Taking a Shower

The one luxury that I have given myself since my first born was about 5 months old is a YMCA membership. It is heaven. I work out every morning (they provide up to 2 hours of free childcare) and have had an uninterrupted shower for most of the last 4 years. I honestly don't know why more moms don't take advantage of opportunities like that. I am not a huge exercise buff at all in the winters I take a spin class or swim and in the summer I swim a mile most mornings. It is an awesome way for me to keep my sanity and my boys absolutely love their "friends" time. It's a win/win all around.

Good luck!!

H. (SAHM to 4 3/4, 3 1/2 and 13 months old boys)

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Hi L.,
I agree with those who suggest to put your son in a crib or pack-n-play outside of the bathroom while you shower. I think it's important for children to understand that parents have their needs and routines too, and he certainly will be fine for ten minutes while you shower. He will adapt in time (very little time) and internalize the lesson as well. You stay at home with him and care for him every day; you don't have to sacrifice you shower time too!

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I used to bring afew toys and or books into the bathroom and shut the door. My daughter would sit on the floor and play while I took a quick shower and I could watch her around the shower curtain. She couldn't open the door and leave. I've always taught her what things not to touch and why, so she never tried to pull everything off of the counter or unroll the tp. I guess I got lucky w/ my daughter. Now I have a 3 month old son. Hopefully he'll behave as well as she did.

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I do what a lot of moms here have suggested - usually put her in her high chair with a sippy of milk and let her watch Baby Einstein (her favorite thing in the world). I may as well not exist while it's on. This way I can get a quick shower and dressed, even throw in a load of laundry or run the vaccum if I hustle!

Like others said too - depends on your comfort level, but half the time we take our bath/shower together! She thinks it's hilarious to see me wash my hair. I got this little cushioned blow up tub at babies r us for 12 bucks that fits in and fills half our tub. I usually fill it with a little water and toys and let her play while until I finish - then I wash her up hold her under the spray which she loves. It's a lot easier than it sounds. Good luck to you!

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I used to shower with my son (he'll be 1 later this month) but when it got so he could pull himself up, he would pull up on my soapy-slippery legs. He's been ID-ing the boobs for some time now so I've been showering with a bra on for months. Yeah! That's fun..... anyways, what we did is change out our shower head to a removable one with a water shut-off on the head so I could sit in the bath with him and wash up while keeping a closer eye on him and he's less likely to stand when I'm down on his level. The inverted shower head spray also makes a cool "fountain" for him to play in. I think we can all see by the responces, the days of a long, hot, PRIVATE shower are gone for a while! Those don't happen till the weekend when hubby is playing major daddy duty.
~~~~~Here's an additional item we all moms know too well...using the toilet with a baby on your lap. Never thought that was something I took for granted, guess I was wrong. Good Luck!

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This probably sounds nutty - but I used to lay down a foam and indoor/outdoor carpet to pad the tile floor, wrapped the base of our pedestal sink in foam, and put up a gate (tension rod kind) to block off the toilet, and would put my daughter in the bathroom with a box of toys to entertain her while I showered. It was important to me to feel in control that I got my daily shower! By my second child, I just learned to accept being grubby - LOL !

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Hi L.;

Put him in the playpen and let him cry!! It is perfectly fine to allow a child to cry!! Trust me it will only last about a day, if that. Then he'll know #1 who's the mom, and #2 that your not leaving him. I still put my 16 mos old daughter in the playpen so I can get a workout in and then leave her in there with a baby einstein on while I take my shower. She cried for like a minute the first time and now she knows the routine!

We as mom's, give up so much, much more than the dad's do, we need to show our children that we love them and want them to be safe, but that we are still going to have somewhat of our own "little routine" as well. If you can handle the crying for the initial shower, you'll be so much better off after a week!

Good Luck!

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Hi!

A pack and play can do the trick if you have one. I used that all the time with my oldest. She screamed hysterically for the first two or three times that I put her in, but after that she grew to like her time in the play pen with her toys!

Now that we have baby number 4, I've given up with the play pen, because I don't trust the other 3 kids alone in the room with the baby (9 months old). I now get up at 5:30am, to beat the kids, and then have time to shower, have coffee, and read the paper. I don't know how early your son gets up, but it might be worthwhile to get up at the crack of dawn yourself, just to have that quiet time. Good luck!

