How to Keep a 17 Month Old Safe and Contained While I Shower

I had a similar problem with my daughter (before she discovered Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on TV). I used to buckle her in her highchair/booster seat w/ the tray attached and put it in the doorway of bathroom while I showered. Then I would save "special toys" for that time and she only got to play with them in her highchair while I showered. With my daughter crayons and paper was usually the favorite but musical toys worked well too. On occassion I would even strip her down to a diaper, fill a small tub/bin of water place it on the highchair tray and let her play with a few of her bath toys. This was her absolute favorite if you don't mind wiping up a bit of water.

A couple of suggestions would be to maybe get a piece of wood cut to fit the floor of the pack n play so that you can put it down once you open it up. This can be stored up against the wall when you're not using it and won't take up much room.

What I did was to get a johnny jump up and it would hang in the doorway of the bathroom while I showered. It hangs by fitting around the trim at the top of the door...your child will have fun jumping up and down in it while you are in the shower. Hope that helps!

D.,

I agree with most of the other posts. I try to shower before both of my kids wake up. Sometimes it works, but not always. I have brought my son in with some toys and he likes that. My daughter is still content to sit in the excersaucer. One time I even brought her in the highchair!
Sometimes opinions are expressed with a bit of judgment. You have to do what is best for you. :)
Hope this helps.
Have a happy day!

T.

Have you tried putting your child in his high chair. This is what I have to do every day so I can shower. I usually give him a banana or something soft to eat and put on Sesaem Street or Barney for him to watch. I just feel that he is safe in there and can't escape. HTH
J.

We don't use anything now for my 14 months daughter but here is an idea. When she was smaller we used to put her for a nap in a pack-n-play on the deck. Because I wanted to make the bottom of the pack-n-play more level my husband bought a particle board at Home Depot, cut it to size (to match the floor size of the pack-n-play) and we would put the board on the bottom of the pack-n-play. It's impossible for a child to lift it up while within the pack-n-play (and the particle board is heavy enough in any case). Make sure that the edges of the board (if you go with this idea) will not give your son splinters. Note, you can even see if there is someone in Home Depot who can help you cut the particle board.

Good luck!

Two sugggestions. Pull out some toys that he doesn't normally play with during the day (or if you can, get him some new ones). Then keep those toys separate and bring them into the bathroom with him so he is entertained during your shower. If you keep those toys just for shower time he won't get bored as quickly. Close the door and you've got a nice big play area right there with you. Of course you'll need to remove the garbage and anything else he could get into during this time.

The other suggestion is now is the time to be sure you wake up before he does and shower then. It may take some getting used-to but it will be nice to have some "Mommy time" where you shower and may even have time for a cup of coffee, to read, or just be peaceful.

That's a tough one. It's definitely not safe to let him be in there if he can collapse it. Once my son was the age where I could no longer put him in the pack and play, I used to have to get up early and shower before my husband went to work, wait until my son's nap, or shower the night before.

buy industrial strength velcro and put more of it on the pad and corresponding on the bottom of the pack and play. That will make it so he can't get the bottom up.

Almost always when the daycare kids get to this stage just securing the velcro straps already on the pack and play is enough to keep them from doing it more.

BUT that is only a short term fix, someday he will be too old for this. You may want to switch your shower time to before he is awake or after he is asleep for the night or during his nap time.

I definitely would not use the Pack N Play anymore. Like others have said, you don't want to wait until he has an accident with the thing to take him out of it. My son is 10 months and I recently switched my shower time to bedtime so my husband can watch him while I shower.

I'm sorry, but since you indicated you are a stay-at-home mom, I really don't understand why you can't shower while he is napping? Or shower before he gets up? Or at night? Perhaps there is something I am missing?

Obviously the pack-n-play is dangerous and it is time to retire it. I resort to Sesame Street when I have to get something done in the kitchen, but I am always available to check on my 18 mo. I personally wouldn't rely on it while in the shower since you couldn't react very quickly to something he was doing.

Alternatively, you could aggressively baby-proof his room and use a gate like someone suggested. But this includes strapping the bookshelves/dressers to the walls, removing table lamp, securing cords, locked windows, etc. It would have to be a lot more secure than normal since again, in the shower, you wouldn't hear what he's doing and be able to react.

All of this would be too much effort for me and I would just shower at alternative times.

