Things to Do with Toddler While Husband Is Gone

This is very normal to me--my husband travels quite a bit. Sometimes for more than a week at a time.
Best tip: stay on a schedule with errands, naps, mealtimes, etc.
I'd shoot for O. errand/O. fun activity trip per day.
If naps don't happen? Bonus! Earlier bedtime.
If you need to talk to him everyday? Predetermine a specific time when you're both available so you can expect a call.
Good luck!

I think that you should just do what you normally do. When my kids were tiny and my husband travelled on business, I just went to work as usual and did our usual routine at home after work, and he did the same when I travelled. If you feel that you will be very tired without an additional adult to give you a break, hire a babysitter or mother's helper, which may also be useful to you after the birth. Good luck!

Don't go out much. Get a good schedule down now.
Up,
breakfast,
playtime (him not you. Start encouraging him to play by himself with his toys)
Lunch
Nap
Snack
Playtime
Bath
Supper
play
Bed
Get him used to it and it won't be such a huge problem when baby two comes along.

If I wanted a good long break in the afternoon I took my toddlers for a swim and hot tub. After a good swim they would sleep all afternoon! The swimming pool is great for pregnant bodies too! Do you have any play groups in your area? We did a few different play groups. Some actually had child care to watch the kids while the moms had mom time.

Public library - story time, find a book and read it in a comfy chair, see if they have a small play area (ours has blocks, puppets, some small dress up things/costumes).

Children's museum or aquarium, if there's one near you. They often have "fenced" toddler play areas and hands-on exhibits. Get a toddler "leash" so he doesn't stray too far.

Large pet store - small amount of walking, put him in the stroller or the shopping cart, and look at the ferrets and guinea pigs and fish. It's free, the animals are protected from little hands, and there's a limited amount of walking. Most of them allow customers to bring their pets, so keep an eye out so your little one doesn't grab the ears of every dog walking by. The animal cages and fish tanks are usually stacked, so there is plenty at eye level even if he's in the shopping cart.

Fire house - unless there's a huge fire emergency, they are on standby, and usually happy to welcome kids. Our firefighters help lift the kids into the driver's seat of the engines, show them the ladders and helmets, etc. Over time, it helps build trust in the firefighters so kids don't run away from them.

Check local garden centers for free petting zoos or "just look/no pet" areas. We have several that welcome kids and have goats, turkeys, donkeys, sheep, chickens, etc. Some have food for purchase. Take a plastic container or cup with you and a bunch of quarters in case they only have the vending machines that dump out a handful of feed. If you have some ice cream cones, those are great for toddlers - it protects little fingers, and if the goat grabs it and eats it, it's not dangerous like a cup is. (One of our local zoos actually sells animal food in cones - that's where I got the idea.) Because the petting areas are small and there are only a few animals, it's not a 4 hour visit on your swollen pregnancy ankles!

Go to the thrift or children's resale shop and buy some inexpensive, used puzzles. Something new and exciting to occupy your toddler without a big outlay of cash.

Spread out a sheet on the family room floor and have a "picnic" with your regular lunch or snacks. Put a beach towel or old shower curtain underneath if you want to have drinks. Sit yourself near a chair so you can get back up by holding on!

Any heated pools (or indoor pools) open yet in your area?
The pools we had near us when out son was little had areas for toddlers and life jackets for them to wear.
If you're sitting with him in a shallow pool you'll both have a good time and he'll be exhausted enough to sleep well at night.

Mine were close together and I remember being daunted at having to do it all alone ... when he was away. So I kept it very simple. I was very tired during my pregnancies and low key activities were the best if I had to last all day putting them to bed on my own etc.

I would take them to the park (we had one nearby that we had pretty much to ourselves or just little ones) and let them go. They would tire out and it was the shape of a boat .. so I didn't have to get up and push them, more they would scamper about with me sitting on it with them - watching over. I would bring snacks and it was great. They were really happy.

