What Do You Do with Your Toddler in the Morning?

Updated on May 11, 2010
D.M. asks from Brookline, MA
5 answers

now that my 14.5-month-old-daughter has transitioned to 1 nap/day, i'm looking for things to do with her in the morning. she sleeps best when i put her down around 11:45am/12pm, which means lunch is at 11am. most of the playgroups at the libraries, etc., start at 10:15/10:30, which, with travel and such, just don't work. but she is up by 6am, so i have a long stretch of time to amuse both her and myself. we live in an urban setting in an apartment until the end of august while our house is being renovated. she is great at playing with her toys while i clean up breakfast or get the rest of the meals ready for the day. the park is a 7 minute walk, but so far it has been utterly empty in the morning (fine for my daughter, not so great for increasingly isolated me). the other nearby parks are just as empty or do not have toddler equipment. b/c we live in an apartment building, i can't do grocery shopping-- i have no way of lugging up groceries while looking after my daughter. i don't feel like going to the grocery store to buy one item or to target or other 9am-opening stores just so i have a place to go (and end up spending money). the libraries and the toy store with a play area open at 10am. i've tried pushing back her nap time until 12:30-1pm, but she only sleeps for 1.5 hours and is exhausted (plus she's been getting up earlier-- i just posted another question about that), so i would rather she get the sleep and i get a longer break. but in the meantime, where do i go with her in the morning? and how can i meet more people like me? thanks!

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A.H.

answers from Dallas on

Hey there, My son is 15 months old this is usually what happens in our days, he usually wakes up at 8ish then has breakfast and about 9 we go to the park he plays for about (or go to storytime at library, or we have a big jumping place down the street that he loves and its free) an hour then we go do our errands and are back by 12 for lunch and he naps 1230-3......then we do crafts/read books/play outside/ go for walks/ play with puzzles/ bubbles.....looooots of different things......then dad gets home we go for family walk and dinner/bath/bed by 9.....Works great for us.....

C.K.

answers from Boston on

My 14.5 month old boy and I are also up at 5:30 am EVERY morning since he was 4 months old. So, we have something to drink, then baby boy starts playing with his toys ..we end up having breakfast about an hour after he wakes up and he is ALSO napping around the same time as your baby!!! I live in a hilly area and I don't want to walk that in the wee hours of the am...either. So, I have a meetup group that I belong too. www.meetup.com. to socialize with other babies and mommies and lately, I've been talking to him about birdies in the morning because we have so many birds and that keeps him occupies at the window as well...; ). I have more tips, but have to run... baby toddler is running amuk!

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C.M.

answers from Austin on

Morning time is when I do the cleaning, laundry, etc. I can set the boys up in whatever room that I'm working on/in (living, kitchen, playroom) to do a craft or coloring. I've done my best to get them in the habit of playing alone while I'm working.

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J.R.

answers from Miami on

Great post. I try to do as much outdoors as possible in the morning. (Park, walking around). I find that the sunshine and fresh air helps my 18 month old sleep better during his one nap as well. After his nap we usually do errands and the park.

I know that if your park does not draw many kids it can be isolating. Why not walk around and search for other parks????

HTH

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L.O.

answers from Detroit on

we joined a playgroup run by the shool district.. great program.. $5 per week..

gymboree has classes for her age.. but it is expensive.. swimming class is good for her age.

mcdonalds playgrounds.. mall play areas..

storller walks.. join a moms club. look for moms club international

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