Baby Wont Go in Playpen or Walker

Let him explore!!! You can leave a few toys around on the floor and let him check them out. Books are great as well. I wouldn't do the cry it out thing. I never understood the logic of trying to deaden them to their feelings, or 'toughen up'.

If you have things to do (take a shower, etc.) then have the father take hi for a tour of the house. My kids went on tour all the time. Dad picks them up and starts showing him things, doesn''t matter what - pictures on the wall, the window, etc. He could also take them out for a walk.

My theory is that kids want to be told about things, so talk to him about everything you're doing - it will entertain him, most likely, at least for some stretches of time. With a baby, you have to mix things up and keep it entertaining, at lest a little. They won't just sit in a playpen all day - they want to find out about stuff!!! This is a chance for you to tell him about every little thing you know.

And forgto about most of the housework - mothers with babies just cant get it done, so give it up and make peace with a medium mess. It's okay.

Good luck!
M.

Hi D.- Both my kids hated the play pen. The only time we used it was as a portable crib for them to sleep in while traveling. I think they felt trapped and honestly I didn't blame them. We used baby gates and made the house safe so they could roam more. I wore them a lot in a Bjorn or back pack while I did house stuff and otherwise just let them cruise around. Put toys and books in different places around the room for him to explore. As someone else mentioned music is a great distraction too. Maybe your son just doesn't like the feeling of being in the play pen and honestly even if he did put up with it now it won't last for long. As he gets older you'll need to have safe rooms where he can play and you don't have to be right there every second. Finally remember that 10 months is prime attachment time, it may not be that he hates playpen as much as he just wants you. Thankfully this phase doesn't last long!

Serena is correct in saying don't use the walker or playpen, but figure out a way to make your home safe for your child to explore. Use gates to prevent him getting into areas that need to be "off limits" and make at least one room... in an area where you normally will be... totally accessable to him. If possible, put him in a highchair where he can watch you in the kitchen as you prepare meals and do clean-up... or make his naptimes your kitchen work times. Try to make up meal items as much ahead as you can so that when it's time to actually put the meal on the table, you can do it quickly. A bunch of pre-cooked ground meat frozen into small packets can be put in the refrigerator to thaw the night before and quickly added to soups, sauces, etc. so it will make your meal prep easier during the day. And forget any fancy meals you might like to make until your son is a bit older... keep it all simple for the time being.
Also try to talk with him as you are working. Just carry on a conversation about what you are doing. Even pick him up when possible and let him see what it is you're doing... talk to him about the processes you have to do, just as if you were talking with another adult. You'll be surprised how much he'll learn from that sort of sharing. It will help him develop his speech and vocabulary and give him an interest in what goes on in his home. As long as you're careful of safety issues, this can be a wonderful experience for both of you. Also have his dad do this sort of thing with him, and you should see the bonding develop better between them. BTW, it seems that the bonding with Dads tends to begin at about your son's age, and by the time he's 18 months you may begin to wish you had more of the boy's attention. They tend to begin to gravitate toward Dads between ages one and two.

Hi mama! I'm in the same boat as you! My daughter is 9 1/2 months & has no interest in being away from me. I use a Beco baby carrier which she likes better than the sling. I also made a little padded play area for her in the bathroom so she can have the freedom of movement while I quickly shower. As much as I need to get things done sometimes, I have taken great pride in the fact that I put my daughter first. It will pay off in the long run! In a short while, our babies won't rely on us nearly as much as they do now so enjoy this closeness while it lasts. You will have the rest of your life to "get stuff done."

J.

P.S. I haven't figured out a way to get my daughter to happily play in her pac and play or the exersaucer! I take the 5 minutes she will tolerate & run around like a mad woman getting one or two things that I can't do with her done!

My son didn't like to be in a playpen or walker. We ended up putting baby gates up so that he was confined to the family room and kitchen. The gates were on tension rods, so we didn't mess up the door jambs and were short enough for my husband and me (only 5'6") to step over. We had latches on the cabinets and drawers, so he couldn't get into things that he shouldn't and safety plugs in the wall sockets. He could explore the two rooms, look out the patio door at the cats, birds, etc. That worked for us until he got strong enougn to push the gates out of place, but that wasn't until he was over 2 years old.

i certainly understand,yet, if you had to go to work each day, you would have no choice but to let your hubbie deal with it. perhaps start by going out for a walk with a girlfriend and return to praise hubby and child. wear baby on you as you clean house. are you playing music? maybe he will like it as a sort of companion. get his bigger stuffed animals out to be with him too. Try books on tape or a radio station. you are setting his reality about the way things will be, and we don't want Dad feeling left out. Dad can watch him in a fenced in safe area. start modeling how he will use his senses to explore, one sense at a time.
good luck,
G.

The best thing for babies are freedom within safe limits.
Have you seen those white fences that hook together? You can make a huge play yard where he will be safe and with plenty of room to play with his toys and use his body to get around. Does he like music? If he cries, come by and touch him and tell him he is okay and then go get what you need to do done. Little by little he will get better. Or to get things done if someone can take him for a walk outside in his stroller to get some fresh air.

Aha someone who is going through exactly what I've just gone through. I thought I was going to lose my mind. My girlfriend warned me and said you HAVE to do it for at least 30 mins a day in order to get things done like dinner or laundry. Well let me tell you that is easier said than done but I did it. And my baby is attached to my hip (I'm a first time SAHM too) but the key is to make it work for you and to do what works for you. I did it two ways: only for 15 minute chunks in the play pen where he could see me or right about his nap time. I only use his play pen for naps (or 15 mins holds so I can do something quick) and crib for nighttime sleep only. That seems to have helped. That way he doesn't associate his crib with "oh my gosh she's going to leave me in here for hours" so I can get him to go down for sleep. It has worked but I've had to work it out for me. I've done it different ways: put him in the pack n' play in the kitchen so he can see me, stay in his room for a minute reading a magazine then slip out when he's not looking where he will possibly cry for a few minutes then fall asleep etc. You need to try different things and do what works for you. When you just put him in there for a few minutes to try and get something done..put a few new toys in (ones he doesn't see every day) to try an occupy him. Okay hope that helps. Good luck!

why cage your child? your home should be a yes environment that will allow your child to explore. Walker are terrible for the development of leg and back muscles. it also scares me that you would let your child cry for over an hour. have you tried a baby carrier or sling? you'd have both hands free and you can wash dishes.