I'm in my second month of insurance requirements before I can have my surgery. I'm really concerned about my son. I'm a stay at home mom to a 3 year old boy. He's the sweetest little thing, but he is really active. My doctor has already told me I can't lift more than 10lbs until 4 weeks after surgery - so that's going to be extremely difficult, but I'm also worried about him jumping on my stomach. He's a mommy's boy and my shadow. He sleeps with me in the bed at night. There is no way I'm going to be able to go weeks without him wanting to sit on me or for me to pick him up. I'm just curious as to what you other moms have done to keep your kiddos from jumping all over you after surgery and to help them understand you can't pick them up for a little while?

I hate to say it but this might be a good opportunity to break the habit of him sleeping with you. He really needs to learn to sleep in his own bed but that's a wole other messageboard. It's been a while since I had a toddler but I think he'd understand if you told him that you need him to be a big boy because mommy has an "owwee." Maybe show him a bandaid on your stomach and let him know that it hurts so you can't pick him up orr have him run into you. He might be a little more mature than you'd think.

But yeah...get him outta your bed LOL

I told my 5 year old little boy who loves to cuddle that my tummy was hurt and I got it fixed. I showed him my tummy and he was VERY concerned about hurting me. I told him I could not pick him up for awhile until my tummy healed but he could crawl in my lap VERY carefully so he could still get hugs and kisses from mommy. I'm not going to lie to ya, he struggled a little bit with the not picking up. BUT, he was more concerned with not hurting me and everything was OK! He loved it when I could pick him up again and it was fun to see him so excited!

I have a 3 and 6 year old. I worried about the same thing. They both understood that mommy was hurt and that they could not jump on me and did a pretty good job. To tell you the truth my stomach did not hurt much not that I would want a little person to camp out on it and I have lifted both of them. Not often but have along with some flower pots and groceries that I probable should not have lifted. Now I'm not condoning this behavior. I've used chairs a lot where they can get on a chair and I can hug them. Or when I'm sitting in a chair they will sit on the arm. You might want to start "practicing" with him now. I didn't tell my kids about the surgery but when you get home you could share a kids book with him like Madeleine (when she goes to the hospital to get her appendix out) and discuss your similarities and how the kids had to be careful/kind to Madeleine when she got out of the hospital. Hope this helps and good for you to do this for you and him! Good luck.

I have a 3yo, and we cosleep. Has only been a few nights so far, but he's doing great. I have no intention of moving him from my bed. He's been letting big bro help out with diaper changes, dressing, and mealtime with very little push back. I just remind him that mommy's hurt, and he's very curious to see my booboos on my tummy,

I have a 2 and 4 year old. My biggest concern is my 2 y/o as she still likes to be carried and until yesterday was still in a crib and if I'm home I am her bedtime routine. I converted her crib yo a day bed last night and we're practicing her crawling down off my lap and in to bed. I think if I show her me "owies" she'll understand I can't carry her. Time will tell. 3 weeks and 2 days until I cross over to the other side!

Thanks for all the advice ladies! I truly appreciate it! It would be very difficult to take him out the bed with me because we just moved into a new house and he's still adjusting. I don't know how long it will take him to be completely comfortable in our new house. Anyway, I hope that he will understand I have an "ouchie" on/in my tummy. We are together 24/7 - aside from his two half days a week at preschool - so it's really going to be rough for him to now hang all over me.

I have a 7 month old and am concerned about lofting him in and out of his crib...or holding him at all. My husband will be home with me the first couple days, but after that, I'm not sure how I'm going to handle it. Any advice?

I have a 17 lb 4 month old and I had no problems lifting him and carrying him even in his car seat. I was sleeved on march 27, 2013. I was lifting him 4 days post surgery.