Babysitting?

Question

In a few days I have to babysit a 5 month old and a 2 1/2 year old. I have babysat them before only when one of there parents was there. It shouldnt be for very long. I am 15. Are there any easy activities I could do with a 2 yr. old while holding/caring for a 5 month old? Anything helps!

Answer 1

I'm a daycare provider and have my own 5mo old and a 4 year old. My #1 suggestion is stay close to the floor. When the baby is not sleeping (which should ALWAYS be in a crib or secured device) and you want to keep close to both children or feed the smallest you can sit on the floor with your legs crossed while feeding and this gives you some small degree of mobility and places your arms in a possition to sheild the baby while the 2 year old plays if needed. It usually isn't but it always feels better to know you can.

At 5 mo. they are usually rolling and need lots of tummy time so sit somewhere where you can lay them on a blanket near where you are sitting but so they are sheilded from the feet and toys of the 2 year old. 2 year olds also love to share with their little siblings and the attention they get when they do it right...so let the 2 year old sit on one side of your lap on a large bed or the couch where there is no risk of them or you falling and have the older one show the baby a soft colorfull toy. Or read them a book and encourge the 2 year old to teach/show/or watch the animated expressions of a 5mo. old baby.

Be interactive. Be careful and don't EVER leave a child over 4 months on a couch untended they can move more than you know. Also don't make yourself paranoid about the baby. They are much more resiliant than you would think. And no matter what you do at some point an older child WILL bonk boink or fling something off the baby. If the baby is out cold from it or screaming for more than 10 seconds or are developing a lump or acting odd then you have reason to be concerned, but 95% of the time it's the shock of it that gets em and they're fine once their ego is soothed.

Don't ever bouce a baby or 2 year old or fling them in the air.

ALWAYS ask mom or dad about feeding, nap and diaper activities PRIOR to when you got there. If you get used to what they do and when they've done it and have a written schedule of the childrens in and out routine you'll get used to antisipating their needs and won't worry so much about when things need to be done and will be more comfortable with the fact that sometimes these things aren't always on schedule but will happen.

Most of all PLAY with them. After all that's what you're getting paid to do! If you take good care of them and wear them out good they'll sleep good too. :0)))

Answer 2

Get the 2 1/2 yr old involved. Ask the older child to bring things to you for the baby or help feed or do other things with the baby. It gets keeps them from feeling like they are being left out, you know where they are and what they are doing and it helps you out with the baby. It may be a little messy at times, but just get the 2 1/2 yr old to help clean up the messes. You will be suprised how much they want to help!!!

Answer 3

Singing/hand games. Hold the baby in your lap with the 2 1/2 year old facing you. Sing, play hand games, read books cuddled together. Suggest the 2 1/2 year old do a fashion show or sing a song or something and you and baby could be the audience. She could act out stories you've read or her favorite movie. The 5 month old should be content watching and being amused by older sib.

Answer 4

Teach the 2 year old to play "I Spy" if he/she doesn't already know how. I have a 9 month old and a 2.5 year old and I taught my 2.5 year old to play I Spy while we're in the car to keep her busy. I spy something red and then have the child guess until they find it. Then tell the child to choose something and tell you the color and you guess until you choose the right one.

My daughter likes to learn nursery rhymes - Humpty Dumpty, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Little Miss Muffet, Three Blind Mice, etc.

You can play Hide and Seek. I just carry my son around while we hide and find the 2 year old, although my son often gives away our hiding spot. LOL!

Read books.

Ask the child the sounds that different animals make. What does a horse day? What does a frog say? What does a cow say? My 9 month old laughs when my daughter makes some of the animal sounds, especially the frog.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Floor puzzles, paper and crayons, flash cards or Old Maid, etc., (dollar store) Get the two year old to play "peek a boo" with the baby, hold the baby and let the two year old lean on you while you read a book in the baby's lap, let the baby tear up a large piece of newspaper while you and the two year old trace your hands taking turns on the newspaper, after kids hit 2, tv is acceptable, so pop in a movie like Shark Tale, Cinderella or Chicken Run.

Answer 6

Get some paper, markers, crayons, ETC and start drawing.

You can feed the baby while doing this with the 2 year old.

If you have any flash cards you could play that with the 2 year old.

You could ask her to find stuff around the house. Like "Can you find the TV". It may sound dumb to you but I have watched lots of kids that like this game.

Answer 7

put the baby in his high chair and give him some plastic measuring cups, and spoons. He'll be content for hours.
The two year old... play dress up. Bring along some of your t-shirts, hair things, jewelry and a little make-up.(If it's a girl) if it's a boy-- hmmm, not real familiar with boys. (I have two girls) Boys like to play forts. Get some blankets and drape it over two chairs. Give him a snack and play with him(in eyesight of the 5 month old) Color pictures??? Ask him what he wants to play. Have fun and Good luck

Answer 8

I have a 3 year old and I know he loves to be told stories, not so much stories you read out of a book but something you just make up on the spot that includes him in it. He also likes to join in on simple little songs, you can teach him.

Answer 9

have the two year okld"help"
you wit htaking care of the baby
give the two year old little tasks to do, like getting the baby powder
grabbing you a clean diaper or onesie, finding you the bottle for the baby, picking a book to read for baby, etc.
if the baby can sit up by his or her self, also, rolling a bally across the floor to eachother cna keep two small kids busy for hours

Answer 10

Bring a coloring book, or games for the child. If its ok w/ the parents, ask if they child can watch tv. The kid also obviously has his/her own toys, so let them do that for a while