Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Trapped Toddler Parents of Winter 2020/21 Support Thread - Puddlesuits at the ready!

999 replies

ReallySpicyCurry · 24/10/2020 17:44

Are you the parent of a small child who doesn't yet sit still for more than five minutes? Do local lockdowns mean there are no baby and toddler groups for miles? Are you sick of walking the same three routes every day since March? Then come and join our support thread! I have started this after some of us had a good moan on a thread in AIBU ("To be worried about staying sane stuck inside all winter with a 2 year old?") because I thought it might be nice to share ideas/activities/general moans and concerns, over what is probably going to be a tricky winter for those of us with babies and toddlers.

Don't forget the answer to all your prayers though... The ever reliable puddlesuit. Puddlesuits are absolutely mandatory this year, and you are expected to wrestle your child into one and make them jump in puddles daily. If your child goes blue with cold, administer a swift dose of hot chocolate and hope your local Amazon delivery driver gets move on with your latest order of kinetic sand/playdough/ball pit/stickers. Failing all else, Peppa Pig is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, in October as in March.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
95
PinkDaydreams · 09/11/2020 20:08

Rice krispies! I hadn't thought of those to play with, I'll get some on the next food shop :)

footprintsintheslow · 09/11/2020 20:53

@PinkDaydreams I've just added cheap porridge to my online order.
In the flying start pack I mentioned earlier I found an outline for a Goldilocks and 3 bears activity.
Basically read the story, set up three teddies and a doll in a tuff spot three appropriately sized bowls and spoons and loads of oats to play with.

LassoOfTruth · 10/11/2020 08:44

Morning all! @MonkeyPuddle congratulations and I hope you’re feeling better!
Yesterday was a good day - toddler DD was in good form and had actually slept which helps everyone! We did some crafting (used my new BFF the tuff tray), went for a short walk and later made Rice Krispie treats. I got a lot of foam shapes and pom poms at home bargains btw if anyone is still looking for that sort of thing.
Today I’m already hiding upstairs with baby who didn’t let me sleep at all. DH is having breakfast with DD but I know he’ll be itching to start work. Any tips on how to get a 4 month old to take a bottle would be appreciated! Nothing like pouring your now unusable hard-expressed breast milk down the sink at the end of a long day.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

ReallySpicyCurry · 10/11/2020 09:56

Ooh. I might do the Goldlilocks tray idea today, what a lovely easy set up.

I really am not looking forward to isolating. The thing is, I am a massive homebird, love being at home, love my own company, but I have to finally concede defeat here, nine months on from the start of lockdown, and I have finally had enough of it!

Today is my wallow in misery/plan the next two weeks day. Today I wallow, tomorrow I pull my socks up. So we're having a picnic breakfast of brioche and grapes on the sofa, and too much telly this morning, which means I can plan/write lists/drink too much coffee/weep. DD was up a lot last night with a molar coking through and in the space of two weeks I've lost the adrenalin edge of getting up at night and managing on less sleep, so it's all very painful Grin

List so far

  • reordered Five Minute Mum- last copy didn't arrive and I had to get my money back- ebay so crap these days- so I've just ordered new off Amazon
  • Clean out the fridge (DD loves helping with this job)
  • Baker Ross hedgehog craft set - also decide on/make a start on Christmas crafts to give as gifts this year (tree footprints on canvas, decorate your own baubles- really didn't want to start this so early but needs must
  • I have one of those Jusroll cinnamon swirl packets - will get DD to help make them the next dry/sunny morning then take them into the garden for an outdoor picnic breakfast
  • Make Christmas cake, try out a few new soup recipes (this is where the kinder kitchen knife earns its keep!)
  • Bring DD's trucks in from the mud outside, get her to wash them, then do the construction/rice krispie tuff tray.
  • Make rice krispie treats
  • Make hedgehog bread (thank you to the PP who reminded me of this!)
  • "North Pole" themed tuff tray - freeze ice cubes (with glitter in!) add some holly or pine from the garden, build a mini igloo, print out related colouring pages for DD to mess with. Might splash out on a Schliech figurine or two for this, she was getting some for Christmas anyway but I'm desperate now. I could also add some LED lights and see how they glow and reflect through the ice cubes, that sort of thing.
  • Lots of garden time of course, though DD has developed a hatred of strong wind, which is bloody inconvenient when you live on a hill near the sea.
  • Bath/bedtime routine themed tuff tray - shallow Tupperware of bubbly warm water, toothbrush, flannel, pieces of soap, DD'S doll. Printouts/songs about brushing teeth etc. Could do something with shaving foam here too.

