Toddlers running in opposite directions

SportsLover

How do you watch two (or three) toddlers solo in public places?  I took mine to story time a few weeks ago and spent the whole time carrying one and chasing the other.  It wasn't fun for me (or them) and I haven't gone since without my DH. 

I'm getting nervous about next summer when I'm off and want to go outside.  We don't have a fence and our townhouse is close to the street.  One of my twins is very curious and loves to wander off and he RUNS!  What do you do? 

amygdala

That sounds normal. ?I have *heard* that it will get easier as they get older! ?For now, I do not take them to public places unless it is an enclosed area &/or dh or another adult comes with. ?When my kids were 14m, I hired a mother's helper off of craigslist to come by 2-3 days a week for 3-4 hours so that we could go to the park or playdates. ?It was HUGELY helpful & the kids LOVED her. ?(We moved to another state when the kids were 16m, but now my mom lives nearby to help out.) ?I highly recommend this as an option.

Fenella

Wow, you must have read my mind, I was going to post the same thing! I won't go to public places without another adult with me. The only place I can take them alone, is a store where they can sit in the shopping cart. I have those baby leashes, but they don't work well either since they want to run away from me and start thowing a fit! I like the mother's helper idea!

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Leashes. Those were only used as a back up though. The rule was they had to hold my hand. The leashes were in case I needed to let go of a hand to grab something. Otherwise they pulled in opposite directions on the leashes. So it was either hold my hand or in the stroller.

As for playing outside. Do you have any type of yard what-so-ever? We don't have a fence and our rule has always been "stay on the grass".

susanb

It depends on the situation.

 For parking lots and stores - leashes or a stroller always. We had the backpack puppy leashes from Target. The rule was that they had to have them on at all times if they weren't in the stroller. If they tried to run away - we left wherever we were - went home and they went in time out (the guilty one). After a few timesof that I had no problem.

 For parks, playgrounds an such - the rule was that they had to stay within arms reach. If they couldn't touch me - they were too far away. The only exception was when they were going down the slide - that was OK.  If they broke the rule - again - we immediately left - went home and time out for the offender. Again - it only takes a time or two of that and it cures them.

 You have to say it and MEAN it and DO IT. We started it at 18 months and I had 2 issues in stores and one issue at a playground. That's IT and they are 4 now. It's all about consistency and being firm about the consequences. You can basically train them for anything that way - restaurants, being quiet at the library... you set consequences and follow through. As long as you stick to it - it works.

SportsLover

Thanks ladies for the helpful advice.  I do have a backyard and could probably watch them safely there and I bet i'll get some great exercise.  My worry is that my boys will miss out on a lot of fun things because there are two of them.  I am strongly considering hiring a mother's helper too.  As for the leashed, I was hoping to avoid this, but I guess it's something else to consider.  Thank you all!