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How do you do it? I struggled with this even when DD wasn't walking yet and I struggle more with it now. I haven't had a nonwalking kid yet who is content to sit in an exersaucer (I have one for outside) or to swing (well, the one I have now hates the swing) or to crawl around on the ground (especially without eating things). All they want when we're outside is to be held...and I get awfully tired of this! The bigger kids usually want me to push them on the swings and that's hard to do with a baby in your arms. So, I usually end up not bothering to go outside unless I can pop the nonwalker in a stroller and walk around the neighborhood. I feel bad about this...but...I can't figure out what to do with the one who can't walk yet!!!
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Hee hee! Look, I have a signature! -
I have an outside blanket that I spread out with some toys on it. My dcb is not mobile at all though so if you have a crawler this wouldn't really help. -
You could try the PNP with some favorite toys.
Surprisingly, for those old enough to sit up, I've had good luck with a high chair. It makes them high so they can see everything going on from a different perspective (like when they are held). Put some suction cup toys on the tray, or those link toys attached to the bars.
Or just try putting the baby in the stroller and roll back and forth if he/she gets fussy.
Good luck!Comment
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You didn't mention the age. My are all walking now, but in the summer they didn't at 7-9 months old
I have a walker, infant swings, an lightweight umbrella stroller (that the older kids love to push around), a little wagon (again, the older kids pull around) and a small wading pool that had 1' sides with a bunch of balls and small toys in it.
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My big kids know the swings ( attached to my deck ) are only for babies. They are to heavy to be in these swings anyways so thankfully they understand. And if we are at the park I try to push as many as possible but they also know that I have to push the babies first.
For ones that cannot walk or crawl Ive used a walker, bouncy seat, pnp, or large blanket.Comment
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Thanks for the suggestions so far--they'll all work at some point since my own peanut is due at the end of spring. I am loving the wading pool + toys idea!
The age in question atm is 12 months. Crawls like a champ but hates to be on the ground outside.
edited: Part of the trouble is that my whole group is pretty young--my newly 3 yo is the oldest by 7 months, and most of the kids are under 2. The 12 mo is the youngest right now.Hee hee! Look, I have a signature!Comment
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Along the same lines...I live in Minnesota and I have to bring the children out everyday if weather permits. What do I do when it is snow/snowing out with non walkers?
Also anyone else licensed in MN...for little ones Am naps I was going to put them in crib and have a baby monitor on and take the older ones outside. Would that be breaking any licensing rules?Comment
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I feel your pain! I have a 3 mo, 7 mo, and 11 month walker. Then jump to 2 1/2. I feel bad that I don't get out often with the 2 1/2 y/o. I'm unlicensed, so I'm not "required" to be outside.
I just haven't found a way to truely be outside much with all these babies by myself.
It helps that the 2 1/2 y/o has allergies and asthma, so the parents really don't want her out everyday.
I'm open to any tips too. I like the pool with toys. Will have to buy one next summer.Comment
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Non-walker in winter I usually wrap in a blanket and plop in the snow. They get used to it and I make sure they are sitting and generally able to see the other kids and me. Non-sitters I have usually strapped to me under a big coat to keep warm if they are not napping during outside time. That said I do leave babies inside while outside with the older kids and check a video monitor every 5 to 10 minutes for AM naps. I find that the babies sleep better when I can get the kids outside since I don't have a separate room to put them in.
Edit: I only leave sleeping babies inside.Celebrate! :
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I used a play yard in the back yard with indoor/outdoor mats covering the grass underneath all last summer (so he wouldn't eat it). My non-walker wasn't terribly happy about being in there, but he had lots of toys, lots of room to crawl, and he was safe while I was helping other kids. In the winter, I propped him up in the wagon (it has seatbelts) and let him watch while the kids were playing, and a stroller would have worked quite well too.Comment
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Have you tried a baby carrier? That way you have both your hands free.Comment
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i do the exact same thing!!! LOL
sometimes, when the babies are still small, i just bundle them up and put them in their carseat. (the bucket kind)
we all go outside everyday. sometimes its a struggle, i'm not gonna lie. but its important to me to get them outside in the fresh air. they need that time to burn off all that energy. makes for a nice long afternoon nap as well
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I too am in MN. I didn't think we could leave the kids inside while we are out or vice versa. I have 2 toddlers and 4 preschoolers. I put the 2 toddlers in strollers and the pre-k's help me push. We try to go to the park (short walk) or play in my unfenced yard everyday (exccept for this week...wind is horrible!). I would love if we could have a monitor and leave some inside!!!! I do have one of those large gates that you can fold into different configurations and sometimes will "trap" the toddlers in a circle gate with toys while the bigger kids are on the swingsets or running around!