-There's lots of housework I could do with catching up on - I have a child sized brush and mop set which hang from keyholders in the kitchen, so DD is quite good at pottering around and generally "helping"

I'm also going to set out our outfits for the next couple of days. Comfy but decent and nothing you wouldn't answer the door in - leggings, long line tshirts and hoodies/cardis for me, leggings and tops for DD. We did this during lockdown, and made it a rule that we had to be dressed, washed and brushed and looking neat by a certain time each morning, I think it was the single best thing we did.

It seems hard on DD2 that she has to isolate just because I am, and of course we've had DD1 with us during past lockdowns, she's brilliant at playing with her little sister, we'll miss her when she's at school

OP posts:
ReallySpicyCurry · 10/11/2020 09:58

@LassoOfTruth when DD wouldn't take a bottle, we had some success with the Munchkin Latch sippy cup/bottle - it combines into both

OP posts:
MessAllOver · 10/11/2020 11:35

@ReallySpicyCurry. Wishing you luck Flowers.

Pancakes were a great success here yesterday (with choc chips in the mix and skooshy cream on top Grin).

PolarBearStrength · 10/11/2020 12:18

I see your lovely themed activities and raise you ‘random shit found around Nana’s house on a silicone mat’ which has been keeping DS entertained all morning 😂 He is particularly enamoured with this old video camera that my brother used to make YouTube videos on when he was about 13!

Trapped Toddler Parents of Winter 2020/21 Support Thread - Puddlesuits at the ready!
footprintsintheslow · 10/11/2020 14:11

@PolarBearStrength that made me laugh a lot and go's knows I need a laugh today.

What a shite day so far. I've been working from home with toddler in tow, having been away since 2am and back up at 5:45.

The reason for all this is H had an assignment to be in so came to bed at 2am, woke me up and I couldn't get back to sleep. Toddler got me up early whilst H slept in after his late night. Then I start work with toddler who has used up all her ability to play alone. H's job seems to trump mine even I earn more but pro rata. She's screamed her head off for hours and won't eat. Obviously coming down with something.

Anyway I go upstairs to find he's having a cheeky sleep as he's so tired and he's staying at his mams tonight because he's a carer but he won't have to do anything there. He'll just be toddler free scrolling on his phone and scratching his balls and having a lie in. Whilst I'm 8 months pregnant with a toddler.

And breath!

I'm at the midwide appointment now and I feel very excited to be out after being in lockdown for so long. I'm even going to tag on a trip to the wool shop just to spite him.

No fun activities or instamam moments going on today.

ElectricEels · 10/11/2020 15:08

A big hit today has been a glue stick, some cut up magazines and a piece of paper to stick it to. She's having a blast.

BertieBotts · 10/11/2020 17:27

DS is poorly so today has been mostly screaming and requests to be in bodily contact.

Motherofmonsters · 10/11/2020 18:13

*Bertiebots that's been my day to. DD's Molars are coming through so she's been miserable. DS told me to put her in the bin!!

We've made nests for toy chickens out of paper plates and tissue paper. I left DS in charge of the PVA glue so much extra glue used but he was very happy. He also spent a second day colouring in an empty Amazon box.

seizethecuttlefish · 10/11/2020 18:17

I've gone a bit extra and bought a camping stove to keep warm and have cuppa on adventures (as were calling the freezing cold, outdoor fun sessions). We spent Saturday at a very cold beach and it was great.

footprintsintheslow · 10/11/2020 19:28

@seizethecuttlefish that trunks my giant flask.

So after a totally crappy day from start to finish I am looking forward to getting to the park tomorrow for (now allowed in Wales) toddler play date.

