Need creative ideas for "lifting" toddlers

I'm technically not supposed to lift anything heavier than 10 lbs for 4-6 weeks. I had my surgery on Friday and have already lifted the babies out of their cribs this morning. The doctor understands I have 18 mo old twins and said to do what I have to. And when i have to lift them, to lift with my legs. I'm not sure how to do that or apply that in every situation, other than if they're on the floor and I can squat down and get them. Otherwise, I don't see how to do that.

Anyway, I won't have anymore help after today, and I'll be back to doing it all. The biggest things are getting them in and out of their cribs in the morning/for naps, and in and out of their boosters at the table for meals. But even then yesterday I realized how many times I take my son up to his crib for "behavior" issues and how carrying him back downstairs resolves a lot of problems (giving him the freedom to walk meant he went where he wanted to go, and trying to get him back to the gated area meant another tantrum and another trip up to his crib.) Or the times they fall and get hurt and it's just instinct to pick them up. Or sometimes you have to pick them up to keep things moving along, or you're waiting all day for them to come down the stairs or for them to come get their diaper changed. I'm all about routine and not being able to do what I'm used to doing to make the days easier is going to be really hard.

Are there any creative ideas out there for getting them in and out of their cribs and highchairs to at least help alleviate the stress of me popping stitches or something? My husband suggested putting their highchairs (the kind that strap to chairs) directly on the floor and put their trays back on, so they can climb into them themselves. But I hate the thought of regressing, when they've been eating good by the table with plates. Another idea is to put their table and chairs set in the kitchen, but the thought of them getting up and down every second and not eating is very overwhelming to me.

 

I don't have any creative ideas for you but I wanted to wish you a speedy recovery :hug:

 

:hug: that would be very overwhelming to me too! i was going to suggest the same thing as your husband about the booster chairs - we just got back from a week's vacation in Vancouver at my dad's place. he didn't have any chairs so we put their boosters on the floor with the trays. when we got back home, we went back to putting them at the table. it didn't seem to phase them at all.

for time outs, is there a place you could set up in the main area to put them? maybe a pack & play or something? you'd still need to lift them in & out but at least you'd be avoiding going up & down the stairs as much.

for cuddling when they're upset, could you sit on the floor & hold them in your lap?

i think for lifting them in & out of their cribs for bedtime/naptime that would fall under the category of doing what you have to do.

also, it might help to think of it as creating new routines rather than disrupting old routines. i find that helps me when i have to change something up. GL! :hug:

 

My sitter had back surgery when mine were 18 months old. I had them using little stools and get into the high chairs strapped to the chair without help, they also got down. You could also get a larger stool (IKEA has some) to have them at least get higher to the crib.
As far as lifting with your legs - try to always bend your knees and keep your head and chest up with your child as close to you as possible to diminish the load for lifting as much as possible.

 

also, it might help to think of it as creating new routines rather than disrupting old routines. i find that helps me when i have to change something up. GL! :hug:
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I love the optimism!!

I'm so sorry you had surgery and hope you recover quickly I say do whatever you have to do. FWIW mine eat of out of their FP boosters on the floor every day for every meal and do great at tables when we are out...doesn't phase them AT ALL! It's all temporary and they will adapt! Feel good :youcandoit:

 

I'm not real certain about this but I'm reading. I'm trying to get my "fix the boobs" surgery scheduled for December when I'll be off and I'll have family around to help. My biggest concern is getting the babies in and out of their crib and carseat. Since mine are still RFing, I think I will have to switch them to FFing until I can lift them again. I figure they will be able to climb in and out of their carseats with the help of my oldest DD. As far as the cribs. I'm going to try a stepstool and the help of DD. Everything else can be done on the floor though. Good luck in your recovery!

 

I just had another c-section a few weeks ago and I've been really struggling with this. My twins aren't quite old enough to understand how to use a step stool, though I've been trying that. I've pretty much arranged to have someone around me all of the time to do my lifting, which is expensive and irritating! I keep telling myself that it will be over soon and I won't be so helpless any longer.

I can do diapers and clothes on the floor, and I can get them out of their high chairs by sitting down in a chair facing them and letting them climb onto my knees and then slide down to the floor. I just use my arms and no trunk muscles doing that. I really want to heal well so I've been trying not to lift them at all, but it's really hard, especially when they take a fall. I just sit down quickly next to them and hold them on the floor.

For bath time, I go sit in the shower with them. That is much easier on me and the girls LOVE it! I think we'll keep doing bath time that way even after I can get back to lifting them.

Good luck and please let us know of any tips and tricks you come up with!

 

Thanks for the tips! Today went ok. I used a step stool ladder (with 2 steps) for highchairs, and that worked well. It also worked well for handwashing at the kitchen sink. I had another step stool for their cribs, but so far that's been a bust. I do like the description one of you gave though for how to lift with your legs. Because I wasn't too clear on that and I wasn't doing it right. I didn't have to worry about time-outs today, but if I have a bad day I'll probably have my husband bring down a pack n play which will be a little easier than lifting in and out of a crib. I was already thinking about turning the car seats around, and now this might push me to finally do it. I think they could crawl in and out by themselves, like somebody mentioned. Thanks for all the support and good ideas!

 

Im very pregnant so we also had to come up with creative solutions but I just coudlnt lift my 26 pound toddlers anymore.

• We ended up making the transition to toddler beds at 19 months, which went GREAT BTW.
• We got a little tikes picnic table where they eat breakfast/lunch and they actually eat more now that they arent strapped down to a chair. I let them wonder *a little* they still have to keep their food/beverages in the kitchen.
• We have a step stool for hand washing and being at counter level.
• We do time out by the front door. We were just consistent in that's the time out spot. they hated it but they have adjusted and will stay seated and its nice because there is always a door any place we go
• I sit down or squat down when they need consoling.

Feel free to PM me if you have any specifics questions about how any of the thigns we did worked etc.

Hope you feel better!