How to Trap a 1 Year Old

Cnickler

I have the 6 sided pen, and a U shaped couch we have rigged up to be a pen, and he can now escape.

 I have 2 older kids to care for as well, so although I would :love" to chase him all over the house, It is not possible for all his waking hours....

 Does anyone have an idea for a way to "trap" him so I can have a little bit off time for laundry and cooking?

javasun

I fully child proved my place.  I do the laundry with him.  He would sit on clean clothes when I fold them or stand next to me when I put the laundry in the washer.  I let him stand next to me when I'm cooking.  I tend to make really easy meals, or if it takes more time, I do all the prep work at night or when he's napping.

Very soon no amount of trapping will work for your little one, and I realized that I have to change my lifestyle and just adjust to it.

Good luck!

Cnickler

That would be nice if my boy would be that calm, but because he is a boy, he is all over the place....it takes me 5 minutes to fold a basket by myself, but when I factor in the B, come here, and no's...um, it is not possible.

 I tend to cook more complex dinners because there are 5 of us, so a simple meal, saddly isnt an option, although I would love that....

javasun

oh my boy is not calm at all, he's anything but.  Usually I have to put away the things I folded in high places right away or he'll throw it all over the place.  And he runs around too, but our place is baby proofed enough that he can walk away and I don't really need to worry.   Honestly I don't fold my laundry all that well anymore, they're just kinda folded and stuffed in the drawers or closet. 

I make stews, pasta, homemade pizza  using a lot of precut ingredients.   So I won't say my meals aren't exactly that simple either but they tend to require very little cutting and I can walk away for a good amount of time before having to head back to the kitchen.

If it's really not working, can the other boys help?  Can they keep the little one entertained?  

Cnickler

Oh...they would help if I asked, but it doesn't seem right....B is my responsibility....which I love! But is seems so awful to ask the older kids to watch him while I work....they have other kid things they do and should be doing.

NikiGee

What about an exersaucer? That was the only way we could trap her when she was that age. Just a thought.

KaliChick

Yikes! Sounds like you've tried just about everything! He's an escape artist, eh?

The 6 sided pen ... is that like a play pen?  I don't even know if they make those things anymore.  Can you baby gate him into an area with toys? Double gate it if you have to?

My only other thought is that he may be getting out because he can't see you so is it possible that you can trap him in an area where he can still see you in the kitchen?  Laundry is a little different scenario I know.

Not much help ... just trying to think of ideas. 

Dragonflyer

Yeah, I feel you. My little engineer can escape from everything we have rigged to. We have the primary colored pen that is across our living room and was rigged up with the couch. He can escape it all and we have an open living room/kitchen/dining room with the fireplace of death so baby gates are not an option. I keep trying to figure out something but I don't actually want to close the pen thing and make a small space for him to play in. I like that he has a huge room area to run around and play.

 He can open every door, cabinet, door knob, everything. He doesn't ever just sit. He is an explorer. If you come up with something, let me know......

Cnickler

^ FYI

 I started closing the pen just to have 10 minutes of time....and he would use it as a walker...He would push so hard, it would hit a doorway, and then reshape itself to fit through......and then I would find him next to bookshelves, DVD racks, ect, pulling everything off the shelves...

 So, if he is that much of an explorer, closing it won't work anyway....

michellemarie7

I cannot help but laugh, because Brayden is the exact same. Super determined to cause some drama. The louder the better.

Have you tried a pack'n'play? That seems to be the only thing that works for us. Otherwise move the furniture to block off the space?

 

KaliChick

Cnickler ... I'm laughing at the reshaping itself to fit through the doorway.  I can totally see that happening!  My parents dog does that to her pen (not that I'm relating your child to a dog ... sorry!).