Eldest daughter 21 visited us today as she is my nominated bubble person. She tried to do toilet roll rocket craft with toddler and it was very hard apparently so that's us officially done with the fireworks theme.

footprintsintheslow · 10/11/2020 19:28

*trumps

PinkDaydreams · 10/11/2020 20:17

Walk to the park today for a couple of hours to feed the wildlife and play on the playground. I always feel like I'm cheating at parenting going to the park as I normally take a cup of tea and little one entertains himself by running round and playing on the slide. He normally has a snack too. Today he insisted on me sitting down, whenever I stood up he grabbed my hand and walked me to the bench and gave a stern 'sit down'. It was nice to sit and relax though!
This afternoon was a trip to the supermarket and posting parcels then lentil play. I got the yoga mat out today and had our tea on it, just for a random change! Son wasn't nearly as excited as I was!!

footprintsintheslow · 10/11/2020 20:59

@PinkDaydreams I call that winning not cheating.

frankiefirstyear · 10/11/2020 21:15

Hi all just joining in 🤗

ReallySpicyCurry · 10/11/2020 21:18

@seizethecuttlefish what camping stove did you get? I hike quite a bit but the stove is always someone else's in the group and I've gratefully accepted the soup and tea from it without appreciating anything about it, but it's crossed my mind to get one for out and about too.

God I've had a shit day. Just totally shit. DD definitely either getting molars or coming down with something. She has been ferocious. I am exhausted. I just need her to sleep reasonably well tonight and I'll be more myself and do better tomorrow.

Our woo scary ghost is back too. DD has stair gates over her bedroom door because the stairs are right outside them. They are noisy and we only close them at dead of night, before we go to bed. DH closes them because I can't see the latch in the dark (bad eyesight) and end up jiggling them.

I fell asleep on DD's bed earlier and when I woke up, I ever so slowly opened her door to escape.... Only to find my way barred by the closed stair gates. I absolutely categorically did not close them. DH was at work and big DD is forbidden from touching them and wouldn't anyway.

Ghost is back!

OP posts:
PinkDaydreams · 10/11/2020 21:28

@ReallySpicyCurry our stair gates close themselves, could yours be doing the same? I honestly thought it was a safety feature to ensure they are always closed, maybe it isn't though and I've also got a ghost! Confused

ReallySpicyCurry · 10/11/2020 21:34

I don't think so - ours are the old fashioned type - you have to physically lift the gate and move it across to click it in from above. It is usually pushed well back against the wall anyway, and I didn't have it closed to begin with. Think it's most likely the ghost telling DD to get to sleep Grin

OP posts:
LittleMissLockdown · 10/11/2020 22:03

Juat popping in to offer some unmumsnetty hugs for those having a shitty day. Mine wasn't terrible but we are still no bloody closer to walking independently and I too threatened not so 'D' S with the bin today. Blush

OhToBeASeahorse · 10/11/2020 22:26

I'm a teacher and when I was training someone said to me it can feel like the best job in the world and the worst, often in the same day. I've come to the conclusion parenting is the same.

Today DS played in the garden til it was basically dark. We painted and played hide and seek, he was so cute. However this morning he threw he another of all tantrums to go into his pram even though the playground was about 50 metres away (im trying not to just do as he asks all the time, he can be quite bossy, plus I had the newborn in a sling and try to avoid too much bending!) I told.yin he could go in the pram but then we would go for a walk, not the playground. Then he had a meltdown because he wanted to walk. I honestly could have sworn at him.

BertieBotts · 10/11/2020 23:24

I work in a baby stuff shop and even the really cheap/old fashioned style will close themselves although not every model. You would be surprised! It's not always clear on the packaging which ones do and which ones don't.

DS2 is wide awake. He has let himself into the bathroom and I can hear Confused

ReallySpicyCurry · 10/11/2020 23:28

Ooh.... Quite likely it does then, I'm terribly cack handed so likely the mechanism is more delicate when I'm not around whacking it into place GrinI'm going to have to test this tomorrow then. I'll set night vision cameras up, talc the floor... Plan a themed paranormal investigation tuff tray... That'll kill an hour Grin

OP posts:
KiriAndLou · 10/11/2020 23:39

Just ordered a crate each for the baby and toddler from KiwiCo UK. Looking for other subscription services for my eldest (age 2)- any suggestions?

Swipe left for the next trending thread