SCREAMING.....please help

We have a wonderful playroom set up with all their new toys from Christmas, including a play kitchen, and a fun climbing thing with a slide. BUT when ever I put DD (now 21 mths)in there now, she stands at the gate and SCREAMS until I come and get her. I cant get anything done!! It is grating my nerves so bad! I need them in there every once in a while with the gate up so I can run down to do wash, cook, clean etc....I usually am by myself all day and for dinner and bath so I must get at least cooking done with out them all over me.
What would you do, just let her scream until you are done your chores, usually about 10 minutes or so? The problem with that is when I do go and pick her up I can not put her down for at least a half hour.
Please tell me this is a phase that does not last long...
Any words of advice are greatly appreciated!
Tracy
ps my ds can stay in the playroom all day with or with out the gate up, he just plays well by himself for a good amount of time so maybe that is what I am comparing her behavior to????

 

We have a wonderful playroom set up with all their new toys from Christmas, including a play kitchen, and a fun climbing thing with a slide. BUT when ever I put DD (now 21 mths)in there now, she stands at the gate and SCREAMS until I come and get her. I cant get anything done!! It is grating my nerves so bad! I need them in there every once in a while with the gate up so I can run down to do wash, cook, clean etc....I usually am by myself all day and for dinner and bath so I must get at least cooking done with out them all over me.
What would you do, just let her scream until you are done your chores, usually about 10 minutes or so? The problem with that is when I do go and pick her up I can not put her down for at least a half hour.
Please tell me this is a phase that does not last long...
Any words of advice are greatly appreciated!
Tracy
ps my ds can stay in the playroom all day with or with out the gate up, he just plays well by himself for a good amount of time so maybe that is what I am comparing her behavior to????

 

We have a gate from our opening to our family room to our kitchen. When I am trying to get their meal ready, dishes done, etc...sometimes they do the same thing. This recently started a month back or so. (My girls are almost 22 months now). I dont know why this just started?! Anyway, I find that if I play a Sesame Street music CD it usually diverts them to play without looking for me. (Sometimes!). I wouldnt drop everything to pick her up. Especially if its a whiny cry, not a "I really need you" cry. HTH

 

My DD wants more holding etc. as well. We haven't had them in the Superyard since just after Thanksgiving, so I might have the same problem when I put them back in. BUT.... I'm not going to give up my workout because she's screaming. That just reinforces the screeching and screaming and gives her MORE reason to do it!!

I say, BE STRONG!! You aren't leaving them in there for very long!! 10 min. is nothing. THey should be able to stay in there for about an hour, so work up to it and you'll be in HEAVEN!

 

I know I'll sound awful, but is there a TV in there, or would you adamantly object to occasional TV? I do put on Signing Time, Backyardigans, or Blues Clues when I need to leave the room for a minute and I can tell that they might freak. It seems to distract them enough so I can throw in some laundry or go to the bathroom without company.

 

I do the TV most times but that isnt working for DD anymore, even Barney, which was always a favorite. Where my DS is glued to the TV DD just isnt into it when she is having one of her screaming fits.
I guess I just have to let her have her little screaming fit, otherwise I can see it becoming a battle of wills, and I think she might be enough of a diva to win!
Thanks for the advice once again!
Tracy

 

Yeah, I use the tv, too. I have gotten them some of those little parachute chairs and they love to sit there and watch the Backyardigans, Dora, Max and Ruby, and Barney.

 

Wow, my girls are quite the opposite about holding...they are always saying "down" now because they want to run and play. They don't ever want us to hold them anymore.

I don't ever gate them off from me though, but our house is 1 level. They are gated from the main living room but I don't go in there during the day either and it is just to keep them off the brick fireplace hearth so they don't get hurt. I hope you figure something out soon. Good luck!

 

Tracy, not reading the other posts. so sorry if redundant. but I put down a rug or a blanket on the floor and give Rachel 2 toys and 2 books. I set a timer that she can see, and say, "Stay on this blanket and play with this stuff until you hear the timer beep. Mommy will go cook dinner so you can eat. If you get up, mommy will be sad, and you will be in trouble." Then I start the timer, walk away and rush to prep dinner.

They are in the Living room which has a doorway too wide for a gate. the doorway opens into the kitchen. I position the blanket so they cannot really see me.

I got 11 minutes out of my 2 girls the other day. If they had gotten up, I would have disciplined them in the usual way.

I haven't tried it lately in the play area in the basement. they are usually climbing up the stairs after me, even If I'm getting a drink of water!