I would just take them outside and set up a chair and flop while they played around me. I'd do something like a car wash - get out all the trucks and cars and bikes ... give them soapy water and huge sponges, and let them go to it.

Activities out on the deck - chalk, playdoh, bring out the blocks - just lay it all out on a blanket. Teddy bear picnics with snacks ...

Quiet time reading ... that was a big one.

We used to go to the second hand store and they would pick out a toy we would normally never buy regular price. They each would get one (dirt cheap). We'd usually give them a good clean when we got home, and then they'd have a blast playing with their *new* toys.

If I was really tired, I'd spent the 10 minutes and set up the train set for them, or Hot Wheels sets, whatever age they were at ... some big set though, so that they'd be entertained for a while.

Some of mine were pretty active, so if I took them to museums and stuff it meant chasing them - by hugely pregnant that wasn't my thing.

Do you have a neighbor or friend nearby? I used to take mine up the street, have coffee and let them play ...

Good luck. It is tiring. But if you take it easy and rest in between, it will be fun :) Remember to rest when little one does!

** another thing I would do - is I'd set up a sandbox in our garage. Or I would fill a baby tub with soapy water and put a splash mat under it. They would play for a long time with their boats and go fishing.

Well my husband worked 6 am to 6 pm (and often beyond) for many years so I'm not sure I can relate, since I was pretty much "on" 24/7. I would just keep to the normal routine, and once the husband comes back, schedule an afternoon or evening off (whatever that means to you..time at the gym? with girlfriends? shopping? working on projects around the house?)
Hopefully you know some other moms with toddlers so at least you can get together with them for some adult conversation while the little ones play.

I'd have to agree with the idea to get an "after the baby arrives" schedule going. This is PRIME TIME to do that. Congratulations!!

What do you normally do? It's just a business trip.

Over 1/2 of our 26 yr marriage my hubby has been gone weekly 2-3 nights a week. He's not gone so much now but I still enjoy downtime when he is on the road. Our daughter is 20 now so I usually go visit her at her condo and we go out to eat and shop.

When she was little and he was on the road we had daily walks, went to the park, the blooms at the arboretum, library, read, and just play. It doesn't have to be anything big or cost money, just spend time together and enjoy this time before #2 gets here.

I like the schedule of daily duties. Make this list up now and do stick with it. You could include your house cleaning chores on the list and break them down by am and pm times. Include the lunch and nap times You might want to take a nap with the kids take one.

Don't over schedule your routine when kids are little. Just make sure you have all the basics covered. The house beautiful house will come when the kids are older. Make it presentable and keep on moving when they are younger. When my youngest was little and crawling, I mopped the floor religiously every night so that she could crawl around and eat off the floor. Now you might not want to be on the floor at the house but it is still presentable.

Getting outside daily is good for everyone. Fresh air is fresh air and it makes us feel better. I am sorry you have allergies and puts a damper on your time.

It will be good. You will make it. Trust me. I have been the single married momma as a military wife.

the other S.

PS I would enjoy the time that he is away just to do things i wanted to do without him being in the way. I call it my ME time without interruption.

You've received many good ideas for fun entertainment. If you have a daily routine for when Dad is at work, I'd not change that much. Babies like routine. If you don't have one, I like the suggestion to start one. Routine will help a lot when you have two to manage.

If you don't already have a schedule - get one now before #2 gets here. I loved these schedules - they made a world of difference for my babies when #2 arrived.

http://www.babysleepsite.com/schedules/toddler-schedule/

Good luck! C.

well, i dunno, i think i'd be looking for LESS to do. you're already going to have more to do without your husband's help, and you're coping with pregnancy.
i'd keep it low-key and relaxed. you don't have to entertain your toddler every moment (although at that age they DO require a lot of watching, don't they?)
put a couple of favorite toys on the living room floor, netflix your favorite series and put your feet up.
khairete
S.