Tweet
Recently I have instituted a "no lap" policy. I have always suffered from severe arthritis in my knees from my early 20's and the last couple years have just been excruciating for me. Recently, due to the pain and deep bruising on my thighs from kids knees jabbing me when they crawl in my lap-i have had to stop them from crawling up on me. Babies and lightweight toddlers can still sit there, but the other kids have to be limited to just hugs and nuzzles while they remain standing on the floor. Anyone else not let kids crawl in their laps? I feel like such a meanie lately, but the extent of the bruising just has to be halted.
-
-
I don't allow it because I think it's not appropriate--I wouldn't feel comfortable with my own child in most people's laps, and when my own child is home she wants to cuddle, which makes the day care kids think they can cuddle, too. Plus I have rambunctious toddlers plus an infant, and I need the lap reserved for the infant. So nobody's allowed in my lap during day care hours except for the baby. -
I don't have a 'no lap' policy, but I don't typically hold children on my lap. I promote independence. In my opinion, too many children are held and coddled by their parents which leads to the children not being able to do things for themselves, able to learn to crawl/walk, get comfortable with others, etc. So although, yes, I do on a slim occasion hold children on my lap, but it's very uncommon for me to do so.Comment
-
I have found that sitting on a provider's lap can get competitive with kids. For that reason I stopped doing it. I will pop a child 18m or younger on my lap, but not big kids. I give lots of hugs, squeeze hands, pat backs etc but other than that - go play
Comment
-
I don't do laps either. I have a child here that weights in at 98lbs and I only weight 25 more than that. Since he can't sit on my lap, no one can. I think that is only fair.
I have them sit really close to me on the floor when I can give a side hug or let them feel close to me.Comment
-
I'd write it into their social development plan under family values. "Don't hurt Mrs. Cat Herder, her knees are not strong, let's help her clean up toys, too, to protect her from further injury."
Later when little Jimmy comes in with his arm in a cast, they will know what to do. When Grandpa is having trouble picking up his dropped glasses, they will have already practiced recognizing and meeting a need of another person without being asked.
Ironically, the older I get the more prone to hugging, kissing and carrying I seem to be. I have to keep an eye on it. They will think I am going soft if I keep getting the feels.
(Yes, clearly I am an old grouch who never sneaks kids marshmallows or kisses. )
- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them.
Comment
-
Mine isn't a policy, I just don't have kiddos that are the touchy-feely type. They usually sit by me on the floor, with their hand resting on my leg while I read a book, or babies learning to sit up on their own use my legs for stability.
I do have one that when he starts to get tired he wants to be close and touch, but he usually just rubs his face into my leg while he lays on his belly on the floor.
My babies are held when they are fed, and rocked when they have a hard time settling, but they are all reaching that independent stage where they get more worked up while rocking, and like to fight being held.Comment
-
Don't typically have kids on my lap but it's mostly because then I feel that I can't keep an eye on the others. Then the biggest reason is that I'm the type that gets hot easily and kids feel like little furnaces when I carry them!Comment
-
I'm not a touchy feely person. I just don't invite kids in my lap. One tries to sit on it either. My dcks are 18 months and underComment
-
Yup. Complete with pushing and hitting.
I don't do it anymore.Comment
-
Outside of babies I don't have kids sit on my lap. Most of my DCK are not cuddles though one of the toddlers likes hugs if he gets hurt.Comment
-
No kids on my lap, or picked up. Maybe on occasion, if one got hurt. But I don't feel it's fair to the kids, since I only have one set of hands. Even my own kids get the same treatment (besides my 7mo old). After daycare it's fine.Comment
-
So . . . am I the only one here whose day care kids grab her (totally unobtrusive, barely-there) breasts if she lets the kids in her lap?! Attachment parenting.
Comment
-
Only babies and I limit that as well. I, also, am not a touchy-freely person. I also consider my son who is a cuddler and has shown to not mind when it's a baby but I become a human mattress if the child is older.:
:
I will comfort a child if they are hurt or are having a hard time saying goodbye. Then I have been known to have them sit on my lap and comfort them and find a way to get a giggle or smile before moving on with our day. I'm silly by nature so this doesn't take long.Comment
-
Can't let them smell fear or weakness!! :I'd write it into their social development plan under family values. "Don't hurt Mrs. Cat Herder, her knees are not strong, let's help her clean up toys, too, to protect her from further injury."
Later when little Jimmy comes in with his arm in a cast, they will know what to do. When Grandpa is having trouble picking up his dropped glasses, they will have already practiced recognizing and meeting a need of another person without being asked.
Ironically, the older I get the more prone to hugging, kissing and carrying I seem to be. I have to keep an eye on it. They will think I am going soft if I keep getting the feels. (Yes, clearly I am an old grouch who never sneaks kids marshmallows or kisses. ):
Comment
Comment