Play ideas for 11 month old twins (and food ideas, too?)

[Anonymous]

I recently started working with a new NF with eleven month old twins (they just turned 11 months yesterday, their birthday is March 18th). It's a very long day and they (well, one in particular) has been very fussy, especially towards the end of the day. I've been trying to get them outside (the weather has been nice here recently), but they're not fond of the stroller, and every time I take them to the park they cry when I try to put them in the baby swings, and all they do when I sit them down to play in the grass is eat every piece of dirt and twig and bug they can, no matter what I attempt to distract them with. (Side note: tonight it occurred to me that I need to try bubbles at the park, so tomorrow I will ask MB if she can pick some up soon).

Their house is very small; MB has assured me since my first interview that buying a bigger house nearby is a major priority for them, and they are aiming to do that this summer (she seems pretty serious about it, and mentions it frequently). Their bedroom is small and with both cribs and the dresser there is literally two square feet of floor space in there. Their backyard is also incredibly tiny; half of it is covered in concrete, and the other half is just dirt that their dog digs in and poops in. There has been talk of them getting a water table or sandbox in the summer, but I feel nervous about the idea of young toddlers playing on bare concrete (I guess a tarp could be put down, but still...and anyway hopefully they'll be moving to a new place in the summer??). The living room is their only play area, but again, it is small and there isn't really sufficient room for them to crawl or practice walking. They have pusher toys to practice walking with but literally every two steps they take they get stuck (they run into the couch or the wall, and those things don't turn very easily).

The first week, I implemented the "bits of ribbons and fabric scraps in a baby wipes tub" toy, and also used food coloring to make baby yogurt "finger paint." Those projects, although successful I'd say, captured their full attention for about five minutes, and are now both old hat to them. I mentioned wanting more ideas for play to MB and she just went on and on about how much they love water play, but I just don't see how we can do that right now. MB and DB like giving them baths in the evening as part of their night time routine, so I don't think I should give them a bath in the middle of the day. But with their yard in its current state it isn't safe for them to play out there. Moreover, it's been sunny here but it's still February and far too cold for them to be getting wet like that outside. Their floors inside are all nice, original hard wood so I don't think it wise to allow them to play with tubs of water inside, even if I do put towels down first.

I'm a fan of sensory play, but I'm afraid uncooked rice, dried beans, etc, would pose a choking risk at this age(and also of course be incredibly messy). I was considering making play dough but they put everything in their mouths and I'm so paranoid of choking, even on a ball of playdough.

I've been doing a lot of singing and dancing, and they shake their baby maracas, using songs like where is thumb kin, McDonald's farm, this old man, head shoulders knees and toes, wheels on the bus, etc, which they love, but I can't do that for 9.5 hours straight, and even they grow tired of it eventually. MB said I could take them to a music class, but the next session doesn't start until April.

I've also been doing peek a boo and roll the ball back and forth; they seem really excited at the start of those activities, but always lose interest completely within a minute, maybe two tops.

I've been finding that they are very fussy, especially towards the end of the day (even with a good nap), but I really feel like if I could keep them engaged and interested in a new activity every day it would go a long way for their moods.

Another thing I've noticed is that the twin who tends to be fussier also doesn't eat as well. I've been feeding mostly finger foods (well cooked and cut up carrots, green beans, avocado, banana, blueberries, peas, pasta, cheese, Cheerios), and some spooned foods (applesauce, yogurt, etc). They also get a bottle of formula upon wake up (8am ish) and before nap (noon), and at bedtime (after I leave). The fussy twin tends to eat one or two bites, and then start spitting everything out and throwing it all over the floor. (Whereas the other twin tends to get in a solid 15-20 bites before that happens). One thing I noticed was that when I left tonight, I had both twins set up in their high chairs, munching on pasta and peas. I mentioned my concerns about the fussy twin possibly eating less to DB, and he said something like "we can't have that! We'll make sure he eats well!" And as soon as I opened the door to leave, I heard DB offering that twin some "peach puffs" (you know, toddler junk food). I've gone out of my way not to feed him those; on my first day I offered him puffs after he refused other foods. At first I thought he didn't like the other foods I had offered at the time, but now I suspect he is just holding out because he knows puffs will eventually be offered... I know it sounds a bit silly, but I find it hard to believe any 11 month old dislikes cheese AND peas AND pasta AND blueberries (and all the other things I've tried).

Anyway, any advice pertaining to activities or mealtime strategies for my charges would be very helpful! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

OP have you ever worked with children this age? it seems like you are used to working with older children...

11 month olds are exploring the world around them. they've just learned to crawl (probably) and are likely either learning to pull themselves up or able to stand while holding onto a surface. they're about to learn to walk within the next few months.

they don't need to have scheduled activities with water tables and sensory bins. just let them be. they're fussy towards the end of the day bc it is the end of the day

[Anonymous]

Read, read and read some more. Go for walks and point out things around them (power through the initial "I don't want to go" behavior). Find story time and community play rooms at your local library or community center. Set a consistent schedule and stick to it - that often resolves resistance-issues.

As for eating, one of your charges will eat better once he is off formula. I wouldn't worry about it now. All you can do is present the food and keep trying. No one can force a baby/toddler to eat.

