9 Months Pregnant with Preschooler to Occupy

1) pick a nice room to play in that you can sit on the floor and babygate the door to remind both of you that this is one-room playtime

2) sit on the floor (I recommend a Boppy pillow--those nursing U shaped ones, right?--I used to sit crosslegged on these because it had that big opening in the middle so all my vaginal area wouldn't have pressure put on it)

3) declare playtime

Your child is old enough to understand ideas like "Mommy has an owie in her back (or wherever) and can't move around much, so you have to choose games that you can play by yourself or bring to where Mommy is sitting." If you have a little lay-down place for *you* in the room (couch or mat on floor, or her bed if you use her room), chances are she'll snuggle with you for a while if she doesn't actually take the cue and take a real rest ...

And ALLLLL of these things are good things to get her used to BEFORE the baby comes, because you will sure need them for a while AFTER the baby comes ... and all the things you can add to your shared routine now so they don't seem imposed 'by the baby,' are wise to add now ...

Read her books, tell her stories, make up games where she can jump around nearby (Wee Sing has some cds, that have all those games where you have to follow instructions). This is a good time to cuddle lots (if she'll let you and isn't too busy) and teaching her about her role as a big sister. Also role playing what to do with a baby is great so she'll know more what to expect. And don't feel bad about the movies. Enjoy them with her! And then put the TV completely away when this time is up, so you aren't tempted to use it when you're back on your feet. I had bad morning sickness with my last, and my kids watched their fair share, but then when that was done, we put it away and only watch it now and then (it stays in the guest room so they forget about it and so do I)

First of all, as long as you are not allowing her to watch inappropriate things on TV, it will not hurt her at all to allow her to watch more TV for the next few weeks while you finish your pregnancy and have a new baby. Think long term... extra TV for that short amount of time will have no long term effect. You may have a wild child with pent up energy on your hands though.

Have ready made snacks where she can reach them so you don't have to jump up every time she needs food or drink. Make sure that your babysitter is doing lots of active things with her so she can spend her quite time with you. If the babysitter gets her outside for an hour at least every day, she'll be more able to settle down with you.

Read lots of books, and spend your time locked (with a baby gate or door) into one child proof room. That way, you can watch her and be with her, but don't have to get up to do anything.

Reading and arts & crafts. Cut up pictures out of the newspaper & ads of things that she likes, then help her glue them onto a piece of paper to make a collage. Coloring, cutting and pasting of any type. Books and singing songs. Put on some music and watch her dance. You can encourage her and clap with the music and for her. Make your own music with maracas, little pianos, pots & pans whatever you have around.

LOL.. I think most moms (myself included when I was in the same situation) went with the guilt and the t.v. for the most part.

Other than that, have you tried some crafts? My kids love it when I make homemade playdough with them. You can sit at the table while making it. I don't add the food coloring until its all made. Then we sit and they tell me what colors to add. They love watching the colors streak through and then as we add more colors, they see the mixing. After its done, it is the coolest playdough ever and they'll play with it for days. ;-)

Also, scraps of paper and stencils and glue sticks and crayons, and pictures cut out of old magazines (or better yet, out of books she's ripped up) can keep them pretty entertained for awhile. Leave the mess for the hubby or babysitter to take care of though!

Colors, playdough, dollhouse, puzzles??? anything that you can sit down and do along with her would be great. You need your rest, but she needs QUALITY time with her mommy. Have daddy go out and get her a couple "project" toys, like the ones I listed above. You dont have to spend a ton, get out to a thrift store or hunt down a good yard sale. Another thought it to get her a baby of her own. A cabbage patch doll is my personal preference. Help her to learn how to take care of her baby so she can be prepared for the new little darling. Best of luck to you!

How about having activities for her at home:
1) play doh - my 3 year old will sit in her little brothers high chair for 30 minutes to an hour working with play doh. Its easy to make play doh at home. Give her ideas on what to do with it once she's done with the rolling pin, cookie cutters, stamps - she made apples in a basket, cow face, etc. by molding the play doh.
2) puzzles
3) stringing beads
4) trike in the backyard and I can just sit and watch her
5) lego duplos
6) sorting cards
7) coloring / painting

I am also pregnant with an active 4.5 year old that goes to school 3 days a week. I have some issues that also require me to "get horizontal" for a few hours at a time during the day, usually the afternoon when she is home.

