I am just looking around to see what other parents have tried. I have a 3 month old and I would like for her to have some time to lay on the floor to play. But this is where the delimma occurs. I have 5 other kids too. I don't want to limit what they can do in the play room just because their sister is on the floor, yet I want her to have the time on the floor to explore and stretch. Today for example I laid her on the floor and with me sitting right close to her she was bumped with a toy or something 3 times, and she wasn't even in the flow of traffic (She was kicking the bottom of the couch with her feet). What have you other moms tried??
I use a portable crib and when the weather is better I plan on getting a gate/fence yard. I like the portable crib because it keeps my son toys in line of eye sight and not to far out of reach. And most of all safe from the outside world. Hope that helps
I was also thinking of a pack and play. They do have bug guards for over them that might keep flying objects from landing on the baby. I knew one mom who let the baby play under the coffee table. Congratulations! Have fun with all those little ones!
My mother in law used to turn a playpen upside down over the baby so they he could play on the floor and still be protected from flying objects. Might be kind of dangerous if the playpen can collapse though-maybe they were stronger back then. I usually put the baby down in the livingroom where the kids don't usually bring toys. If I'm not right there with him, my 10 year old or 8 year old will lay by him to protect him from little running feet.
J.,
The other kids need to be aware she is playing on the floor and that she is younger and needs protection. I know that my kids at that age wanted to be inthe middle of things and jion in as much as possible even at 3 months. They wanted to be included and part of the activity. The older kids need to be aware that she can't play the way they do yet and need to take care and love eachother.
C. B
With that many kids maybe you need to schedule the times you give your baby floor time. Make it very clear where the boundaries are when the baby is on the floor. There is nothing wrong with for twenty minutes they do not bother the baby and keep their toys elsewhere. Try another room too if the playroom is not a good place. Set a timer so the kids know when it is okay to come back where the baby and you are. A 3 mos old doesn't need a lot period of time but you are okay in asking the other kids to let her have that special time.
My first instinct would be to set up something for the other kids to do that is a sit down activity, or confined activity! While the two oldest are in school, have tho other kids do a craft, watch a video, have a snack, play with play dough, do water play at the sink, puzzles, coloring, just something that isn't running around and jumping. Then the baby will be safe!
