Ideas for 16 Month Old So Mom Can Get Housework Done

At this age, I loved to wear my toddler on my back in my ERGO so I could get stuff done. Wearing him on my back (instead of in the front) allowed me to chop veggies, cook at the stove, take hot things out of the oven, do my laundry (also in an unfinished & cold basement), and a ton of other things.

Other things like sweeping or mopping, I'd let him help me with. I would let him help clean my floors with a solution of vinegar & water & his own sponge or scrub brush. Helped us out immensely!

wait a second - you have 5 kids and don't know what to do with a 16 month old?

I thought I should be asking YOU questions....

At 16 months old, I think it's unreasonable to expect you can "pen" your child up while you do chores. At that age, my 16 month began helping me with chores...probably before then. She's now just 20 months old, and knows how to put all the toys away and where they go, she can dust with a dry rag, she can sweep with a little play broom and "dumps" her dust pan in the garbage, she can put dirty clothes in the hamper, she can switch the laundry with me or take laundry out of the dryer and put it in the basket, and probably lots more.

I think it's key, at this age, to include...rather than exclude...your child. She shouldn't be watching TV while you do chores...she would be so much more happy to do the chores alongside you.

Any chores that my child can't help with (and I'm struggling to think of any...dishes, maybe, because of knives and breakables) I can do while she's asleep (although I do them directly after meals while she's still in her high chair, finishing up.)

Sorry I didn't have the answer you were looking for, maybe, but you ought to try it! I have a lot of fun when my toddler helps out, and I started how I mean to go on...my six year old is extremely helpful.

What about putting a gate on the door to her room (or other play area) and then setting out some books/toys for her to play with? She'd have room to roam, but still be limited to destroying only one space! That way, you'd only have to childproof one area. And it will teach her independent play.... Good luck!

okay, enlist the 4yo to help during the laundry change-over. "Pretend" reading would be a great time filler.....much better than the tv.

Corraling your 16m.o. will only delay development. Please don't do this! Find a way to include her, find a way for her to be productive, & life will be happier. Once she starts walking, I truly believe things will change & she won't get so frustrated/needy so quickly.

I got this cage like thing for my son. It's pretty big, and he'll play by himself in there for at least an hour while I work (Or take a nap :P )

http://www.walmart.com/ip/North-States-Superyard-Xt-Gate/...

Why does she need to be strapped in somewhere. Just let her follow you
or play where you are. So if you get one less thing done in a day, so be it.
16 months is such a great age. They love to explore, help and just love
being able to toodle around. Don't squash those instincts by making her
sit strapped in.

I don't think they make seats for 16 month olds. And if they did, I can't think of many who would want to sit in one for more than two minutes. We had our living room gated off once our kids could walk. The room was completely child-proofed so that if I needed to step away to change a load of laundry or check on dinner, I felt pretty safe doing that. I would alternate the toys so that they'd have something new to keep their attention, or I'd put a Baby Einstein video on. If there is no way to gate it off, consider getting one of those large free standing play yards that you can set up in your living room. Provide her with new toys so that she's not bored. But mostly, try to do your housework early in the morning when she's still asleep, during naptime, or after bedtime. It's tiring, but she won't be little forever. My youngest is 2.5, and he has free reign of the house now. He follows me around and "helps" with the housework.

At that age my son just wanted to be in the middle of everything. He "helped" fold laundry, cook dinner, clean floors, etc. He loved to follow me around with the vacuum cleaner or the broom. When I was doing stuff in the kitchen I would either have him in a chair in front of me if I knew I could stand with him the whole time or in his high chair with something to do. You can make edible playdoh, which he loved playing with in his high chair and I never worried about him putting it in his mouth. Or get a bib with sleeves and put a dollop of pudding on the tray, my son would smear it around for 20 minutes and loved the feeling between his fingers. If you are worried about the chair thing, you could also invest in something like the little helper fun pod, which allows them to be at the counter with you, but there is no way for them to fall (like in a chair). Our laundry was also in the basement, I would usually plop him into the basket with the dirty clothes, carry it all down, pull the clothes out around him and then bring him back up in the empty basket. Kept him contained and safe and you're only down there for like 2 minutes anyway. As someone else suggested, I also used my ergo a lot so he felt involved in what I was doing. With 3 other kids I can't believe you haven't used a carrier more.

I don't know if this is what you wanted to hear, but we never distracted him with the TV, he was over the age of 2 before he saw any television. Just get creative with ways to distract her and interact with her while you are doing your chores. Talk to her, sing songs, give her some activities to do. You'll only be able to contain her for so long, so it will be time well spent and it's amazing how much they learn buy just watching you and being involved in daily activities.

Probably not the answer you are looking for - but - is it possible to include her in the chores you are doing? She can 'help' which would keep her entertained, and you could get things done, although a little slower than your normal pace.
As long as you are not doing things that are dangerous to her (like harsh chemicals or such) she can probably hang out with you. I would guess (from my experience with mine) that she will probably get bored with 'helping' and go back to playing with her toys or watching TV.
The trick is you are not going to be able to confine her much longer. She (and you) need to learn how to get things done in the same space. :)
So, keep using the playpen and such for tasks where it would be dangerous for her to be close - but for other tasks - develop a routine with your 'helper'. :)

I put my late walker in a framed backpack (child carrier). Then I tried to get things done while he yanked on my hair.

When both my kids were 16 mo old they could climb out of anything pretty much. They are happiest when they can see you and be in the same room as you. I would just bring the laundry up and let her play in the laundry basket while you fold clothes. Or put a baby gate at the door (with her in the same room as you) and fold clothes while she watches a cartoon. Or get a giant carboard box and cut windows and a door and put some toys in it next to you....or make her a fort to play in near you (blankets over the table?). I also would give my kids a cleaning rag or small broom and have them "help" me with whatever I was doing.

I like the idea someone mentioned about having a room you could put a gate on. That way she doesn't have to be strapped in and it would give her more options of things to do while you get some work done. Is that possible in your house? If not, they sell those gates that form a circle to make an open play pen for your child to sit in and play or watch tv, again without needing to be strapped in. I wouldn't be too far away from that though, especially since she's a climber. I had a bouncy seat that converted to a toddler rocker with straps to keep them buckled in. Also, you could try a booster seat at the table if she likes to color or do crafts.

Get a baby carrier! I used an Ergo for the first two years of all my kids lives to make my life easier! LoL

You can cook, clean and go for a walk all while they are hanging out on your back. Wonderful!

Our bouncy seat turned into a toddler rocker that could hold kids up to like 3 years old. It has a strap on it. Although, I hate to say, I don't think anything new is going to solve your problem. She just wants to be out and about "helping" you clean and making the mess too. It's a hard age. I think between the first bday and second bday is the hardest age.

I used to have a gate that connected into the shape of a hexagon. I would put her inside it (in a baby safe room) so that I could clean the house and do laundry. I also put in some of her toys. It was like the one in the link below, but I did not pay that much for it.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?sku=14913572&...