quick, easy ideas to keep an 18 month old occupied for a while?

[laurajetter]

Tonight I'm having a lady come over to help me with my new-found sewing hobby. We won't actually be sewing, just going over lots of technical info so I need to be able to focus. DH will be out all evening at his band practice, so I'm looking for some ideas to keep my little one occupied.

He gets bored easily with all the toys in his play area and LOVES getting into things he shouldn't (what kid doesn't, right?). In the past I'd section off the living room play area from the other side of the room and the kitchen with a sectional, freestanding plastic gate. Unfortunately, he's learned how to climb over it!

Does anyone have ideas for what I can give him to keep him occupied during this time? It would need to involve items I can find around the house, and it would need to be geared toward an 18 month old. I guess I'm looking for things akin to banging pots and pans with a spoon, but I'm hoping for something not quite as noisy! We'll just be in the next room, but I know he'll either be coming in to see what I'm doing or else getting into trouble unless I can give him something "new" to play with.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

[ItsonlyExperiment626]

If all else fails, put on a good video.

 

[emily1982]

What about having a special bag and giving him an item out of it every 10 mins or so, something new thats hes not seen..pine cone, mirror etc. its hard because he's still really a baby!

 

[mickeyboat]

When my girls were little, and we wanted a little peace, we would push a chair up to the kitchen sink, fill it up a little ways with water, give them some plastic cups and bowls, spoons and ladles, and let them got at it. Yes, they made a mess, but it sure kept them occupied. And when we let them do this, they we always in our line of site.

Good luck!

Denae

 

[GraysMom]

What about giving him a bunch of different sized Rubbermaid/Gladware/Ziploc containers and lids? DS2 loved (and still does) matching up the lids and taking them on/off. You might even consider putting a small toy in some of them for him to try and get out.

Do you have any Duplo/Megablocks he could build with? DS also loves to play with a basket of laundry (empty/fill the basket, put it in the dryer, match up socks, sort into piles-washclothes, socks, etc). Do you have any Crayola Wonder markers and paper?

 

[Hannathy]

I think you are going to have to be in the same room honestly I have never known a baby that would play alone when they heard Mommy's voice from another room. Is there any reason they can't be in the room with you? Standing at the kitchen sink playing ought to get you 15 minutes if you are at the kitchen table but hoping for much more than that is wishful IMO

Is it too late to find a teen even a younger girl (since you are home) to come and play with him?

 

[meandtheguys2]

How about some tissue paper and a couple of boxes? So much better than toys. To make it really interesting, mess with them yourself for about 5 minutes before your friend comes!

 

[laurajetter]

Thanks for the great ideas so far!

 

[laurajetter]

I think you are going to have to be in the same room honestly I have never known a baby that would play alone when they heard Mommy's voice from another room. Is there any reason they can't be in the room with you? Standing at the kitchen sink playing ought to get you 15 minutes if you are at the kitchen table but hoping for much more than that is wishful IMO

Actually, he is great at playing by himself for a good while, as long as he has items that interest him. Right now all the toys in the living room are too boring for him I guess, because he is used to seeing them every day. Maybe I'll swap out some of those toys for ones he has upstairs.

 

[laurajetter]

oops, double post

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Can you have the lady come over a bit later and then you can your baby to bed?

 

[hastrobb]

I'm sure you wouldn't do this, but if you let them play in the sink NEVER leave them unattended even for a second.

 

[Mickey527]

My grandson is 18 months old and he can sit and watch Cars or Sing along songs CDs for hours. (not that I let him, but he would if he could. lol)
I also agree with the water, but not a full sink, my grandson loves frozen blueberries but they stain his hands. I fill up a tupperware bowl with water and put some baby bath soap in along with some toys and he loves to sit in his highchair and play with the water. He will play forever, mostly getting it all over my floor, but kill two birds with one stone, I get the floor clean too. It takes seconds to mop it up later. Or you can put towels or a plastic tablecloth on the floor if you prefer.
There is not much else that keeps Nicholas's attention, but I know he would never allow me to be out of the room without him. He has to be right there with me or he will let me know. Is there some way you can bring his highchair to the room you will be in and give him some water to splash in?