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I have had this problem with my youngest because she was an earlier walker than my oldest, and she is into absolutely everything. I have resorted to closing the bathroom door while keeping her with me (as long as your son doesn't have a desire for sticking his hand in the toilet like my daughter used to) and giving her some bath toys to play with while I shower. I have found that she just stands at the end of the shower and prefers to feel the water spray hit her a little while staring at me the entire time... yes, you do get used to the audience! This has worked so far, and she is so enthralled with what I'm doing that she doesn't even go for the toilet! If this won't work for your son, you just have to keep him confined in a highchair or pack and play like the others said. Good luck!

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If you don't want to take hime in with you sometimes I put my son in his high chair or stroller and take it into to the bathroom w/ me when I take a shower. I give him some toys and he usually stays happy long enough for me to take a shower or you could always take one while he's napping.

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I can totally relate - my daughter was the same way. Here was my solution, it sounds silly but it really worked:
I used to bring my daughter's car seat indoors. She thought it was fun to sit in her car seat all buckled in (propped up against a wall) and watch a video. I was able to take a long peaceful shower- knowing she was safe and immobile.

Hope this helps,

T.

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I put out toys on the bathroom floor for my son to play with and then try to be pretty quick in the shower. He likes to "unpack" things so I keep a small basket in the bathroom with 3 or 4 small toys he can pull out. He's 15 months now and I've been doing this since he was about 10 months. It's nice to have him in the bathroom so I can keep an eye on him and talk to him.

1 mom found this helpful

I don't know if it is possible in your home but I used to put a gate on the bathroom door and at the end of the hall and close all the doors creating a large play area and pile in a bunch of toys. This kept my son contained and close to where I was. Good Luck!

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Take him in the shower with you.

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I totally understand. With two active boys, 15 months and 2.5 years, many days I throw on a baseball cap and try to find the cleanest tee shirt!

How about trying a highchair and a snack in the bathroom? It's not that different from your exercauser. And it's usually easy to find a portable highchair at a yardsale or on FREECYCLE or Craig's list.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi L.
Gosh I understand this!!!My daughter was also an early walker. I joind a gym when she was little just cause they had a nursery and a shower. I didnt care if I ever worked out...lol Another sugestion is there a teen in your neighborhood that would come an sit with him whille you shower. Very tough when they start to walk but IT DOSE GET BETTER:) Trust me.
K.

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hi L. my husband leaves before me in the morning, so when i get ready for work i put my soon to be nine month old son in his high chair that is on wheels and push it in between the bathroom doorway, give him some dry cereal and jump in the shower. We live in a ranch house so it makes it easy to push the chair aound. Good luck!

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L.,

How about showering at night and doing your hair in the morning. This has worked for me.

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have you tried one of the little inflatable infant/toddler tubs? you can put it in the shower, and bring him in with you! my son used it at a friends on vacation and he loved it (he was 20 mos old at the time)
good luck
L.

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I used to put my son in his pack & play and sit it in front of the tv with a show that I know will keep him entertained for a bit. We rarely showed him tv, so it worked pretty well. I also threw in a few toys.

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Hi L.,
I know it is hard to work in when to take a shower. You have several options, it just depends on which is more suitable to you. You can take your shower in the afternoon or evening every day. Then technically you are clean for 24 hours, it's just hard to think of it that way. You can put your son in a pack and play with some toys, after you have everything prepared for your shower. You could also wash your hair in the sink (kitchen or wherever) and shave your legs in the tub while he plays nearby; then when you take your shower, it will be a shorter amount of time. It is such a hard age, and you don't want him crying or wandering around the house........I prefer to take my shower in the morning too, plus it helps me to wake up. You could also try putting him in a johnnie jump up in the hallway nearby. Lastly, you can fill the tub up somewhat and then take him into the shower with you. This way you are both clean at the same time and he can play with some toys in the tub and he won't be upset, because he will be with you. You could also alternate which days you put him in the tub with you and do the johnny jump up on another day. Maybe play some music at the time so it will be a fun time for him. I guess it goes without saying that your shower time gets shortened. Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful

my daughter who is now 2 never liked taking a shower with me, she still doesn't. I too did the highchair with the toys/snack and cartoons, or we have the space saver high chair so I would put that in the bathroom and play peek a boo around the corner. I couldnt take a long shower but I could at least wash my hair and maybe do a little eyeliner.

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One thing that works for a little while is taking him in the shower with you. If you have a tub seat, you can put him in it with a little water in the tub and a few toys. That way you can get under the shower while he's with you and occupied and still safe. I know it's only a temporary fix but it works. Good luck!

