My 9 month old daughter does not want to be in her highchair or playpen anymore. She wants to crawl around the whole house exploring. But should I spend my day following her around when she is not napping or sleeping? Or should I teach her to sit in the highchair and playpen even if she is screaming her head off?
2006-10-31 11:03:11 · 14 answers · asked by isis72eg 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Children are not made to sit still for long periods while they are awake. They are compelled to use their arms and legs and discover everything they can. Keeping them confined is cruel and will inhibit their development.
Now, of course you shouldn't spend the entire day following your kid around the house. One suggestion is to cordon off an entire room and let the child crawl and explore that large space. Now, you have to make that room "kid-proof." That is, remove stuff that is breakable or that can cause injury to the child if touched or swallowed.
And know that you are not alone in all your hard work.
2006-10-31 11:09:31 · answer #1 · answered by Ecks 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have a 10 month old that is now walking and he will barely sit still for me to change his diaper much less be confined to an area for too long. I do miss the days when he was not so active but this is also a really neat phase he is in.
If you have not baby proofed- baby proof a few rooms that she can roam around in without getting hurt. We babyproofed the kitchen, den and his bedroom and we put gates up around the rooms that are not baby proofed like the study and our bedroom. He has a lot of area and space to roam and explore without getting told no all day long to things he can't play with because it is not safe, it is breakable etc.
Most of my day is watching him but I know if I find myself doing bills at the table my son has a safe area where he can play by me and I do not have to watch him as closely as I would had I not babyproofed. If he leaves the room I follow him and when he is tired of playing by himself I stop what I am doing and give him lots of one on one time!
I really believe that you should not make a child sit for long periods at this age. I reserve the exersaucer & crib for when I need to use the bathroom and the highchair only for meal time.
I hope this helps and good luck!
2006-10-31 12:57:55 · answer #2 · answered by jns 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Kids need room to explore but remember, YOU are the boss. Set boundaries and places she can explore for a period of time then put her in the playpen or highchair for awhile. Kids ARE demanding, and they don't give up, but don't let them take control. And yes, do remember about the safety issues and gates on stairs, etc.
2006-10-31 11:13:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a three year old who started crawling, cruising and walking quite early. My wife and I decided that we would let our child explore freely. We baby-proofed the house to a degree (outlets, power chords, etc.) but left other things on the coffee table and such.
In the beginning, there were some repeated prompts necessary such as a simple "Don't touch!" and eventually my daugter explored the house enough that she was quite content to play in one particular area. We set up some toys in a corner of our living room. This became her area and I think the freedom was only a novelty for so long.
And because of this, we didn't have much screaming. I think it also helped us when we went to other people's homes. It seemed like instinct took over and she knew not to touch other people's things or go off into closets and what have you.
2006-10-31 11:41:51 · answer #4 · answered by Rob in NY 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My little one is 10 months...and she's driving me up the walls!...I mean steps...
It's crazy...all day long...all over the house...into absolutely everything!
But on the other hand, it's kinda amuzing! They find the littlest things to be thrilling. I think it's definately best to let them explore. She certainly has times during the day in which I force her into captivity, otherwise known as the playpen. But for the most part, she's running around...literally. I also think allowing her to explore has a lot to do with her walking so early. They all learn at their own pace but this added perk certainly helps them along.
Be patient, and have fun!
2006-10-31 13:08:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 9 month old daughter also. She loves to roam around the house and I can't keep her tied down anymore. She likes to play in her playpen and crib, but I know that she prefers to not be restrained in any way. There just at that age I guess. I just get her nice and tired and before you know it, she's sleepy. The good thing about her roaming around the house is that she gets a lot of exercise and so will you.
2006-10-31 12:02:12 · answer #6 · answered by eMMa's MoM 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes, all babies are that demanding. she is exploring, this annoying trait is what helps her to learn about her environment. i used to use gates to keep my son in one room, throw some toys on the floor and sit on the couch and read or watch tv or just sit there and admire my beutiful baby.
putting your baby in the highchair when she is not eating is not fair. being in a cage all day isn't fair. i think that being in a closed room is a great compromise. once in a while when u have the patience and time stay close to her and let explore. i used to stand behind my son as he crawled up the stairs, then i'd carry him down and up he crawled again. this was a good way to tire him out.
2006-10-31 11:19:46 · answer #7 · answered by Miki 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Baby proof your house. Try blocking off areas with baby gates so she is in full view at all times.
To playpen train her: Put a couple of toys in there but keep them in there. That way, the only time she gets that toy is when she is in her playpen.
Good Luck
2006-10-31 15:42:19 · answer #8 · answered by TRUE PATRIOT 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Exploring is a good thing. You need to set safe boundaries for her. She will learn nothing by sitting in her high chair/play pen all day.
Our safe exploring room was the living room. Both entrances were completely blocked off. Anything that was breakable was put up. Electrical cords were hidden and outlets were covered with safety plugs.
2006-10-31 11:13:06 · answer #9 · answered by CCTCC 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She is exploring her own independence. She is also frustrated because her language skills are not developed enough to communicate her wants and needs. I would let her explore to a certain extent. Following your baby around is part of the job and this phase can be a long one depending on how fast your daughter develops language skills, so be patient!
2006-10-31 11:50:19 · answer #10 · answered by gspmommy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