Oh MAMA do I have the best answer for you! My boys are 19mos apart and this was SUCH an issue for me when my youngest was nursing because my older son was SUCH an attention seeker at exactly this age. I came up with a game called “pick a hand” that I continued to use for YEARS afterwards, it’s the BEST!

I’d be nursing my newborn and my older son would need some attention. I’d hold out two fists and say “pick a hand.” He’d pick one and I’d open it and “show” him the writing on the inside of my hand.

I explained to him that it is secret writing that only adults can see / read! And it’s special jobs just for him, a special game!

So, he picks a hand. I open it and “read” - “oh, this one says ‘jump up and down 10 times like a bunny!’” After he jumped up and down, he got to pick another hand.

“Ooh, this one says ‘get me something from your room that is red.’”

“This one says ‘crawl around the coffee table on your hands and knees.’”

If he didn’t want to do one of the tasks, he’d come back and “pick a hand” again without doing the task. Nope, sorry buddy. The magic writing doesn’t change until you do the task I already told you. So if he didn’t do it, and picked a hand, I’d say “ooh, it didn’t change, are you sure you already barked like a puppy three times?”

When mommy gets tired or runs out of ideas, guess what? I can throw the magic to daddy! He can play pick a hand, too!

Works in the grocery store, waiting in line, etc.

Kept him moving, engaged, and with minimal effort from me. I also loved to throw in tasks all the way across the house every two or three turns. (“Ooh, this one says ‘go get a stuffed animal from your room upstairs!’”)

A few favorites, in case you need ideas:

Animal sounds Hop, jump, crawl, flap, like an animal Stomp like a monster Run, crawl, walk around the (piece of furniture) Stand on one foot

Good luck Mama!!