I would either use the highchair or take your shower at night. I take mine at night- I have 2 kids- 17 months and 4 years. I just couldn't do it during the day anymore... Put him in a highchair and put on a show while you take the shower. Make sure he has some good toys too. :) Good luck!

Usually, I shower while my 19 month old naps. If that doesn't work out, I let him sit on my bathroom floor and play with toys while I shower (the bathroom door closed). I can see through my shower though so I always know what he's doing in case he starts wandering around the bathroom. Another option I do, is put him in his crib with some books or a favorite toy and listen to him on the monitor.

can you put him in his highchair with a fun snack in front of the tv where you can still hear him? if he's strapped in and enjoying a snack maybe you can get a quick shower?? otherwise, what if you brought a toy that he doesnt usually have access to or that you know he loves and just bring him in the bathroom with you with that toy. lock the door and watch while you shower. i know privacy has been non existent in my home too! good luck.

Sometimes I would bring the highchair into the bathroom with me, hook him in it and give him crayons and paper, a drink, snack, or whatever else to entertain him.

I put my daughter in her highchair, roll her in the bathroom iwth me, and load her up with lots of toys b/c they ultimately go flying everywhere! It' has worked for us for a long time.

Good luck! Please stop with the playpen though since he's seems super smart and it's only a matter of time until something might happen...

All my best!
k

My grandaughter will be 2 in April and my daughter has to bring her bf to work before she has to go to work so there at my house early before I have to watch my grandaughter. I work third shift so when I get home i shower. Theres been a cuople times she sneaks in the bathroom and she pulls back the shower curtain to get wet she likes the water so ive sat her in the back of the tub and washed her up while im in the shower and she will sit and play with her bath toys

I used a Super Yard XT (http://www.amazon.com/Homevisions-Super-Yard-XT/dp/B0001N...) instead of the pack & play for each of my kids. It gave them more space to play and I had a couple extra panels so I was able to reconfigure it as necessary. I had plenty of toys in there too, some of which I attached to the "walls" to distract them.

Good luck!

Have him shower with you - holding him. Otherwise, shower in the evening or during any of his sleeping shifts during the day. It just isn't safe at this point to trust that he will be where you left him when you went into the shower.

I had a Houdini- of- a- child, by the time he was 2 years old. He could open any lock in the home - including anything childproof. You don't want to have to search the neighborhood for him if he is so inclined to be able to disassemble the pack-n-play while he's in it. It's a matter of time before he may become your little Houdini!

Good luck.

I always just brought my kids into the bathroom with me while I showered. Just close the door so they can't get out and bring a few toys in. Of course you will have to baby-proof the bathroom- plug covers, put sharp stuff away, cabinet locks, a toilet lid latch (it's a drowning risk). I have three kids and have done this with all three with no issues. When they learn to open the door you can get one of the pressure mounted baby gates and just put it in the doorway when you shower. Good luck.

Hi D.,
My daughter just turned 18 months. Ill either shower while shes taking her nap or if I need to shower while shes awake I put her in her entertainer in the bathroom. Hope this helps! P.s. If you dont have an entertainer how about putting him/her in their crib w/some toys until your out?

just take him in the shower with you unless you might feel weird. maybe switch your shower time to when your husband is home? my 2 son still showers with us and I know I'm not alone. to much hassle to do him seperately and keep him safe for 10 unsupervised minutes.

I bring my boy in the shower with me. He screams and hates it, but at least I know he is safe. I started bringing in some toys and he is getting used to it.

I have a 21 month old little girl. The only way that I have been able to accomplish this is to shower and get ready before my husband leaves for the day and before my baby gets up. I work full-time as well, so sometimes, it means that I am up at 3:45 a.m. to do so.

Hope this helps.

I am not going to tell you to get up early to shower. I'm sure you are tired enough and would have thought of that on your own if you wanted an answer like that:) What about childproofing his room and putting a gate up at the door. Or just using his crib instead of the pack and play. If he is happpy in there and can't climb out, there is nothing wrong with letting him have a little alone time while you shower.

From the time my son was too big to be in his exersaucer until about a week ago, I got up a half hour before he did so I could shower and get ready while he was still confined to his crib. I didn't have a playpen, but my son could climb out of the one at grandma's really early, so I didn't bother buying one. Then a week ago, I was so tired I slept in and didn't get my shower before he woke up. Since he will watch t.v. for about 20 minutes, I thought I would try putting him down on my bed with a video while I left the door to my bathroom open. It worked! He came in to check on me once, but then he went back to watching t.v. (My son is almost 25 months) Until he reaches that point, I think you just need to shower when he is not around. Whether that's at night or earlier in the morning. Good luck!