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When my daughter was younger I made sure her room was baby safe so she could play in it whenever she wanted and during my shower I would put a gate up to keep her in her room. She would cry sometimes but I knew she was safe. Now she is 22months and I have a 5month so I put the tv on and keep the bathroom door open so I can hear her. She will play or watch elmo and the baby plays in the exacauser or naps. Kids will learn that they just have to do things they don't want to at times to be safe and a little crying never hurt a kid.

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Hi L. -

I have the same problem with my 11 month old. These are my options when it comes to taking a shower: 1) Get up before the baby to take a shower, even 5 minutes 2) Take a shower at night and wet my hair in the morning 3) Take a shower during his a.m. nap 4) Put him in the pack and play for my quick shower. Let's face it, I wear a hat several days a week and certainly don't shower as much as I used to. Good Luck!

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Yeah that's a problem. I just got used to not showering everyday. Saved some $$ on the water bill. BUt if I really needed a shower when my son was small like that. I just took him in with me and let him play on the floor of the shower with his toys. Or for a while instead of a bath at night before bed I got a shower and so did he. 2 birds one stone.

good luck.

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One thing you may want to try is to bring him into the shower with you. Try sitting him in the tub on the other end with some bath toys. If he likes the tub, he will probably enjoy this as much. Or you can actually just hold him in the shower & perform the task one handed. This is not as easy since wet babies tend to become slippery LOL. My only other suggestion would be taking your showers at night.
Good luck to you

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I would strap my son into the travel boster seat with tray that is ment to be attached to a chair. I just put it on the floor of the bathroom. I would either give him a snack or a couple toys. It took a little while to convince him that this was a good idea. The toys that he played with I would only let him play with while I took a shower, he soon was excited to see the toys in the morning and stoped making a fuss.
-S.

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If you're not opposed, you could bring him in the shower with you. Just sit him on the floor of the tub/shower with some bath toys...

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What seems to work for my family and I is to create a space where our 10.5 month old can play safely. We shifted our living room into a friendly area that is safe and fun for our son. We use a gate to block off the rest of the house so our son can play in a very large space without being in any dangerous situations. This seems to work well. We put his toys in and he plays contently. Hope this helps!

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At first I put the excer-saucer in there, it would keep the baby busy and I could talk to him and play peek-a-boo through the shower door. After they were too big for that contraption, I set up a high chair. Good luck.

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My son is also very active and I had a similar problem. This might not be a popular solution, but I would put my son in his highchair (strapped in) in front of a video. With the tray on you could also put a few small toys in front of him. I know most will say tv before 2 is not suggested, but sometimes you just need a shower.

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Hi L.-

You have already got a lot of great suggestions! i am a very modest person and never liked being naked around my kids. Especially when my son started pointing out "boobies"! So, bringing him in the shower wth me was never an option. I bring him in the bathroom with me and peek out the curtain every couple minutes. I also had one of those activity tables that I left in the bathroom for him to play with. Unfortunately, quick showers are part of the mommy business...

Good luck :)

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Hi L.,
I take my shower at night after my 11 month old daughter goes to bed. My default hairstyle is pulled back in a clip, but life is a bit easier and I don't have to worry about her getting into stuff or screaming herself hoarse.

Good Luck,
A.

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I feel your pain, My husband is also up and out of the house before we wake in the morning. I read through most of what poeple had to said just to see what others have done with thier little ones. My son is one and all over the place, he is very adventurous as long as he can see me. So I usually have to wait until his morning nap before I try to get into the shower, but there are those days when you have to shower before 10am. We started off with the bouncy seat and moved to the exersaucer, but now that he is mobile he wants nothing to do with that. So now he comes into the bathroom with me and plays around with toys until I'm done. We have made the bathroom safe and I usually shower with the curtain half open so he can see me and I know what he is up to. I love some of the other I ideas however our bathroom is so small I can barely move as it is let alone bring in a highchair or pack and play. My son didn't like it at first but within a day or two he was happy as could be to play around while I showered.

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I used to actually drag one of those exer-saucers into the bathroom on those days when I just NEEDED a shower but now I see that you've tried that and it's no longer working. I've got nothing else... ever since then, I've just gone without until my daughter would nap also. My mom always just told me to just put her in her crib and eventually she'd "get over it", but I didn't have the heart for the same reason you stated. Not sure about the answer here - but I'd be curious to find out! Now that my daughter is 3, I still want her to be safe, so she agrees to go in her crib (yes! Still in a crib!) with some books while I shower - which is great. Now that she knows I'm not expecting a nap, she's okay for 5-10 minutes. Good luck - I hope people have good solutions for you!

