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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Ok I am a sahm with a 5, 2 1/2, and 1 year old and I don’t know how to entertain the 2 1/2 year old when I’m putting the baby to sleep so she watches more tv than I would like. Also, she no longer naps and gets really cranky around 2:30 so an episode then helps me maintain sanity or make a phone call. How do you nannys keep the other children entertained when you are potty training or engaging with just one?![/quote]

Half an hour a day is okay, don't worry about it, you have your hands full. If she watches more than that, start instituting a rule that the only TV time is after lunch (or whatever). Take her in the room with you when you put the baby down and let her play something that she doesn't normally get to play with, or ever get a couple of new quiet toys just for this time. One of my charges was mad for stickers. If you go with stickers, make sure they're easy to peel off - nothing worse than the baby almost asleep and the older one wailing because she can't get it off! Call it Quiet Time because she baby is going down and ask her if she can help you with some things - close the curtains, sing the baby a lullaby; let those be her jobs. She will hopefully feel included and with the help of her special toys will be able to stay quiet for however long it takes you to put the baby down.

Just generally try to include her more when you have to do things with the baby - ask her to bring you the diaper, hand you a towel when you're bathing (but also be prepared in case she's not feeling like it). One of my charges got to be really indispensable to me during bath time - the bathroom was weirdly shaped and it was hard to get everything in place, so she was amazing about handing me things and entertaining the baby. In another family I had a 6yo, 4yo and a 1yo - when I was cooking dinner it was the older ones' job to entertain the baby, so if your older child is around during some of the time you need help with, 5 is old enough to do a little help - and it's already possible to reason with a 5yo that this is the time of day he's got a job to help you keep the 2yo out of your way, even offering some incentives if that helps.

Having a 2,5yo and a 1yo is a tough job and it's going to get easier, just hang in there. In the worst case scenario, if you give them all enough attention and have quality time during the day otherwise, even two hours of TV a day won't turn them into serial killers. Hopefully.[/quote]

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