I have gone through the gamut of activities and finally decided that the ones that make a big mess (like play dough and paint or glue-requiring crafts) are out because even though they occupy her, I'm left with cleaning up and that takes its toll - especially bending, etc. It's not a winning solution for me right now. So....

First of all, don't feel bad at all about increasing TV time if you need to. It's only a few weeks and there are many good quality shows she can watch while you get the rest you and the baby need. If you have TIVO or a DVR, you will be able to watch recorded programs as you need (my daughter loves Little Bill, Magic School Bus, Pinky Dinky Doo, Sid the Science Kid, Super Why, Berenstein Bears for example). Or with Comcast you have great selection of the PBS shows On Demand as well. I know it feels awful to use the TV, but it's such a brief time in her life..

You may want to get her started on educational software. My daughter started playing the Reader Rabbit games when she was about your daughter's age. All preschool/pre-reading and pre-math games. She'll likely play for a couple hrs at a time if you let her!!! Again, don't feel bad if you need the rest for now. There are also games on PBS.com and NickJr.com, as long as you can help her navigate a bit.

We also do board games and card games together in addition to more reading time. My daughter also really enjoys the Preschool Readiness books you can get at stores like The Learning Palace, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Target, etc. They keep her busy with easy matching games, basic mazes, letter and coloring games, etc. I can do any of these things from a mostly reclined position either on the couch or floor in our living room with her.

Lastly, if she doesn't already do "quiet time" or naptime in the afternoons, it may be a good time to try that again. Where she stays in her room and plays alone. Start with 20 minutes then add time as you can. My daugther stil naps for 1.5-2 hrs in the afternoon. Once in a while she won't sleep but just stays and play in her room for about 1 hr.

Been there, done that. Please excuse my brief note.

See if you can get more baby sitting help, or hubby can come home earlier during these last weeks. You really need some more help taking care of your daughter.

Congratulations on the upcoming birth. Take care.

Great suggestions already. My almost 3 year old is really into pink, princesses, dress up. I know a trip to Goodwill can provide us with lots of fun dress up supplies. The other thing she will play with for a LONG time is this Melissa & Doug wooden dress-up doll set. They look like paper dolls, but they are wood and the clothes are magnetic. It was well worth the $20!

Not sure if you have "On Demand" on your cable, but there is a show on Discovery Kids called, "Hi-5" that is very preschool/toddler friendly, and if my daughter wants to watch it, we usually let her. It's not a "sit there and zone out" show.

Hang in there! We have a 4 month old too, and those last weeks were hard... I seriously thought I might be sore and uncomfortable forever!

this is probably not a popular response but what about more preschool? it would be better than tv anyway and would give you a chance to rest. you don't have too much longer to go (altho i'm sure it feels like it!)

Get her some learning computer games or a leapster.

My daughter loves to help me cook and clean. If you can include her in these activities at least you could combine your standing up time with some entertainment for her.

My daughter also loves her new Duplo Legos, and playing play-doh - both of which she can do on her own, or at least let me sit while i play with her. Sometimes i can get her to play on her own at the playground while i sit, too, which is good for getting out the wiggles.

I'm also 35 weeks with a nearly 3.5 year old but luckily she is in school 5 days while I work... but I understand becuase my husband works later and some weekends and it is certainly getting harder to keep her occupied. Don't feel bad about some TV... if you have any friends with kids now might be the time for some playdates. Then you could sit and they could play. We color, paint (canvas and water colors can take a while), we read a LOT of books, go to the library and visit OMSI where I can basically sit for a while as she runs around the play area. We make letters and pretend to mail them and I send her to a pretend mail box in another room... she runs for a few mins and I sit still :) We do a lot with tinker toys or even play on the yoga mat, bake together (hay, always good to have a few things frozen for after the baby), do leaf rubbings, glue stuff we cut out from magazines, I put on music and have her dance for me or do a fasion show for me... All the same stuff we do in the winter when it is raining but without some of the running around.

The good news it is just a few more weeks now and then she can be your big helper with the new baby too!