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I have also wait until nap or I just bring my daughter in the shower with me. She loves playing with toys in the tub while I shower.

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Hi L.,
I am a Mom to two beautiful boys, a 5 year old and a 1 1/2 year old. Both my boys walked late so I didn't have your exact trouble but I still had to juggle when my showers would happen, if at all! At times now if I can't time it right, I take the high chair in the bathroom with me and strap him right in with a snack so I can see him and he can see me at all times. I have come to realize that showers are a luxury that some days I don't get.....it definitely makes me appreciate the next one though!
Good luck,
Take care,
V. D.

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I always had a pack and play in my living room. Our daughter would play in it for hours and she didn't get the negative message that it was bedtime or something. She is now 2 1/2 and still loves the pack and play since for her it is guaranteed alone time....of course she is getting too big and we only have it set up when we have extra kids around.
Give your son some toys or park it in front of his favorite show or DVD! He may be mad at first but may grow to enjoy his independence as much as you love your shower!

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Hi L.,
What worked for me when my son was that age was just putting him in the bathroom with me and closing the door. I had child locks on the vanity so he could open anything. I brought a few toys in with me and he just played while I showered. Gone were the days when I could sit in the shower for a half hour but I guess lots of things fly out the window when you become a Mom, right?!? Now my son is 2.5 and it is so much easier. I can take a shower with the door open while he plays in his room. Good luck!

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It looks like you have a lot of suggestions, but I put my baby in his high chair buckle him in and give him toys, then I bring the whole chair into the bathroom and put it right next to the shower to keep an eye on him. It works great and sometimes he even falls asleep in it. good luck!

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I agree with the advice of all those that suggest that you let your child cry - this will not harm him or warp his thinking or make you a 'bad mommy' - and you should not have to shower late at night or forego one all together. We have three daughters ages 11 yrs, 6 yrs and 6 mos - needless to say, my husband and I are quiet accustomed to drama and tears. But, we know that our daughters are better people because they have a healthy perspective on life - they don't 'get what they want by crying' and mom and dad are people, too - they know they are 'imporant, beloved and part of a family' but not 'the center of the universe'! My advice, too, is to sing loudly in the shower - it will help wash the guilt away (self-imposed, of course, because we mothers are good at this) and tune out the crying! It doesn't take long, as another mom said, for our little ones to get accustomed to a routine!

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Hi,
I have a very active 18 month old little girl. When she was 9 months she started to walk. I purchased a safety first bath seat that hooks to the side of your tub. She loved to sit in it and play in the tub while I showered,now that she grew out of it she just sits in the bottom of the tub and plays while i shower.

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I remember that phase with my son oh so well. I used to have to take my son into the shower with me most days. If your son enjoys the bath, pull out his baby bathtub or even a dish basin and fill it with water and toys. That way he may sit in it and play and the shower won't bother him. The other thing I used to do was to bring him into the bathroom and let him play with toys on the floor. Of course, you will have to childproof the bathroom well (they have toilet locks to keep him out of there). Hope you can find a solution that works for you.....

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T.V.! Pack n' play in front of the tv, with age appropriate programs. works for my 2 kids--ages 3 and 1. They like Sesame Street or some of those 'playhouse disney' shows. I think I've used baby Einsteins when my oldest was younger too. Good luck.

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Hi L. - Try putting some water toys on the floor of the tub and bringing your son into the shower with you. My little ones (now 5 and 2) both loved and still love taking showers with mommy or daddy, especially if they can play with the "beach" toys. Good luck! Gianna

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Hi-

I have an infant/toddler seat that my 13 month old still fits in. I strap her in there so she cannot get out and put on a baby einstein video. this holds her attention for the duration of the video (usually around 30 min) and gives me the time to shower, dress and dry my hair. Not sure what I am going to do once she is too big for the chair and when my second arrives in October!

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My daughter is 4 now but I used to take a shower with her. I would put her in one end of the tub and give her some toys while I took a shower at the other end (standard size tub).
Good Luck!
-A.

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Dear L.,

I used the bouncer until my son was about on year old. I made sure I made eye contact with him every now and then - sort of playing peek-a-boo. I also would bring him in the shower with me once he could stand well on his own. I got a good non slip mat and even though he didn't like it at first, he got used to it. I put a few toys that are shower only toys and for a while I couldn't take a shower without him wanting to come in.