I do sometime put the toddlers on little sleds (baby type with straps) and pull them around outside when ground is snowcovered (then we do not go to the park).Comment
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I live in MN and I specifically asked my licensor about this......needless to say she never did give me a specifically yes answer nor a specifically no answer!! Basically this is what she told me -I live in a split level, my basement is now just getting in the process of getting finished, so anyway my daycare is upstairs! The babies would be upstairs and if I would go outside with the older kids while the littles were napping, I would be on a different level then them and wouldn't be able to get to them quickly nor see them! I said okay no, not exactly, but they would be sleeping, why would I need to get to them quickly? She said well how do they wake up, do they cry, do they talk, would you know if they are awake or not with the monitor? I described to her how each one wakes up and assured her that yes I would be able to hear them and they are on pretty good schedules and I would know within minutes of when they would be waking up on most days!! She said, well could you crack the window in the room they are napping in, just to make sure you could hear them? - I said yes in the summer, but no not in the winter!! She told me that she thought it would be fine if the child was over 1 year, because she didn't feel comfortable with a child under that being left inside while myself just having a monitor because of the risk of SIDS and she would want me to be able to check on a baby that young about every 15 mins and with me being outside with all of the kids, it wouldn't work to bring everyone inside to check on a sleeping infant every 15 mins! Soooooo LOL I NEVER GOT A TRUE YES OR A TRUE NO! I didn't know how to take her response I didn't do it all summer, because I was scared too! LOL If you do find out a definate answer please let me know!!
As far as having the babies outside.... I really struggled with this as well!! I ended up buying a play yard and low and behold - they hated it and screamed the entire time and just wanted to be by the other kids!!
I had 2 that were just starting to walk, but weren't real sturdy! I tried having it in the grass in the shade, where they could see the kids, they both hated it! I filled it with toys, but they both wanted out! I then tried putting it right in the sand box where all the kids were, they hated it just as much - niether wanted to be confined!! I ended up getting another little one late summer time, so now I had 3 who were all walking! Well I couldn't let the older kids swing, because they were always in the way of the swings! It was a mess and I had my HANDS full! I couldn't let them go up onto my big swing set, down the slides because it was too high! I got them a little plastic one, for just them, but just wasn't the same or as cool as the big kid one!! Balls were a life saver as it kept them in the grassy part and away from the swing, but I ran like a chicken with my head cut off! I ended up getting a teenage helper for the summer, which helped tremendously! We each took one baby to watch and take care of and were both able to do things with the older kids as well!!
As far as before they are walking, I think the play yard will come in very handy! Especially if you get it right away and introduce it to them right away so that is all they know! I also used strollers, exersaucers, swings, pack n play, strap on carrier, held them an assortment and did a rotation to keep them busy! LOL I think it is just a tough age and REALLY depends on the child!!
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I'm in MN and my licensor says it is okay. She says law says provider must be within hearing distance. If infants/toddlers are in a safe place (crib, pnp) and you have a baby monitor it is more advisable to be outside with the children who are awake and need direct supervision.
I only know this because I had a neighbor call and report me for allowing kids outside without supervision. (I have a video monitor aimed into my fenced backyard.) Video has sound also and the unsupervised kids were 5 (kindergarten age but hadn't gone to school that year.) Plus I have a huge picture window so I can see them. Anyways licensor stopped over b/c of call and I said I had babies asleep and couldn't leave them inside. She said yes I can as long as I have a baby monitor. I was still a little uncomfortable doing that so I did go buy one of those baby monitors that has video so I can actually see the child sleeping. I feel better and I have let the parents know so I know it is okay with them as well.Comment
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