How to have a shower without baby hurting herself?

[weaselish]

Can I ask what you all do to have a shower? I'm just going back to work and dd1 is just 4, dd2 is 8 months. She has just become very mobile. Crawling, pulling up on everything and falling over all the time. I need to leave by 8; the kids are generally up by 6.30 and my DH leaves even earlier so he can't watch them whilst I shower.
With dd1 it was easier as she wasn't so mobile so early and we had an ensuite, so could just pile a load of toys on the floor and watch her in the 5 mins it takes to shower. Now we are in a different house, bathroom down the hall. Dd1 is helpful and will shout if a problem but obviously cannot rely on a 4 year old... Any ideas gratefully received - sure I am missing something obvious. Oh and I prefer to shower in the morning or else I don't feel awake and the shower would wake dd1 at night...

[PourquoiTuGachesTaVie]

If she is that mobile can you keep her in the cot while you shower? She may cry for 5 minutes but if it keeps her safe it can't be helped. Or just take anything dangerous out of her reach in the bathroom and let her play in there while you shower.

Or shower in the evening when she's asleep.

[clearsommespace]

We had to have playpen for this reason.

[PourquoiTuGachesTaVie]

I know you said you prefer to shower in the morning btw it's just that I found it easiest to do.it the night before.

[ChunkyPickle]

I have 2 boys of almost identical ages.

I shut us both in the bathroom (4 year old can be trusted to eat breakfast), or if being particularly obnoxious he comes in with me or he stands in the (dry) bath and yells while I shower in the cubicle.

I couldn't leave them both downstairs alone - DS2 is a climber, and would be after DS1s breakfast/ipad/anything else he has which would lead to fights and tears.

[Lagoonablue]

Have you got room for a travel cot in the bathroom? Just stick baby in there with toys for 5 mins.

[ChunkyPickle]

Oh, the bath is because he's recently decided that hauling up the toilet lid and chucking things in is fun. He can't get into any trouble in the bath (not with our current bath taps.. different story when they were lever ones)

[Rumandcokeplease]

Why don't you put the baby in her cot?

[Archduke]

Get up at 6 and have a nice leisurely 30 min shower?

Or I second the get a playpen/travel cot or just leave baby in cot idea. It's what I did.

[HaPPy8]

I used a travel cot too.

[Speckledy]

When DS was a similar age I put a small playpen full of toys in the bathroom for this reason. I used 4pieces from one of those huge baby Dan room divider fireguard things to make a small square. Can't remember when we stopped using it but will need to do something similar for DD soon as she's 8mo and into everything and I'll be back at work soon. There is no way I could go to work without showering in the morning either.

[Speckledy]

When DS was a similar age I put a small playpen full of toys in the bathroom for this reason. I used 4pieces from one of those huge baby Dan room divider fireguard things to make a small square. Can't remember when we stopped using it but will need to do something similar for DD soon as she's 8mo and into everything and I'll be back at work soon. There is no way I could go to work without showering in the morning either.

[BravePotato]

Playpen or cot surely?

How else?

[HennaFlare]

I put mine back in the cot at that age. The older ones usually ended up entertaining them in their room but they weren't allowed out of the to until I was dressed and dry.

[BravePotato]

The cot does not have to be in the bathroom by the way.

[weaselish]

Thanks all. Back in the cot then is the way forward I think. She'll scream but at least she won't get hurt.

[BaroquePearl]

I leave DD in the cot with a radio drama on the iPlayer, which seems to keep her happier about it all.

[Acunningruse]

In cot with 'special' toys you only bring out for this occasion

[soaccidentprone]

When ds2 was a baby I just let him crawl up and down the landing. All the bedroom doors were shut, and there was a stair gate at the top of the stairs. Put a few toys in various places, and job done.

We didn't have any furniture or anything on our landing though, and he could come into the bathroom and shout at me

[TheToadLessTravelled]

At a similar age I put ds in his car seat (removable capsule type) beside the shower and played peekaboo etc to entertain him. He had toys as well and was quite happy as long as I sang etc

[caker]

Bouncy chair in the bathroom or door bouncer in the bathroom doorway. Or in an empty baby bath on the floor, with some toys in.

[gamerchick]

Just pop her in her cot with some toys.. It won't harm her.

[wheresthelight]

cot or playpen and cbeebies are your new best friend!!

my daughter loves chuggington so a dvd of that buys me enough time to shower, dress and occasionally blow dry my hair and put on make up

[34PinkLadyApple]

I have to have a shower in the mornings too or I dont feel awake so I get up before my 1 yr old, shower (with monitor in bathroom), dress and do make-up and hair, then get her up. I dont have a 4 yr old though.

[AnotherStitchInTime]

I used to leave dd1 in her cot with In the Nightmare Garden playing on the laptop, that worked. Dd2 and ds have gone in their cot or playpen. Leaving nursery rhymes playing works well too.

[naturalbaby]

What time does your DH leave? The only way I can leave the house on time is to be showered and ready before the kids get up, then I'll eat breakfast with them.