Three infants...what to DO all day

[happysmileylady]

I am a stay at home mom of a 1 year old and babysit for two 5 month olds. I am not sure what to DO with these babies all day. Right now, I play/talk to each one individually for a little bit, then basically rotate the two young ones among the baby furniture through the day, while my one year old spends most of her day in the playpen. Some days when they are extra fussy and I am going stir crazy, I throw them in the car and we drive around, but with three infants, actually getting out of the car to do something is out of the question.

In addition to not knowing what to do, one of the babies has just been especially difficult. She doesn't cry, she screams. And nothing occupies her long enough for me to feed either one of the other two...within 10 minutes, she's SCREAMING again. She's fine when I pick her up, but I can't hold her while I am feeding another, nor can I just hold her ALL day. I have a ring sling, which I love, but she will have NONE of that.

So two questions...what to do with three babies all day and what to do about one who just wants to be held all day?

[mudpiesnbarefeet]

There is not much more you can do at that age - especially as you are already giving them individual attention and rotating them. Do you have an exersaucer or something that would entertain her/him. Can they sit up yet?? I sometimes have them get fussy at that age for a couple of months it seems as if they want to go but they cannot crawl/go yet and it's frustrating for them.

I would say you either have a very spoiled child or one that is just fussy and you cannot hold them all day you will drive yourself crazy so if you can't just let her cry it out and it's real bad you might have to let her go - I'm good at tuning out when I have to but it does wear on you plus my next question is does her fussiness bother the other 5 month old or your child - I've had fussy babies get everyone grumpy because all the crying/screaming bothered everyone.

[savvymomma]

I think you should definitely hook up with other moms in your area and get a play group going! You definitely need a time away from home that you can look forward to!

Some cities have kid-friendly places (NOT mcdonalds) where moms can hang out with their kids, and they have a separate baby area so they don't get trampled. Ever thought about getting out to one of those with a friend or two? If anything else, just being able to vent about your day with another woman can do WONDERS on your mental health.

[DianneM]

I have several suggestions.
1. If you can afford it investing a stroller for 3 or more. Then you can go out with them. School supply stores usually have these if you don't know of any other sources.
2. The screaming baby might have some sensory issues. The exersaucer that was mentioned or something that moves might work. A bright shiney mobile might be the key. Being wrapped up tight might calm her. Check out the book, "The Out of Sync Child". It may have some information for infants. Mainly keep trying to appeal to her senses either by stimulating or removing stimulation until you find what works. Ask her mom. She may know what to do. Do not just let her cry it out. It will just give her the sense that the world is not safe or caring. Now that I know what I know I have guilt around letting babies cry unnecessarily.
3. Can your 1 year old be out of the playpen moving around?
Dianne

[faithsg]

Infants are not too young to enjoy books. Get simple board picture books and pint to the pictures and talk about them with them. Yeah, an exersaucer. Also, a baby swing is soothing for the one that cries alot, maybe.

Infants are also not too young for interacting with each other. Of course, you need to be right there to make sure no one gets hurt.

Lotsa baby toys out on the market. Get some toys that are age-appropriate, and that should fill some time.

The one year old would love looking at home videos of self. Maybe that would occupy the littler ones too. (My daughter, Amy, when she was one, said "Mamie, TD; Mamie TD" over and over daily, to let us know she wanted to watch herself.

If the weather is nice, take a blanket outdoors to the lawn, and bring some toys out there. They can play outdoors and enjoy the fresh air.

~ Faith

[lesley robertson8]

Multiple kids require a schedule. You need to create a written schedule that you stick to daily like they do in daycare situations. I used to work full time and 2 of my children were in daycare. They would send home an hour by hour check sheet of what the kids did all day.

Here's an example: Your daughter should be involved in all this in some way and not in a playpen.

9:00-9:30 - Breakfast/snack
9:30-10:00 - Tummy time/mat time
10:00-10:15 - diaper change
10:15-11:30 - nap time
11:30-11:45 - diaper change
11:45-12:15 - Lunch/bottles

12:30-1:30 - Stroller/walk **You need to invest in a 3 or 4 seat stroller. Second hand store. By the time you get the kids diaper changed and coats etc...this will take an hour
1:30 - 2:00 - check diapers/tummy time/bottles
2:00 - 3:30 - Nap time
3:30 - 4:00 - diapers/bottles

This is just a suggestion, however, I know babies need a lot of tummy time, bottles and diaper changes. Just keep to a schedule and the day will move along. Keep your daughter involved in each step so she doesn't have to be in the playpen but for short periods when you are changing diapers etc.

Hope this helps.

Lesley (Mom of 4 and one with special needs.)

[raiundazan]

Aww.. poor you, I could just imagine! I heard that a baby vibrating chair/ bouncing seat really works well for babies that young. Maybe that would help

[HaveNoBoss]

Go to the park with them they normally have swings and they LOVE them. The little baby swings with 4 holes actually are to hold 2 children back to back so 2 can go in one and one in the other. Go to the library and have story time. Believe it or not you can do a lot with little ones that size. My kids I keep have been here since 6 weeks and we always did the above things as well as pudding paint and art project they may not do them ON their own but you take their hand and help them pick up the pudding smear it around slap a piece of art work into place etc. then by the time they are 18 mo like mine are now they are doing it without your help.

[T-M]

Try taking them to a garden or park and just entertain them that way. They just want your love you know, it's understandable!

[sdaws]

you could even put them together with children in the same age groups, in your neighborhood.