With G, we did minimal baby proofing. We gated off areas we didn't want him in, and that was it. Now that T is mobile, I've realized there is an entirely different issue. He wants G's toys, and they're rarely baby friendly toys. I don't want to have to confine G's toys to one area (it would absolutely kill my "free time" if he couldn't play next to me). I don't want to confine T either... his recent increase in mobility keeps him very happy.

How am I supposed to keep this little guy safe without banning little toys? It wouldn't be so bad if T didn't think he was big enough to keep up with G (he obviously can't, but there is no redirecting him when he sets his mind to something).

Time to go pull him out from under his highchair.

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Hmm, could you choose some of the more dangerous toys to put in G's room to only come down when they are actually played with (or he could play with them in his room when he wants? C likes to do this sometimes now, and they (our boys) are getting big enough to kind of play out of our sight for a few minutes here and there if the room is 3y.o. proofed enough that you trust him in there for a short amt of time?) I know my best friend has a shelving system with baskets that are labeled in her toy room. She has one the same age as our boys almost exactly (Dec. 1, 06) and one that is now 15mo... so she just went through what you are going through, and she managed to make that work b/c the toys were mostly in baskets up higher than her L.O. could reach.....?? She also liked it b/c everything had a place, and she tried to get him to clean up accordingly when done playing.

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Yes, we're dealing with this, too! What I've done is given ds1 a safe place to play with his choking hazards (the top of his loft/bunk bed). The little toys get taken up there when he wants to play with them, and the rest of the time they're out of reach (or in drawers ds2 can't open yet). I know you said you didn't want him limited to one area, but that's the only thing I've thought of so far.

What about sticking G and his little toys inside a pack & play? Would he go for that?

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We are so having this problem too. I put the tiny toys out of reach from both of them and only let J play with them when his little brother is napping or sleeping for the night or otherwise occupied.....like in his high chair eating. I also let J play with them in his room. Certain toys that are deemed "choking hazards" don't really look like them to me, so I don't overly worry about it. I just make sure that we are all keeping our eye out and constantly repeat "not in your mouth". I guess this is also why I've been letting him walk around with a paci a lot more lately. I know my little one is older than yours but that is what we do.... And yeah, I didn't even need to put a gate at the bottom of the stairs with Jax. Jett is just literally ALL OVER THE PLACE. Opening and closing drawers, doors, pulling on the baby gates, climbing everything in sight, going into cabinets, toilet bowls, putting on our shoes, slamming pot lids together, screeching at the top of his lungs just for fun......LOL....he is a busy boy.

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I've tried to limit the dangerous toys to times when T is out of the line of fire (hungry, hungry hippos anyone?). I've also got the toys sectioned into bins, and he has to trade one for the next. For the most part, it's not too hard to keep the toys to the less hazardous zone, but the 3rd birthday seemed to bring the miniature stuff into the works. I'm pretty sure the only sollution for now will be to keep Talan in the living room and keep the toys in the back half of the house.

Anybody have a cure for Christmas ornaments? I thought G would be the one getting into the presents/tree, but T is in love with it. I'm pretty sure it's the primary reason that his scooting picked up the pace. G and I take turns dragging him back to the other side of the living room.

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I sure hope you're getting video of G dragging his brother around!

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I haven't, but I totally need to.

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I was reading this thinking how K don't have any dangerous toys till KK had to say "hungry hungry hippos" Oh, boy I am in trouble. B and K play that game almost every night in the middle of the living room.

As of right now my biggest problem is trying to convince K that G isn't a toy and she has to be gentle.

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Benny and Shan March 30th 2002

Wow, I'm impressed that she doesn't have any little toys! A is all about little things...legos, playmobil, lincoln logs, taking tires off his cars, little plastic animals, etc.

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Ditto. Pretty much all of J's toys are mini. We have a gazillion of them. I've also noticed that it doesn't matter what we give to Jett, he only wants his big brother's toys.

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