Crib Playtime

Want to know one of the best combinations ever of time to yourself and a good activity for your older baby/toddler on up?

Crib Playtime -- A.K.A. the Play Nap, Room Playtime, Play Yard Time, Alone Playtime, etc.

When Samantha was smaller, her morning nap was the time where I took a shower and was able to steal some precious time to myself to get something done, read a little, or check Facebook. As she dropped her A.M. nap, I wondered if I'd be smelly and tousle-headed until the afternoon every day or have to get up (horror!) at 5:30AM to be showered before Sam's early wake up.

Enter Crib Playtime. Most every morning, I gather up a couple of Sam's favorite toys that keep her busy and one toy that she ONLY gets to play with during Crib Playtime. She and those toys go in the crib for about 20 - 25 minutes while I shower and dress.

Everyone benefits. I get clean and presentable. Samantha's learning more about entertaining herself and building focus on just an item at a time. We've done Crib Playtime for several months now, and most days she asks for it and plays happily the entire time. Recently, she's liked bringing odd things into the crib with her like a brush and her polka dotted diaper cover. She has fun, so why not?

A friend of mine does 'Alone Playtime' with her two kids. The younger one plays in her crib, and the 4 year old plays in his room while she gets ready for the day.

Gotta love a win-win situation.