How do you ladies do it? those with toddlers

Trish36 · #1 March 14th, 2010, 05:19 AM

In the past when I was pg. my kids were already 3 or 3 1/2, so this wasn't an issue, but now that I have a 2 1/2 year old I find it really hard for her not to bump my belly. She's always climbing up on me or leaning down on the belly with her elbows. How do you ladies manage to keep your little ones away from the belly?? She doesn't really get it that there is a baby in there. Every time I tell her she looks at me and says 'no' and looks at her baby doll. And of course I'm not supposed to be picking her up. Right! I try not to carry her, but I still have to put her in the car seat or pick her up once in a while. Any tips would be great!

Shalyn · #2 March 14th, 2010, 06:12 AM

Alexis was about 20 months when I got pregnant with Maddy and she was pretty good, but I was always told that things that you lifted before (like yoru kids) were ok to lift during pregnancy as long as they didnt' weigh over a certain amount. Sometimes Maddy bumps my belly but I don't worry too much, but I've got extra fluff protecting the baby haha.

I am not sure what you can do other than try to explain that she will hurt her baby sister or brother.........sorry I'm not much help.

srprisebean3 · #3 March 14th, 2010, 06:18 AM

If i figure it out i'll let you know! DS is constantly climbing on me, jumping on me, digging his elbows in my tummy etc. I tell him he has to be careful because there is a baby in my belly and he'll say "oh, sorry mom". Since he's not intentionally doing it though and usually climbing up for snuggles it may take a while before he gets it.

I don't think he really "gets" it yet either. I hope when he can feel the baby move he'll understand more.

Samiel · #4 March 14th, 2010, 07:51 AM

My 11 month old hurts me sometimes when she climbs on me. The worst is when she uses my boobs to pull up with

My reflexes have gotten pretty quick at grabbing little hands before they smash me...

I've been having to change DD on the floor and I get DH to put her in the high chair and get her out of the bath for me since I get really worn down and soar from picking her up all day.

ZZ0607 · #5 March 14th, 2010, 08:02 AM

DS is 2 1/3 and DD is 4. Is there a special reason you can't pick your DD up? I still pick DS up sometimes, but it's getting harder on my back. My DS climbs into the car and carseat on his own. He started wanting to do that several months ago, so it was a habit by the time we found out. But I'll still pick him up and put him in it if he's dawdling. But when that happens, he's already in the car, just not the seat. It's not too hard to slide him up a couple of feet. Maybe you could give your DD a hand up into the floor of the car and then lift her into the seat from there?

As for staying off the belly, DS tries to climb on me and I just block him with my forearm and tell him he can sit next to me, but not on me. If I'm sitting up, I let him sit on my lap, but sometimes he likes to suddenly slam back against me and I again, block with my forearms and remove him from my lap. The blocking thing might surprise them, but it won't hurt them if you're not swinging your arm. It just stops their motion and protects the belly.

At the grocery a couple weeks ago he decided it would be awesome if he kicked my belly. So I popped his calf, then explained that a) we don't kick and b) kicking my tummy is dangerous because there's a baby in there. I approach it as a safety issue: he doesn't have to understand; he just needs to obey. If he doesn't, there are consequences depending on the infraction.

DD was 19 months when DS was born, and pretty much throughout that pregnancy I still picked her up and carried her and whatnot. She wasn't very rough though, so that wasn't an issue. But she was still in a crib when I had DS. And DS will probably still be when I have this one. We'll see how that works out. It's not too hard right now. Holding him for a long time is what does me in.

Anyway, I guess this isn't actually advice, it's just how I handle all that sort of thing. Hope some of it helps & sorry for the length. Good luck.

Trish36 · #6 March 14th, 2010, 08:37 AM

The reason why I'm not supposed to pick her up is because of the placenta previa. Easier said than done and I find myself breaking that rule all the time and then get yelled at. Yeah, I usually manage to block her, but you know the belly gets in the way when she tries to snuggle or all of a sudden decides she wants to climb up or lean on me. My reflexes just have to get better I guess.

oriel13 · #7 March 14th, 2010, 08:44 AM

I don't know, I haven't figured that out either. DS just turned 15 months and is still very much a baby in that he wants to lay all over me, be held, be carried, etc. And he recently learned to climb so he's always getting on the couch and chair and using my belly/boobs to pull up or land on.

I've just been telling him "no that hurts mommy" and sitting him on his butt next to me. Doesn't really work especially because he has no clue what a baby brother or sister is! I hope you figure something out, sounds like you're in a really tough spot because of the previa!

KatRomero79 · #8 March 14th, 2010, 09:50 AM

Its hard keeping her away from the belly. She loves to play around and "wrestle" and it not easy but she kinda understands that she cant touch the belly. We tell her all the time Sean is in there and she has to be careful. Luckily she doesnt want me to pick her up much anymore LOL, and I have a 13 year old who is a MAJOR help.

knightsgirl · #9 March 14th, 2010, 11:36 AM

Jaiden still crawls all over me too ... I swear, it's like he knows something's going on 'cause it's like he focuses on pouncing on my tummy. lol He's only 14 months old, so the concept of a baby in Mommy's belly is not going to stick. So I just have to be careful when he does crawl on top of me that he doesn't pummel the baby too much!

As for picking him up, I still do ... tho if my husband's around, he usually carries him.

laisydaisymama · #10 March 14th, 2010, 01:08 PM

eh, I've never been pregnant WITHOUT a toddler!

well, Kyle was 3 1/2-4 when I was pregnant with Claire, so there wasn't alot of carrying going on anymore. I have still always picked up my kiddos, and the bigger you get, the less they will climb on your belly just because it's in the way.

momma2princesses · #11 March 14th, 2010, 01:46 PM

When I was pregnant with violette, Avis was 13 months. I picked her up all the time..but if i were you I would just do A LOT of holding when you are sitting. Cuddle her in the crook of your arm with her mostly sitting on the chair...

Im having the same trouble too. I have a 3yr old and a 15 mo old now and its really hard not to carry them

Army_Wife · #12 March 14th, 2010, 06:45 PM

I don't have any advice b/c my kids love being held, carried and snuggled. My DS loves rough-housing, and I can't do that with him anymore and it upsets him. DD loves to kick when I'm changing her diaper, so I had to start putting her feet away from me and changing her from the side instead of with her feet towards my belly. She's only 19 months, so she doesn't understand. I still pick both kids up and carry them around, but I don't have any placenta previa or other issues that would keep me from being able to.

TeresaSuperMama · #13 March 15th, 2010, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momma2princesses

When I was pregnant with violette, Avis was 13 months. I picked her up all the time..but if i were you I would just do A LOT of holding when you are sitting. Cuddle her in the crook of your arm with her mostly sitting on the chair...

Im having the same trouble too. I have a 3yr old and a 15 mo old now and its really hard not to carry them

That's what I was going to suggest. I have been pregnant most of the time with a toddler. This is the first time with one that's a tad bit older. Leo still likes me to pick him up and carry him though and he's 50lbs. What I do is just tell him I have to sit down and then I can hold him that he is too big for me to carry right now. I try and put him on my lap when I'm sitting and that helps.