He is 21 months now and I shower before my husband goes to work or I give him a toy in the bathroom.
Also, I would take a bath with him, and I would use his soap and shampoo so it wouldn't hurt his eyes.

I hope this helps,
A.

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L., I say go ahead and put him in a crib/playpen/exersaucer for a bit. Yes, he will cry, but he'll soon figure out how to amuse himself. I read a great book called Babywise when my first was born that explains how important it is to teach kids to soothe and amuse themselves so you don't have to be in eye shot of them every second. I was lucky this was easy for my girls, and I realize some children are harder then mine were, but it really will do both of you a world of good for him to know how to safely amuse himself wherever you decide he needs to be. Another idea is to bring the exersaucer into the bathroom and get a clear shower liner on a separate rod so you can close that and he can still see you. I still have this setup from when my children were infants and I'd put them in the baby seat in the bathroom while I showered. It doesn't help with the training, but it may help with the screaming!!!! A neonatologist at Beth Isreal hospital told me not to worry, a little crying is great exercise for their lungs! : )

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Do you have a pack n play? You could use that as a playpen, so he's confined, but not in his "nap space" If you have the room, you could even set it up right near the bathroom so you can talk to each other. It wouldn't be the most relaxing shower, but it might do the trick!

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As much as it pains every mother to do it. Sometimes your kid just hs to cry. I have never been a big believer in being a maryter......... As a parent your life changes so much you can't start letting yourself become a slave to it. YES you will not be taking showers that last longer than 5-10 minutes until your child is in school (the safety of your house is at stake here!) BUT you should be able to take them when needed! What are you going to do when he starts eating only table food? Have hotdogs and chicken nuggets (or whatever) ONLY?
I put my son in his room when he was younger with a gate up on the door. Completely babyproof it (might have to move some stuff around or out for awhile but this is his safety and your sanity!) Then if you want to do the tv go ahead or if you are not ready for that until he is older, my son LOVES music! He is almost three now and sings along word for word to many songs he has been listening to since just under a year. Some great cds out there! Sesame St, Barney, Baby Einstien, Sandra Boynton, Raffi..... the list goes on. GOOD LUCK!

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Put him in a pack n' play! Once babies have their freedom they are not going to love being in there, but if you put some toys and books in there he will be fine. You need to do this for your own sanity. I have four kids and none of them were "thrilled" to go into their pack n'play, but it's a safe place where they can learn to entertain themselves for a half hour so that you can shower or make dinner. Even if you baby proof a room perfectly they can always find some trouble to get into, even if it is tripping and hitting their head. It's so much safer in a pack n'play and if you start to feel guilty just remind yourself that they are safe and it's actually good for them to learn to play alone a little bit sometimes.
When my son was two I left him for two minutes just to run into the bathroom. I have a gate across my kitchen to keep the kids away from the dangers. This was the day that he figured out how to open the gate. In the two minutes that I was in the bathroom he got into the refrigerator and smashed the eggs and also tasted some of them RAW!! It's better to be safe than sorry and this was definitely a day that I wished he was still small enough for his pack n'play!! Good Luck!

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My 14 month old usually gets up around 6:30 so I get up at 6:00 and shower first thing. It makes for an even earlier morning but that is the only way that I can get it done before the chaos of the day starts. Good luck!

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Hi L.,I have this problem also!!What I do is put him in his highchair and put on the tv,and I take the fastest shower in the world but at least I know hes safe...so far!!Hope that helps,(sometimes he will play in his crib for me,i put all the lights on and a bunch of toys and say play here for a few minutes,its not nap time ect....not sure if he knows what im talking about but some day hwe willGood luck

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Hi L.,
I also have one son and what worked for me (keeping me clean and happy) was just taking my son into the shower with me. He had been taking baths in the tub for some time so he knew that the rule was to stay on his bottom (still a rule he follows at almost four years old!!). He would just play at my feet while I showered up. The only thing that I never did was shave while he was in the shower with me.... For some reason it didn't strike me as safe?? Good luck!
M.

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Uggh, I feel your pain! I have resorted to letting my one year old son play in the tub with me while I shower. He screams and tries to get out of the crib if I leave him there and he climbs into the tub if I just leave him in the bathroom with the door closed...good luck!

