independent play 2 & 3 year olds/ juggling toddler & baby - how do you do it?!

[skeetaboat]

Just thought I'd update... Have been doing a lot of the things suggested, and they seem to be working.

I have implemented white noise and keeping the baby up longer between naps (even if she's tired), and have been getting a few longer naps out of her as a result. She still is woken easily and is fussy and difficult when that happens but it's less often now that we're using white noise. So a win there. Thanks for that idea alioops.

I have also stopped walking her to sleep, which means I'm no longer spending hours a day pacing the hallway. I'll feed her to sleep or put her in her rocker and bounce her to sleep, but that's it. I have found that if she's not tired enough for either of those to work, she's not likey to sleep very long anyway. She's adjusted quite well and it has made her million naps a day a lot easier to cope with. Toddler copes better too because I'm not always off in another room trying to get the baby asleep.

I've also been getting out of the house more, which is great for us all. Baby sleeps in the pram, I get some fresh air, toddler gets out, plays with other kids, runs around, and (usually) gives me some window of peace and quiet in the afternoon.

I have been really strict with the phone/tv/dvds and computer, which provides toddler with much more opportunity to engage in imaginative play. He whinged and protested at first (still does sometimes), but after 5 mins of nothing to do, he'll go to his toy box and create his own entertainment. I have been playing with him more too, and praising him when he does play independently. Also just talking to him about how it's good to play on your own sometimes because you can play whatever you feel like, make up your own games, imagine whatever you want to, don't have to share, etc.

ETA: the other thing I've done is modelled imaginative play for him by acting out a scenario, giving him a role, and letting him see how fun it can be! After I did this a few times he started doing it a lot too.

Interestingly, he's started recognising his own signs of tiredness now that he's having less passive entertainment from electronic things (not that he'll nap for me though!!). I've also noticed that it's when he's tired that he reaches for the passive entertainment. So I'm working with that and plan a DVD or iPhone game time when he needs to have some quiet time or after we've been out for the day. He's quickly gotten used to the tighter limits and is coping fine. A few times I've even found myself thinking "where's he gone?" and go find him out in the backyard running around, or down in his room turning his bed into a "bus", or hosting a party with his teddies.

He still loves company and for us to join in his play (which of course we do), but no longer expects constant entertainment.

So! If you made it through that, well done. Thanks for your suggestions and ideas. I hope you all find similar success.