
Paint - the solid paints you have to rub water on to make them work
"Camping" - throw a blanket over the dining table or coffee table and they can crawl inside.
I also took her to an indoor play centre a few times. Or McDonalds play area (its cheaper!)

I am afraid that even when you feel terrible your toddler will have no sympathy at all. When I was throwing up Eliza would say " That's yukky Mummy" and then ask me to get her something to eat

Good Luck, hope it eases soon.

[mummygeorgie]

OH yeh, I forgot we did the McDonalds play area quite a few times ... bought a drink or one of their healthier options so I didn't feel like a freeloader. Again, during school hours it's pretty quiet.