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I had to get into the habit of taking a shower at night before I went to bed. My boys were asleep and it would give me time to take a bath every once in a while as well and just plain relax, I put some of the Arbonne Unwind bath salts in the tub. (sometimes I even read a few chapters of a book!)
It might work for you, I found I slept better this way and never had to worry about the boys since my husband was home at night. Good Luck, L.

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I always strapped my daughter in her high chair or took her in with me. She liked the height and I think anticipated food in the high chair vs. her crib, so she was more patient. I've also dragged the high chair in front of the bathroom door with safe snacks, or just to talk to her while I was in there.
(Ay! I'm not looking forward to that age again!)

1 mom found this helpful

i usually get up before my daughter but there are those days when we wake up at the same time. i just jump in the shower before i go into her room. this way i am not worrying about what to do with her or her screaming cause i leave her sight. she doesn't know the difference cause she hasn't seen me. i do admit there are times when i finish getting myself dress and she's fussy by the time i am done but all is good when i get her.

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I'd put him in a high chair with something seriously yummy!

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Hi L.,

I never liked to let my son scream either. I used to bring a travel lite pack n play into the bathroom and put a few books and toys in there. He also liked to see me every few seconds, so we played peek-a-boo and I sang a lot- but it worked every morning. I couldn't bring myself to get up before him, so this was the only way I could have a semi-peaceful shower everyday! I don't like the idea of letting a little one run around the bathroom- if the floor gets wet it can be slippery- and a fall would get the day off to an awful start!

Good luck!

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Use a play pen, and get a Baby Einstein Video and that will give you about 22 minutes. Put a few toys that he can teeth on -- I was a firm user of them because it gave them a chance to play while taking that idea away that they don't have to sleep. He can listen to great music and see images that are educational while you have a few moments of peace! I know how you feel, we want to look good all the time if we can squeeze it in!

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I have to second what a lot of parents have said.

1. shower with him
2. lock him in the bathroom with you (you can get a lock for the potty)-- what we did with our first-- haivng him be naked is probably the best solution b/c they like to watch and get sprayed by the shower.
3. high chair in front of the TV
4. (this is what we did) put her in front of the computer while my other one is using it in her high chair.
5. high chair in the bathroom

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The way my house is set up, I would put my child in the highchair with some books or toys and drag the highchair in front of the bathroom door....... NOthing like showering with a audience!!

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Will he stay in a pack and play, where he has more room to play? This works for my daughter. I put the pack & play in the doorway so I can see her, and I have a clear shower curtain so she can see me. I toss in a ton of toys. I still have to be quick about my shower, but it has helped!

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Ever thought of taking him into the shower with you? I've done that with my son in the past and he loves it. Another thought - if he's in his crib unhappy, as least he's in there safe, right? He'd eventually adjust to being in there for a few minutes while you shower.

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sometimes you just have to let them scream, stick him in the crib, or move the play yard next to the bathroom, give him some pots and pans to bang on and take your shower. he will be fine, even if he screams the whole time. How do you think moms of multiples do it? (i'd go insane! lol) Good luck!

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I have the same problem with my son. I am a single mother, so I don't ever have a break to do any of those things you need to do on your own! You might want to try putting up a pack and play with some toys in it...maybe even put it in front of the TV w/ a baby Einstein dvd for him to watch. He may still scream and cry, but at least you know he is safe. My son still screams and cries when I do this, but you have to take a shower, and it's not for that long....I know it's hard...hang in there!

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When my son was old enough, I used an exersaucer in the bathroom. When he was a little older, I closed doors and used gates to make a playpen out of our hallway. We have a narrow hallway. I left the door to the bathroom open and put a gate in it so my very young son would be able to see and hear me. I put plenty of safe toys in the "pen" with him. When he got older he didn't understand that I needed to have the door closed while I was in there. I can't remember what I used to do at that age. Maybe showered at night.

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my son takes showers with me or, I just let him play freely in the bathroom. I just lock the cabinet. really what is there to get into in a bathroom

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What about taking him into the shower with you? Our shower tub drains slowly, so if I want a shower while DD's awake and not otherwise occupied (she's 17 months) I wash her and then put her down in the tub to splash while I wash. End of shower, I rinse her of any suds, towel us off, and get her dressed first.

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Can I ask what you do during the day just during nap to generate extra money for your family? I even wanted to stuff envelopes but can't find a place that will let me do that. I'd really like to make some extra money so if you'd spill your source - that would be great.

