SAHM's with 2 under 2 (especially if you were a working mom before), what to do with little one's in bad weather

I have 2 under 18 months. I got laid off in June and have not found a job, nor have I had time to look, so for now I'm assuming I'll be home for a while. As we get into unfavorable fall weather, I am concerned as to what I can do with my 16 month old. Bare in mind I also have a 8 week old - so I am a little limited on a lot of things. Days I can't toss them into the double stroller for a walk are exhausting and the older one is clearly bored and frustrated. She used to be in daycare so she loves other kids and is used to a lot of stimulation. What can I do that is age appropriate? I'm hoping next year this time they'll play with eachother. Even if I go back to work, we are planning on hiring someone to come to our home to watch the kids rather than dealing with getting 2 kids ready every morning. I want to make sure DD has plenty of stimulating activities, yet it's bad enough I have to hire a babysitter for the new baby every week when I take DD#1 to gymnastics. Just what I need when I'm down an income. Oh yes, looking for inexpensive things preferably to do at home since taking them both out is a challenge. I find it tough to keep watch on the older one b/c of the younger one and vice versa. Hope that makes sense. What do others do?

Re: SAHM's with 2 under 2 (especially if you were a working mom before), what to do with little one's in bad weather

- library (free)
- music together (about 180 for 13 weeks and at least where we go children under 6 months are free) [EDITED TO CLARIFY THAT IT IS FREE FOR SIBLINGS UNDER 6 MONTHS]
- open play at my gym, gymboree, little gym $10 per child

- when it is raining for DS we do artwork (crayons, paints, finger paint, play dough, stamping, or I cut out construction paper and let him use the glue stick to put the shapes on paper)

- we do bubbles - clean out kitchen sink. Put stopper in. Put some dish soap in with water. Let DS splash and play with sponges and cups. It is messy. I take DSs shirt off and put a LOT of towels down but he LOVES this. You could also add food coloring to make the bubbles and water different colors. Bonus - cleans DSs hands after artwork and cleans my sink.

- Puzzles
- Blocks
- We have a basket ball hoop inside and play basket ball or we roll the ball together
- we read books
- we play board games
- we sing songs, play the guitar, piano, triangle, castinetts, tamborine, xylephone

I am not sure what to say for the younger DC, and as I will soon be in the same position, I am wondering what the other ladies have to suggest.

Message edited 9/13/2009 5:36:21 PM.

Re: SAHM's with 2 under 2 (especially if you were a working mom before), what to do with little one's in bad weather

Re: SAHM's with 2 under 2 (especially if you were a working mom before), what to do with little one's in bad weather

Re: SAHM's with 2 under 2 (especially if you were a working mom before), what to do with little one's in bad weather

Re: SAHM's with 2 under 2 (especially if you were a working mom before), what to do with little one's in bad weather

We did:
MyGym
walked in the mall. I always went as soon as the mall opened, so it was empty. Then I'd let my older DD run around in the designated play area while I wore the baby in her Bjorn.
Most Borders has organized activities for little ones. We went to a few "readings" of Sandra Boynton books.

I belong to a local meetup.com group so there are ALWAYS organized activities. Why not try that?

Re: SAHM's with 2 under 2 (especially if you were a working mom before), what to do with little one's in bad weather

Posted by LSP2005

- library (free)
- music together (about 180 for 13 weeks and at least where we go children under 6 months are free)
- open play at my gym, gymboree, little gym $10 per child

- when it is raining for DS we do artwork (crayons, paints, finger paint, play dough, stamping, or I cut out construction paper and let him use the glue stick to put the shapes on paper)

- we do bubbles - clean out kitchen sink. Put stopper in. Put some dish soap in with water. Let DS splash and play with sponges and cups. It is messy. I take DSs shirt off and put a LOT of towels down but he LOVES this. You could also add food coloring to make the bubbles and water different colors. Bonus - cleans DSs hands after artwork and cleans my sink.

- Puzzles
- Blocks
- We have a basket ball hoop inside and play basket ball or we roll the ball together
- we read books
- we play board games
- we sing songs, play the guitar, piano, triangle, castinetts, tamborine, xylephone

I am not sure what to say for the younger DC, and as I will soon be in the same position, I am wondering what the other ladies have to suggest.

