how can i keep my child,1y3m old, busy as she holds too close on me that she prevents me from doing housework?

Question

I am aprofessor of English Literature. I go to my work early in the morning and leave my child at a neighboring family who is nursing her since she was three months old,but at home she keeps follwing me wherever i go for house chores, and cries if i go to the lavatory, nothing can keep her away from me, she has a lot of teddy bears and dolls but she never cares to touch one. what should i do or what toys should i buy her to busy her? I would very glad to hear your advice. thanks a lot.

Answer 1

Here is what I have tried personally. First, let your child "tagalong" as you do the things that you need to. Talk to her/him while you are doing these things. You don't have to go into great detail, just give the child the basic idea of what you are doing. Sometimes I even turn what I'm doing into a song, corny as it sounds. Secondly, for the times you HAVE to have some privacy (taking a shower,getting ready for work etc.) I have a few different types of toys placed about the house, For instance, In the bathroom I take a few wind up toys, bath tub toys and maybe a musical toy of some sort. I keep them under the sink that way each time I need to get ready, my son knows he can play too while I get ready. I have also taken this idea to the rest of the house. In each seperate room of the house I have a bucket of some sort with different types of toys in them. That way if say for instance I need to cook, or answer the door, there are toys in each room in a specific spot where the child can be safe and yet still have fun. This works well for our home as our son was the first grandson and has been spoiled with lots of toys. Also, I rotate the buckets from each room in order to keep my son from getting bored with certain toys always being in the same room. Also take one bucket out of the rotation pattern and simply put it on the shelf for a few weeks and then introduce them later. I found this idea in a parenting magazine. The article also states this helps with the childs memory and cognitive skills. Good luck! Sorry I wrote so much!

Answer 2

Yeah, that's a tough one. 1 year and 3 mos.,huh? What I did was just put my son in his bouncer or the other thing (it looks like a walker but it's stationary and it has all the toys on it). I kept him in sight of me and most of the time he cried because he wanted to be in my arms. So she's gonna cry but she won't be in the way and you can get some things done quicker. What helped sometimes was to put on music and from time to time stop and dance in front of him(now my son loves music and loves to dance). But honestly there's nothting much that you can do at this point. She's probably not too much interested in the toys and dolls as this point and time, she gonna want to be with you. I would give it 3-5 more months then maybe you will have a little more freedom. Good luck.

Answer 3

Check out your babysitter first of all- are they loving, and kind toward your daughter? Or mabbee they are the opposite, and carry her around all day.

If none of these are the case, then get a playpen, and put her in a room where she can't see you with about 4-5 toys for a time. Start out with 10 min. then gradually work your way up to about an hour. You can do lots of housework in an hour, and she is learning to entertain herself, and being content with just a few toys. YEs, she will cry at first, but when she learns that "mommy is not coming to get me" after a few days, she will get used to the playpen idea. Or if she is too big for a playpen, get a gate for her child-prooofed room, and apply the same principles.

Answer 4

Going through similar clingyness with my 1 year old, I find it easier to just hold him in a sling or a wrap (or any other carrier) as I go about the housework, rather than trying to fight the natural way they are at that age. It gives him the security/reassurance he needs, I get a lot done in a more peaceful atmosphere, and we both get extra bonding time. After being worn like this for a bit, my son is also much more willing to play on his own for longer periods of time. Might be worth a try :-)

Answer 5

Well,there is not much you can do.They take controll the minute they arrive.After all they are more important than any house work.Just pick the most necessary chore you have to do and do that only for the day.What i used to do with my son was take him with me.Let's say if i had to cook,i would sit him dawn in the kitchen and give him something safe from kitchen to play.Like a plastic plate and spoon.By the time he got bored and if i wasn't done,i would give him something different or piece of fruit.What happens is they feel secure with the parent.My first child tortured me like that.but for the second one i never had time to play by her rules,so it took her 3-6 day to know that she is not going to get picked up and she never demanded anymore.In a way that was a great lesson,now she is 2 and the most independent toddler i ever saw.So it is up to you now.Good luck.

Answer 6

A lot of this is just her age. Since you are working, when you are at home she wants to be with you. Interacting with you is much more fun and satisfying to her than playing with her toys. With my daughter, I tried to think of ways she could help me with the work I needed to get done. If folding the laundry, give her a few small towels to "fold" and let her do it her own way. When cooking, let her help in simple ways like putting the cut vegetables in the salad bowl, or else give her a couple of measuring cups and a little flour to use and play with while you are working. If she can be with you and do something related to what you are doing, she may be able to keep busy and happy. Use your creativity to involve her in your work, even though it may take you longer to get it done. I don't think there is anything you can buy that will distract her from wanting to be with you!

Answer 7

Put her in a playpen and let her play her toys. If she cries, don't carry her because she knows you will do just that. Just practise this a few times and soon she'll realised you are not going to carry her up and she'll play her toys instead. Another method is the TV. You can rent or buy DVDs, VCDs that are meant for toddlers. She'll get attracted to it and watch her own stuffs instead of following you around. Try "Barney" or "Hi Five", they work wonders!

Answer 8

OH how I can relate to what your going through & trust me this happens to the best of us, I thought my son was the only one, do you have a pots & pan cuboard with ones you don,t mind getting banged around you know those crappy ones that you never use, well put them all in a low cuboard & let your child bang qway, with wooden spoons, spatula etc. the noise may drive you crazy, but you may get some mom time. GOOD LUCK.

Answer 9

Try involving her in the chores you are trying to do.

Let her "help" sort the laundry. Talk about colors with her while you do it.

Give her a rag that she can "dust" with.

When you work in the kitchen, give her some plastic dishes that she can "wash" in the sink or give her some playdough to use at the kitchen table. Or put her in the high chair with a snack or with paper and crayons.

Answer 10

for a professor of english literature, your typing sucks.

Its a kid, it needs constant attention. just do the things you do in an entertaing way so the kid is laughing.

its more important now to play with your kid then at any other time in his life so while your pissed about 6 dishes you should probably prioritize and remeber that you only get 1 shot at this. in the grand skeme of your house work inst going to be in your uleolgy but being a good/bad mother stays with your kids for the rest of your life.