Wow! You certainly received numerous responses and I must admit that I didn't read them so I apologize if I repeat someone's advice. I was going to suggest a toilet lock. Also, I had twins and taking a shower was a real challenge once they could walk so I usually hung a jolly jump up on the door and let one jump while the other played in the swing or exersauser (I know you said that the exersaucer no longer works for him). Good luck! Hope this helps!

Hi L., Well I didn't read all your responses, but thought I'd throw in my 2 cents. I work full time right now, but will be staying home with my son starting after the holidays. Right now what I do is shower at night. I used to in the morning, but found that at night I don't have to rush and the warmth is soothing for bedtime. I just get up in the morning (with already dried hair) and throw on my makeup and go. I was contemplating whether or not to keep that up when I stay at home and I think I will. Even though my son's a good napper, I have much less worry at night when he's in bed and my husband's home. Also, I will follow the pack in asking what you do to earn extra income. With being a new SAHM I'd love to bring in some money where possible.

Hi L.! You got some great responses. I wish I had had some of those ideas when my son was that age! He's 2 now. I usually try to jump in the shower before he gets up and then after he's fed and playing happily, I go back and dry my hair, do my makeup, etc.
I wanted to ask, what do you do to make money from home? I would love to make a little extra income, but it's hard finding out about "at-home" jobs.

Hi L. -

I know you already got tons of responses, and sorry if this was already mentioned, but I put my daughter in her pack 'n play. The trick is I wait until after she's been up for a while and has tired herself out a bit. The other trick is I've done it enough that she now anticipates it as part of her routine - she'll even go put her hand on it and say "puh puh" when she's ready for a break. =) Even if your son yells at first, I think he would come to accept it if it's part of your morning ritual. My daughter is 17 months and *very* active.

I echo someone else who asked what you did to make money during naptimes - I'd love to know!

Best,
H.

Hi! I read some of the repones. I babyproofed like crazy. Yet the moment I wasn't watching my 14 month old climbed the bookcase & got stuck. She also fell headfirst into the toiliet. (We put locks on the toliet seats after that & the door knob covers). I love the playpen in the bathroom idea. Also, we had high chains & jingle bells on the doors until we got an alarm system. Our son slipped out & down the street at 2. We had a friend put the baby in the crib. The 2 yr old, 4 yr od & 6yr old were playing & a video was on. She ran to take a quick shower. SHe heard fighting so got out with shampoo in her hair. The 4 & 6 yrs olds were fighting & the 2 yr old had somehow pulled the baby out of the crib & down the hall to play. I'd rather they were in the bathroom in the playpen.
Enjoy now. My girls are in college & the baby is in 8th grade.:)

How about putting him in the stroller and strapping him in with a toy or a snack?

When my kids were that age they loved their "johnny jump ups" (hang from the doorways and they can run and bounce. they would play in it for hours and it gave me time to take a shower and get some other things done - knowing they were safe and happy! You could try puttingone on the bathroom door so you could keep an eye on him while showering. good luck!

At that age, I would put my kids in the shower with me, and then at some point in the shower (usually after I washed my hair) I would stop the drain so they could play in the bath water while I continued my shower. The upside is that it's easy to get the kids clean while they're in there with you. The downside is that it may be awhile before you get to shower alone! My 18-month-old and 4-year-old daughters still love to join me just about every morning! My oldest (6) is a boy, and he took showers with me for several years (until after he was 3 or so, if I can remember correctly).

I read some of your responses and I wanted to add mine. My son showers with me as if you think about it, we are leaving them alone; however, I have tried in my bedroom to put a movie on for him and he will leave the movie and come into the bathroom, open the shower door and come in; We don't have a tub in this bathroom; it's a pretty long shower; so, when he was small, I bought this round shower cloth bath tub that I got at Baby USA and put toys in it. Now that he is bigger, I have two small baskets filled with his favorite toys.

I would be afraid to leave him in a swing at a young age or any age as you never know what could happen.

Showers are quick if you get really busy. My son loves them even over baths.

Hi L., I used a bouncey seat, not the regular soft cloth ones with the little belt that babies can flop themslves out of but a really good one. It was part of the Graco Heirloom Swing, the seat also doubled as a bouncy and came out of the swing attachemnt.It has a tray that snaps down and keeps baby safe and good for putting cheerios on while in the shower :) I never really used the swing much but this bouncey seat has been a life saver! It's also bigger than a normal bouncey, my daughter is a year old and still fits it. I liked the stroller idea someone gave, if you have one with a tray you could put a snack to keep your lil one busy and content. Good luck :)

I would put him in his crib with toys even if he doesn't like it, he will be safe. Once you do it a few times with toys and the lights on he will probably just realize it is his play time in his crib. At even if he doesn't like it you know he is safe. The other suggestion is to have his room totally safe and leave him in there with a gate at his door and let him play in his room.

