getting ready in the mornings

[anderlee]

Hi Just wondered how mums/dads occupy little ones when you're trying to get ready in the mornings.

My other half leaves early so i put my little boy(nearly 2) in play pen with drink watching c-beebies while I run upstairs to get dressed in record time. Then I come down and dress him. Not ready to ditch the play pen as hes too young to be left.
What do you do???

[shinkypink19]

We didn't have a play pen - but when my stepson was 2, we left him sitting on the sofa watching tv while we dressed and got ready for work

[aims1202]

Never had a playpen. My boy was usually with me while i got ready, we would be talking about what i was doing and sometimes i would let him put a bit of my makeup on or just give him the makeup brush to pretend. He would even dry my hair with the hairdryer sometimes! I always got my boy involved with what i was doing and at that age he always wanted to. Now he's four and sometimes does but will happily play by himself when i'm busy.

[redcrx]

i leave my 27 month old to watch thomas for 10 mins or so. Hes perfectly ok being left and from the age of 18 monthys could climb out of his playpen so was safer out than in lol

[B00]

Mine who's 3 in December follows me upstairs, usually relentlessly saying "whatcha doin'?" So like the above person I've started engaging in her helping me dress (this blue top or this red top? etc) I don't think I dare trust her downstairs on her own, no doubt I'd come downstairs to find she's trying to shove the dog in the DVD player.

[aims1202]

i happily left my son playing on his own sometimes while i had a bath from about the age of 18mths but we live in a flat so i was not far away. I would always give him something to keep him occupied. But what i said before its not because of not leaving him alone, its just i think that young children learn and develop mostly from watching their parents, talking to them and being involved with everything happening in their home. Its positive attention for them, enjoyable for mum/dad and teaches them so much.

[kat83]

hiya, we have got a stair gate on my daughters room, so i know that she is safe and she can still see what is going on!!

[anderlee]

I wont be able to get ready in time if I bring him upstairs with me cos he's into everything!!
I will wait til hes a bit older to come and help me!

[FUZZYBEE]

what you are doing is fine, you know he is safe and he in turn is learning that it's ok to be left on his own to amuse himself. My only comment would be, the drink is fine but not food in case he starts to choke and also I used to put toys in my daughters playpen or cot until one day she piled them up on top of each other and climbed out!!! mind you one of them was these huge soft winnie the poohs and a square shape sorter so they made quite a nice little "ladder for her"

[anderlee]

I dont leave him with food,just warm milk. He's fine as I tell him Im going upstairs to get dressed and we sometimes shout up/down to each other. At least I know he's safe!!