[Anonymous]

The "Gymboree toddler play" book is a great book full of over 100 activities for ages 1-2.5 years old. They no longer are printing the book but I just got one from Amazon for 99 cents and $3.99 shipping. It was used but it's in excellent condition and you can't even tell

[Anonymous]

You can do clean painting you put paint in a ziplock bag (the one with out the slider zipper works better) duct tape the edges and let them push the paint around inside the bag they can pick it up and squeeze it. Does your nanny family have large beach towels? Mine does and I put three or so on the floor and then fill the plastic basin they brought home from the hospital, plastic storage containers/bowls or any non breakable object to hold water I give them toys, spoons, lids to their bottles and any object I can find for them that can go in water and let them play. At first they dumped the water out but learned if they did that play time was over. They still dump occasionally but it more accidental now. I'm not in DC and where I live its -6 out so I have a separate towel to dry them here and there and a change of clothes within reach once they are done or too wet we clean up and I change them into nice dry clothes. At first they only played for 5-10 minutes now there are times they will play for 45 minutes or longer. I also add dish soap to the water mixture to mix things up

[Anonymous]

They sound like normal 11 month olds to me and your day seems normal.

You can do the sensory stuff that you mentioned. You just have to watch them like a hawk.

Other sensory suggestions. You can do bubbles or mashed potatoes.
Give them things to drop could be as simple as socks into the laundry basket. Laundry baskets also make great "trains" or "buses" .

Pile up some pillow for a mountain for them to climb over.

Go for walks.

Ask for one of those crawling tunnels. I second the Gymboree play book.

Just let them go and explore,You kind of have to follow their lead it's totally normal for them to have no more than 5 minutes of interest in an activity.

I wouldn't dig my heels in with the parents about what the kids are eating or not eating.

Seems like typical 11 month old eating behavior to me.

As for the fussiness in addition to it being the end of the day it's possible that they aren't ready for 1 nap a day yet especially the fussier twin, and could still benefit from even a short nap in the morning.

[Anonymous]

If they are crawling or walking you can start playing hide and seek with them. Crawl away then say who can find (your name) then when they do get all excited (you may have to keep calling them and show yourself at first) but they will catch on then try and find them in the beginning you will have to move out of site and then ask where is larla then find larla. As I'm looking for them I sing where is larla where is larla where is she where is she where did larla go then say there's larla when I find them. I only used larla because that is the name that is used here often

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the suggestions everyone, I appreciate it.

To 6:04: Yes, I have experience with this age. The last three families I worked with for two to three years each, and I started when their child was 8-12 weeks old and left when he/she started preschool. I guess maybe part of it is that those were all just one child, which made some things easier (for example, I've done the pillow mountain idea, but whichever twin I'm not actively holding will knock the pillow tower out from under the other; also made supervision of sensory play easier). Another part of it was that I was with the child for so long prior to 11 months that by that time we had a good established routine, etc (for example I usually start using the baby swings at the park at six months, so by this age they love it. These two don't like them, and when I mentioned that to their parents they said something like "yes, we tried them once and they hated it..." Which sounded like they never gave them a chance to get used to the swings?). And lastly, I hate to say it, but for the past year my (previous) charge was two--three years old and I guess it's hard to jump back into the swing of an 11 months (or rather, two 11 month olds) day.

Also for the record, I do have some experience with twins, but the only regular nanny gigs I've had with twins were some of the first nanny jobs I worked (9-11 years ago, I started nannying at 18, I'm 30 now). And both sets of twins that I previously worked with were older (one set was about 19 months old when I started, the other set was three years old).

Sometimes it's just nice to hear ideas from other nannies!

Anyway, the suggestions are helpful, and I'm certainly open to more! I will look into that Gymboree book as well...

[Anonymous]

Twin mom here. Great suggestions above but the first thing I wondered is whether they are still taking two naps a day? Mine took two naps a day until they were almost 2. They're 3 1/2 now and still nap.

One of mine in particular needs significantly more, and more regular, sleep. He gets incredibly cranky without it.

So maybe try adding back a second nap.

Everything else you're describing about their behavior and diet sounds quite normal to me. (And don't sweat the puffs thing - they were a huge hit in our house also and could be one of the ways we'd get a cranky child to start eating. Start with the puffs and then move on to something more nutritious. My sleep needing child also goes haywire when hungry so things like puffs can be a great stopgap.)

Sounds like you're doing great! Don't overthink it. They sound completely normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks for the suggestions everyone, I appreciate it.

To 6:04: Yes, I have experience with this age. The last three families I worked with for two to three years each, and I started when their child was 8-12 weeks old and left when he/she started preschool. I guess maybe part of it is that those were all just one child, which made some things easier (for example, I've done the pillow mountain idea, but whichever twin I'm not actively holding will knock the pillow tower out from under the other; also made supervision of sensory play easier). Another part of it was that I was with the child for so long prior to 11 months that by that time we had a good established routine, etc (for example I usually start using the baby swings at the park at six months, so by this age they love it. These two don't like them, and when I mentioned that to their parents they said something like "yes, we tried them once and they hated it..." Which sounded like they never gave them a chance to get used to the swings?). And lastly, I hate to say it, but for the past year my (previous) charge was two--three years old and I guess it's hard to jump back into the swing of an 11 months (or rather, two 11 month olds) day.

Also for the record, I do have some experience with twins, but the only regular nanny gigs I've had with twins were some of the first nanny jobs I worked (9-11 years ago, I started nannying at 18, I'm 30 now). And both sets of twins that I previously worked with were older (one set was about 19 months old when I started, the other set was three years old).

Sometimes it's just nice to hear ideas from other nannies!

Anyway, the suggestions are helpful, and I'm certainly open to more! I will look into that Gymboree book as well...

This is nothing to feel bad about for the last two years my youngest charge was 3 and above. I just started a new family and it's a newborn, and it's shocking how different things are. I didn't realize how much out of swing I was.

Babies are tough. 11 months is tough it's one of those transition stages, and twins are hard work. Seems like you are dong fine. Give your self a pat on the back and a break!