anyone else trying to entertain wild 4 year olds??

mkmillhall

when I had DS1, it seemed so much easier.  Yes, I was tired taking care of him around the clock (he didn't STTN until 8 months or so, and hubby is a pilot who travels A LOT), but I could rest when he did and our days were pretty calm.  Now with DS2's arrival, I realize how easy I had it! My 4 year old is so wild, and I don't know what to do with him all day!! It's still cold here, so I don't want to take the baby out for extended periods of time just yet, and since the baby is just 2 weeks old, I also don't feel comfortable going out in public (germs!).  So, stuck in the house with a tantrum throwing, rough-housing 4 year old.. It's tough, too, since i'm breastfeeding, and that takes up so much time.  Today I tried baking cookies with him while nursing the baby - quite the challenge!  Any suggestions would be welcome!!!!!

coffeeaddiction21

I know how you feel! DS1 is almost 4 and when anyone tells me that they'll watch LO for me anytime I need them too I quickly reply "you can taks DS1 ANYTIME you want to!" So far what works for me is letting DS1 take as long of a bath as he wants to, Finger paints are amazing! I put DS1 at the kitchen table with a giant piece of white paper or even a comics page from the newspaper, and I put a few globs of different colors on a styrofoam plate and he will sit there for an hour or two and its easy to wipe up with one hand, and doesn't stain. Throwing a blanket over the coffee table and pretending it's a tent, or a cave keeps him busy, I let him keep his three wheeled scooter in the house and ride it sometimes.

Califlorida

oh, i feel for you!  my sister came to visit with her three boys (age 6, 4, and 18 months).  the older boys were insane!  it was a nice idea for her to come down and "help" with the new baby, but most of the time we were helping her wrangle her kids. 

Boizmom

I get how you feel.  I have a 3 yo and a 5 yo as well as a 6 week old.  My poor older kiddos they want to spend time with Mommy and Mommy is so busy nursing, burping, changing and rocking the baby.  And when the baby is sleeping Mommy tries to catch up on cleaning and maybe sneak in a nap of her own. 

Right now, my 3 yo is screaming bloody murder because big brother wants to come inside from the backyard but he doesn't.  I just don't know what to do with those two anymore.  If they don't get their way they cry like big babies.  It's not like they were "spoiled" before the baby came...I am so over it.