Do you belong to a gym or health club? I take my 3yo b/g twins to the gym with me, drop them off at the tot drop, work out, shower, and then grab them on the way out....I get some time to myself AND a shower! I've been doing this since they were 9 months old...even if I don't always have time for the shower, I still feel better! Good luck!!

Hi! There are so many responses...I have not read ALL of them, but have tried the following tips: johnny jump up hanging on the door post with a video on seemed to work the best, the exercise saucer got old, toys did not last all that long either, showering during nap only worked with my long napper, next came the short napper, sooooooo - I finally put the kids in the shower with me and let them sit on the floor with a rubber toy. Put several towels down on the floor when getting out because they are very slippery. The added benefit: they got a shower too. Then after a couple of months maybe, they were quite content to sit in front of a video while mommy got ready. I think they figured out what I was doing for so long and were content to do something else :)
P.S. - may I ask what you do at home to make money?

Will he play in a pack n play for 5 or 10 minutes? Pull it into your bathroom with toys in it and let him try to play there. My bathroom was big but not that big so I had to put the pack n play just outside the door. Open the door all the way and position the pack n play in the opening right up against the door frame so the door is pinned up against the wall. You don't want little fingers to get pinched. I could see him from the shower in the doorway. I turned the tv on to keep him company too. Good luck. I have 2 year old triplets now and forget a shower while they are awake. I still haven't figured out a better way than showering at night or at naptime.

Hi L., I see your son is as active as my daughter
Well I use to have to get up before she did in the mornings and take my shower and then when she got up I was
ready for the day. hopefully I could be some help. Good Luck

A.
www.momteam.com/achabre
____@____.com

I used to close the door and give my boys crayons for the tub and they used to decorate the outside of the tub???? It isn't a relaxing shower but it works.. Or they used to come in with me too - some people are funny about that but they just play with their sharks and toys and it is great!!

Late I know...I found an inflatable baby tub at a garage sale (Carter's "Just One Year" line). It's small enough to fit in the tub with just enough room left for me to shower! My 13-month-old has been happy to play in the water while I shower for months now.

I totally feel your pain! I, too, try to shower at night but that doesn't always happen. Although it's sometimes annoying, I have started putting toys on the bathroom floor and shutting the door keeping our 15 mo old daughter in the room with me. She spends most of the time moving the curtain to the side to watch me which sometimes is a little uncomfortable, but I remind myself she's just curious about everything in the shower, not just me. She doesn't like to take a shower with me (tried that), so we end up getting some water on the floor, but I know it's a temporary issue. Good luck!

Hi L.,
I am just catching up on mamasource since I haven't checked in in a few weeks. I just wanted to add that recently I got a spare playpen for my 10 month old VERY active/non napper. It was the cheapest one I could find (Cosco, from kmart). It just happened to be on sale too ( yeah!!) and was only $30. It is smaller than standard pack n plays and I love it because I can roll it though doorways and even into the bathroom. I do that when I shower so my son can be nearby and safe too. My bathroom is 'un-babyproofable' because it is all tile with a tiled soaker tub too. So if you are still looking for another option, that really worked for me. The only thing was to make sure he couldn't reach the handles on the drawers and cabinet since he loves to do that!!
Good luck.

Buckle him into an umbrella stroller, give him a toy, and use a clearshower curtain so you can talk to him while you shower. He may not like it at first, but do it for a week and he'll take it as routine... I feel your pain!

Just FYI -
when my son was about this age, I would keep him in the bathroom with me as well. One time, he dropped a toy in the tub and then reached over to get it. The weight of his head forced him to fall into the tub. there was no water in it, but it scared him to death and he probably COULD have been injured by hitting his head on the tub. So, keep your ears open when showering and listen for what he is doing! Definitely lock down your toilet too - because the same thing could happen in a toilet bowl, but with the water, it would be super dangerous.

I can't be of any help, I had the same problem with my daughter. I just put her in the bedroom which was connected to the bathroom and put a movie on for her. That seemed to work pretty well. At least I was able to get a shower. May I also ask you what work you do on the side? I would love to make extra money b/c I am a SAHM as well.