BTDT. I even bought an indoor swing that fit in the door jamb in the house, so on rainy days, dd(7) had some where to get stimulation/exercise. We didn't have a formak dining room in the early years, it was a toy/book/puzzle explosion!
It was a great location so I could keep an eye on her from just about everywhere in the house.
When we went out, I was one of those mothers that got stares because I used a harness (leash type thing) so she could run and I still had a hand on her.
I think the key is understanding her need for stimulation and then deciding how to provide it safely. As for what other people think when they see how you deal with your child, forget about it!
Learn to laugh it off! It does get better as they get older.