I used an exersaucer and kept it in the tub while not in use. My kids could never get out of that on their own. Most moms become the world's fastest shower takers! Best of luck!

Not sure if this is feasible, but maybe you could bring him in the shower with you. Not a perfect solution, but maybe he could play in the water with some toys.

Or, like the other poster said, take a shower before he wakes up, at nap time, before your hubby leaves for work.

I always brought my daughters in the shower with me.

Good luck.

Your 17th month is a little too old for a play pen, because he is probably going to figure crawling out soon. My two boys never liked the play pen and crawled out by the time they were 15 months old. How I solved showering problems is I waited until they were either taking naps, waking up to take a shower in the morning before they woke up, or showering at night when they fell asleep. At this age, you really can't trust them alone because they love exploring at this age.

My little one at that age had learnt to climb out of the pack and play and so here are the options I used:
1. Shower before she is up or when she goes to bed or at nap time
2. Bring her into the bathroom with me with toys
3. let her shower with me.

They also have these playzone things that are pretty cool. You can get extenders and so basically mark off an area that is an enclosed play area. Given my climbing houdini, that wasn't an option for me but it could be for you.

I brought the exersaucer into the bathroom when my daughter was young. It was great!

Don't pay attention to all the judgemental responses such as "I must be missing something...You're a SAHM...why you don't get up early..." blah, blah, blah. Not very helpful.

Hi D.

As a mom myself, I've found it quite relaxing and smart to get up BEFORE the kids go. I can take a shower without having to rush or wonder what kind of "stuff" they're into while I'm showering. It makes your day so much more relaxing and less stressful when you start the day calm. I own my own daycare and have learned that somethings just work out better when you do things "ahead of the game".

Good luck
B.

D., Not sure how big your bathroom is but for a quick shower you could put him in his stroller and wheel it in (an umbrella stroller would fit in even the smallest bathroom. Just know you will have to have your towel close by so you can grab it when you need it instead of having to reach over the stroller. at 17 months it won't hurt him to be in the stroller in the bathroom with you for a 5 minute shower and you can hear him if he is yelling. and you can talk to him while your showering. the other option if you have his room totally childproofed is to put a gate across his doorway and leave your bathroom door open. my son played in his room with a gate across it. but only if you have totally childproofed it.
good luck
S.

My daughter loved her Johnny Jump-Up, she showers with me or I try to take showers when she is napping. Different strategies work for different days. Good luck!!

I bring my 18 mo. daughter in the bathroom with me and let her play with toys I keep in there. Obviously, the bathroom has to be babyproofed. Lately, she's been getting into the shower with me, on her own initiative, and loves walking back and forth under the spray, like a sprinkler. It isn't the most relaxing shower but at least I'm not worried about what she might be getting into.

Our pack n play velcros underneath the pack n paly...there is hole that you put the strap through and it velcros underneath the floor. I would think this is difficult to undue...are you or does yours have this feature?

When my active little guy was around that age, I would roll his high chair into the bathroom so that I could see him and give him several books and toys on the tray to play w/while I showered.

I turn on Noggin. My kids are addicted to it. My daughter is 18 months and my son is 4 1/2 and I shower while they watch it all the time. Sometimes the good shows on are on Nick in the morning. Wonder Pets, Yo Gabba Gabba, Dora, Diego, Backyardigans, Wow Wow Wubbzy and get him a toy that matches his show and it should at least get you through a shower.

shower before he wakes up, while he is napping, or at night before you go to bed. your son is at the age or even over the age where he shouldn't be left alone while you do anything. imho i don't think this was even appropriate while he was a baby.

Shower when your husband is at home.

Hi D. - I have the challenge of doing this with a 2 year old. I keep him in the bathroom with me and he has books and toys in there. I keep the shower curtain partly open so I can check on him. He trys to get out, but we put a door knob cover (safety) on the inside of the door so he has to stay in. About the highchair thing...I'd be careful with putting him in a highchair in another room...they say not to leave a child in a highchair without supervision, and especially not eating without you being nearby and within reach. If all else fails, use his crib with toys like another mom already suggested. Happy showering :D