Re: SAHM's with 2 under 2 (especially if you were a working mom before), what to do with little one's in bad weather

dd and i also "bake" easy recipes together (she is almost three though but we have been doing it for awhile)...it gets messy but she loves it, putting things into the bowl once I measure it, stirring some things in herself, etc) ...we made banana muffins yesterday which we will use for breakfasts, etc...sometimes we make cookies or cake for us to have a little and dh to take to work, we do dinner things for ahead of time...its taken practice and she knows to never touch certain things (the stove/oven/anything I say is "hot") but she has learned alot and we laugh....

Re: SAHM's with 2 under 2 (especially if you were a working mom before), what to do with little one's in bad weather

I'm in Putnam, but here are some ideas.

We did My Gym (baby sat in his infant carrier the entire class without a peep)

Library (free)

Our town has free and extremely discounted classes all year round. We did Music Together through them and it was only $135 for a family (so both kids regardless of age). They also had a "free" free play, tumbling class and a few others that I tried. Look on line to see if your town offers things like this. I had to pay $5 for a pass for the year.

Meetup.com has been my saviour. Even if I can't always coordinate with the group (most events conflicted with naptime since the kids were on different schedules for a while) I got great ideas on free or inexpensive places to go.

We have a few indoor playgrounds where I pay for the my toddler but the infant is free (and stays in the carrier or Bjorn)


Walk the mall. I found one with pet store and we go play with the puppies. Look at books in Borders. There are a few rides for $1 that I let them go on before we leave if they behave. I usually let my toddler walk vs ride in the stroller to burn off some energy!

Re: SAHM's with 2 under 2 (especially if you were a working mom before), what to do with little one's in bad weather

I thank everyone for the input, however, I think my DD#1 may still be too young for a lot of these activities. She's only 16 months so everything still goes in her mouth. Maybe her bath soap in the sink may work - it's Baby Aveeno or Johnson's shampoo may make some fun bubbles, and no tears if she rubs her face - LOL.

I may sound SO lazy here, but getting them into the car is such a hassel. I may get some toy instruments (if anyone knows where to get some let me know - and not like Fisher-Price), maybe some non-toxic paint and let her hand paint, just not sure where to put her to do it. She still tries to eat crayons, but I'll keep trying that too. Not much keeps her attention for very long either unfortunately. I think I'm so tired from my sleep being interupted although I should not complain, #2 at 8 weeks old sleeps 7-8 hours most nights. But I'm not used to being woken up and then running after #1 and the stress of feedings and meals and diapers all needing to happen at once.

Also (very much for those with 2 under 18 months) - how do you do floor/belly time with your tiny one without them getting trampled by your "older" one. I say older one gently b/c mine is by no means an older child, she's a baby herself. #1 has good head control, but I've been putting her in her crib to do floor time. I feel bad b/c DD#1 will take her toys away or pull on the baby gym. #1 almost fell on #2 a few times.

I have to check up meetup.com again - I was interested in a few meet ups before I had DD#2, but then got side tracked with the new baby and so tired.

Re: SAHM's with 2 under 2 (especially if you were a working mom before), what to do with little one's in bad weather

Your local music together should have a website and hopefully a way to order musical instruments through them. We have our instruments from Music Together and I love their quality.

ETA: Instruments

I have no idea where this one is located I just typed in music together into Google.

As for being tired, perhaps you can get a mother's helper or a babysitter for an hour or so one day a week to let you sleep.

I thought your DC#1 is a little older. I would get the crayola crayons that are encased in plastic that you turn - so even if DC eats them it is just plastic and not the actual crayon.

I would get soft blocks for DC1 so even if she knocks them over it will not hurt DC2.

Do you have a tummy time mat? I think there is one with sides that fold up, perhaps it might help so that you won't inadvertently step on DC2?

Message edited 9/13/2009 8:57:04 PM.

Re: SAHM's with 2 under 2 (especially if you were a working mom before), what to do with little one's in bad weather

Music Together sounds so cool... too bad I can't afford it. Gymnastics is about $400 a semester... even that I'm borrowing from DD's custodial account until I find work, then I'll pay her back. We are probably not typical I take it - my not working is creating a financial challenge for us, we won't be able to do as much as I'd like to with the kids b/c of the fact I'm not working. Very frustrating that everything is hundreds of dollars. Too bad nothing is pay as you go - if I had $20 one week but not the next it should be more flexible.

My library didn't have much for her age group, but I'll keep looking. Other challenge is my newborn and taking her to activities designed for my older DC. Babysitter isn't likely either - we are really hurting. Sounds like I may need to go back to work. Anyone else as strapped as we are b/c they aren't working or should I really be working? Sounds like I could provide more for them if I were. I'm very frustrated.