Posted: 5/18/2005 8:32:59 AM EDT
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I am going to watch my 9 month old nephew this afternoon for a few hours. I have never watched a kid under 10 for more than 5 minutes. Any parting advice before I plunge into the depths of hell? And the whole diaper thing..........  (Please 'phew, dont shit!!!!!)
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Relax. 9 months is not Hell. They are pretty giggly, cute, and easy to distract at this age. Follow his cues. He'll probably let you know if he's feeling giggly, serious, sleepy, curious, etc. Don't overwhelm him; go with the flow. Make sure he isn't hungry, sleepy, or overly wet. Ask his mother about good things to distract him with when he cries and tricks to helping him sleep. Don't let him eat anything weird. Gentle tickle games were popular with my son, like "this little piggy" or walking your fingers toward him slowly and then "getting" his toes. He also liked to be held while I danced with him, read/tear picture books, chew on things, and pull my hair. I used to put my son in his highchair and give him a few toys to play with while I cooked breakfast. He was okay that way for about 10 minutes, but I had to interact with him and you should watch him while he's in a highchair. About the diaper, if you get the poopy one, don't freak. You might freak him out and make it even more unpleasant. Use that syrupy voice while you get the diaper and stuff ready, (include an extra dry wash cloth just for good measure). For diaper changes, I recommend letting him hold a newish toy so his hands are out of the way. I hope that you, unlike my husband, will realize that a poopy is not an emergency. It should be dealt with within reason, but it's not like "Oh, there's poop, everyone hold the phone, hurry get the stuff, oh no I forgot the rag, ak! I got poop on my shirt, help!" It might smell bad, but it isn't going to eat through skin any time soon. If you lose patience, put him down in a crib or safe place, say a sweet "I'll be back", and walk away until you remember you're a grown up. |
Got it, thanks!
I wont be cooking, this is past my skill level.
Check, thanks!
Im not worried about that, I have an end time she should be home, and if all else fails, I have a backup end time Dad should be home. Nephew and I get along good, but having him and just me, hell I had no clue what to expect, I think I may just be panicking a bit. I might call a friend to come over, she will know what to do. We had joked about me watching him a 100 times, I always laughed along with the joke. She told me last night they wanted me to watch him. Not her gf, me. I was kinda  . I dont think anyone except MIL's have had him since he was born.  The humbled Uncle. And thanks, I needed a good baseline, I appreciate your taking time to help me! |
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Great thing about 9 months old is if the going get rough take a drive. Insist that the car seat is left. Make sure you instill it properly in your care [good and secure] strap Junior into the seat and take a relaxing drive if need be. Do a quick sweep of your floors. Crawl on your tummy so you're down at his level. Put anything thta can be broken or destroyed away. Aren't you a Vet? You can handle the poopy diapers! Just get in and get em done! Patty |
Duct tape aside, daydreamer hit it all on the head. I have always thought that 2-10 mos was the perfect age. Forget TV or videos as a help: too young. He's crawling though so get it all outta reach that should not be touched.  You'll be fine...we're innately built to handle wee ones. We really are. Have faith! Diaper update: Be sure to hold something over his "gun" when changing or you'll get wet! |
Its not their baby, its my nephew, and I just let them keep him. After all shes my little sister, I let her survive.  Went very good, thanks for all the good advice! Mom has come home from career to birth & raise, so he is an attention whore. I thought he would freak when Mom left, he waved bye-bye as I fed him. When we finished his (yuk) baby food, and after bottle, I put him on the floor to play. He played ok for about :30 minutes, then all the electro toys got old real quick. Uncle CavVet dumped out the big thing the toys are in, and put it in the middle of the floor upside down. They I took toys and started banging on it. The toy of the day was born.  He banged for a 1/2 hour, then started fussy. I got down and played with him for another half hour, then I saw the eyes looking badddd.I baited him to the makeshift bed on the floor with the bottle, he was done. He slept for 1:01. He got up with a fret, I picked him up, with a blanket, he chilled in my lap for one hour watching videos until Mom got home. He is a great baby, but a handful.Damn you really have to watch them. They move fast and everything is a target of opportunity to them. Thank goodness the diaper was a non event while I was there. But I coulda handled it if I had to......  Thanks again! |
  Uncle CavVets full time duty kicks in after his 3rd birthday (he is huge for his age- think 2 yr old now). He will be the right wing gun nut son of the left wing kommie family! And he will tell all the kids at school how is Uncle is the coolest asshole with the greatest gun toys in the whole world. And how their Dad is a puss!  |
Don't be so quick to say "nono". Take him to the beach and you're an instant chick magnet. I took my daughter walking the last time my wife was trying on shoes at Dillard's and nearly got picked up by two hot sales ladies (one about my age, the other about 10-20 yrs my senior). They just wouldn't stop talking long enough for me to mention my wife. The wife finally got finished looking at shoes and came looking for me/us. She was not too pleased with what she found (though she could tell it wasn't my fault, as she approached from my 6:00 - she's a sneaky li'l so-and-so).  She told me we're *never* getting a puppy while the rugrat's still in diapers. If *I* can do it w/out trying, just imagine what you could do tryin'. Give 'em both barrels (kid+puppy). |