s/o Shopping Problems - WTF Do You Do With LO All Day???

Ms.Jade

So I just made DH late to work (the library is open on Saturdays) crying about this. I know E is still a wonderful little girl but I have been at a loss lately as to what to do with her. I can't take her on my errands (see my post below) it's wet and cool out these days so playing outside is out (and I know most of you have worse weather than we do in the winter), and storytime at the library is on hiatus until after the holidays and the last few times she tried to wreck the place. She is no longer content to sit on my lap and listen to the stories and clap to the songs. She is on the move. 

DH observed that he doesn't really see babies E's age at the library - older  toddlers yes, and babes in arms yes, but no fledgling walkers really. Are moms of 14 month olds all in hiding? I can accept that this is just the age we're at. Where do you go when you leave the house? Where do you take LO where they are happy and have fun being there?

I do my grocery shopping online and have it delivered to my door so I don't have to go anywhere each day. I can stay here and play blocks if I have to. But I do like to break the day up a bit with a trip out and I have no idea where to go anymore. 

Any advice is appreciated.  

MrsLoos

We go to the indoor play areas at the mall. They are my sanity savers! My LOs can run around and burn some energy. When we are done they always get a snack in the stroller which gives me just enough time to get a cup of coffee and maybe hit up a store or two or just walk around. 

Do you have any little gyms in your area? I've never been but have some mom friends who take their LO's. We also go to the zoo a lot. There are several inside exhibits and my LO's love looking at the animals. The Chhildrens museum is also a hit with my kiddos, but it's a bit further away so we don't go as often. 

 Hope you find something to do with E! We all seem to go a little stir crazy when we are stuck inside all day & it's no fun for anyone!

anasazi17

A is the same way..she's a woman on the move.  Do you have a Gymboree or Kindermusic type place?  Those might be fun, interactive things to do.  

We have a ton of great museums that we go to just to get out of the house.  Most of them are free admission.  We just go and walk around...there is usually enough stuff going on that A stays in her stroller for a decent time.  We have a fantastic Children's museum that I think we will get a membership to next year...LOTS of interactive activities for toddlers. 

I just got a membership to a gym that has a good kids area.  We go once a day after lunch...we both like it!  

 

Jazzym12

E doesn't sit in a stroller at all. I take her to Gymboree or our outdoor mall I really bundle her up and let her walk. She loves watching all the people. Gymboree can be a lifesaver!

LatteLady5

Our library story hour is a very small group...usually  no more than 6 kids. At least half of them are running around. There is one little boy who sits and listens to all three stories but the other kids just can't sit still that long. The lady in charge is great. She doesn't mind if they run and play with each other as long as they're not super loud. Our library also has a little kids "play" area that N and I frequent. It's an area with a little race track, kitchen, blocks, puppet stand etc. She is happy playing there for ages.

Other than that and grocery stores, our town has nada. It's been nice enough to visit the park lately so we've been there just about every day. She is still good in the cart for grocery shopping as long as she's not tired or hungry. 

Can you schedule a play date with a friend? Even if you can't get out having other adults around could be very beneficial for you. 

mattandbekah

This is a tough age as far as outings go - I remember feeling super shut in with Jack at this age too! I found a mommy and me playgroup at a church that was a great place - because the kids could  be terrors and wreck it, and no one really cared! Haha even if you arent religious - the playgroups really were great - and it was in no way a bible study type group.  We really just brought our kids, let them play, and did a little craft if they wanted too. 

You might check if any of the large-ish churches in your area have a free mommy and me group.  

I am also thinking of signing Luke up for a Mommy and me swimming class - his big brother does gymnastics, and I would like to see him do something to wear him out a little as well. 

Stewartandmaura

E is the same.  She will not sit in a stroller. She wants to push it. She won't sit in the grocery cart. She wants to push it. Are you seeing the pattern here? Lately, I try not to do anything that will take longer than ten minutes with her or I let her push the cart under my feet if we have no time constraints. I will also pick up random things while shopping, hand them to her, and when she starts to get bored, I set it down and pick up something new. Yes, retail people love me.

At storytime, she runs all over the room. This was the last week until Jan, and I had to go pick her up because she was sitting on another little girl. Yes, sitting on her. 

She is a crazy woman. I have come to grips that I have THAT child, but I wouldn't want her any other way.  A lot of times I will just take her to the park and let her run herself ragged. So an indoor play area during bad weather might do the trick.

blu-eyedwife

LBB runs around during library story time also. All the littles ones do and no one seems to mind. Other things I do with him where he can run his crazies out are indoor play spaces (we just do free play times because I'm not off on a regular basis, but my friend does weekly classes at the one by our homes), the zoo, the aquarium, and we have a killer children's museum that's geared towards the little ones.