Where can I take my 17 month old?

SumnerBride

She's a mess everywhere we go.  I know she's got energy to burn, but she has no fear and will just take off in the opposite direction of where I want her to go. 

I'd go to a park, but I've got my 3 year old too, and they both need to be watched.  I can't take her to the library because she's too loud.  She hates shopping trips with a passion.  Walks are okay, but she only likes the stroller for so long before she freaks out.

I'm starting to lose my mind.  Being at home with these two is a helluva lot harder than I thought it would be.

joseysbride

Do you have a yard?  Maybe just get some outdoor toys they can play with out there?  A sand table, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, gardening tools, etc.

hikerbeth

Are you close to any indoor play gyms?  The ones around here are very secure (ie: nobody can escape) and highly childproofed so you don't have to watch every second.

EMT

What about a YMCA? The one near us has open gym. The open up the gymnastics center and the kids can go crazy but are safe.

j-w

I was going to suggest an indoor gym as well.  Both our park district, and local gymnastics gyms, have open gym that you can pay for at the door.

emilykristene2006

I suggest buying a small bounce house. If you don't have a yard, they are small enough to fit in the house. Let her bounce until she is so worn out!

SumnerBride

EMT:

What about a YMCA? The one near us has open gym. The open up the gymnastics center and the kids can go crazy but are safe.

I'll have to call them and see.  There is one about 20 mins from us.

I may try the mall plaything, but I just hate having to police kids running all over mine.

And I do have a backyard, but it's full of dog poop, and it's not that kid proof.  My H put up these retaining wall blocks everywhere, and last weekend she fell all over herself trying to climb on them.  She's all scratched up all over her legs from it.

mamarazzi

Your DD2 sounds like my DS2 = fearless and out of control.

Do you have a Gymboree?  They have open gym and you could let her run rampant in there.

What about a non-playground park?  As in, just a bunch of grass?  She could just run and run without too much for her to get into.

EMT

You do have to watch them but the one near me has this huge pit of foam cubes. You could just stick her in there and she wouldn't be able to get out but would think it is fun and would be exhausted .Also, we just started swim and we don't have to get in the water with either of them and they both LOVE and are tired after. Not sure if that would work for you because you aren't super comfy with he water right?

SumnerBride

mamarazzi:

Your DD2 sounds like my DS2 = fearless and out of control.

Do you have a Gymboree?  They have open gym and you could let her run rampant in there.

What about a non-playground park?  As in, just a bunch of grass?  She could just run and run without too much for her to get into.

That's her!  Fearless and OUT OF CONTROL!  She's a devil most of the time!

I wish we could afford something like Gymboree.  We don't have one near us anyway.  The grass type park is a good idea, but I'd need to find one around here that's fenced.  Most of those places I've taken her to aren't.  And she ALWAYS goes in the direction opposite of big sis.

W&J'sMommy

We used to spend alot of time at mall play areas.  They are always enclosed.