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

[ReallySpicyCurry]

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.

Got a project deadline so haven't been keeping up but a great success here has been one of those mini paper punches shaped like a snowflake. DS has been happy making hundreds of mini snowflakes and putting them in a little cup while I work.

We'd usually do groups in the morning then park/library/visiting friends and family in the afternoon. Lunch and housework and general playing and faffing in between.

After March it was some sort of combination of- a big walk in the morning, then home, then a trip to the shops or park in the afternoon, then if necessary a short walk after dinner and before bedtime.

Now it's self isolation and it's bloody nowt!

I swear life since March increasingly seems to be narrowing to a point, with occasional lulls of false security. Thank goodness for working part time at least.

Nice rainy weekend ahead of us for puddle jumping!
I've brought the tuff tray in and I'm planning to do 'safari day' tomorrow and 'camping day' Sunday as DD hasn't been getting much attention due to her nap refuser brother and I think the themes will keep her occupied and me focused.

Really missed the library this week but I've got some new toys coming from Whirli to occupy us next week. Sending rainy weekend survival vibes to you all

I realise this may not be suitable for everyone but DD needs entertaining 3 mornings a week before pre school so this morning we got the local train one stop, walked to the aldi, bought a few bits and got the train home again. Helps that all the exciting shops are closed (danger of spending too much).

Not for everyday but might try a trip into the city centre next week on the bus. She loves public transport.

Could also work with a bus.

@CovidTrialGuineaPig (are you really a Covid guinea pig?)

My daughter loves the bus and since Covid we haven't been on any and now I find her sat on the bottom stairs pretending to be on the bus going into town.

Back in September I took DD on the bus to the next village, which has a few really good charity shops, bought her a few 50p toys and books and had a picnic by the sea. She loved it and still talks about it. I must do it again, once we're released.

I keep thinking of getting the tram to the next town as they love trains but I have the opposite problem to some of you as both of mine are walking/running! They are 3 and 2 and the 2 year old has started getting stroppy about being strapped in the pram but is also stroppy about being made to walk in a direction he doesn’t want to! I need to use the reins more.
This weekend we are going to a national tryst property for a picnic in the rain today! Tomorrow DH has promised to take them out but I suspect that will be for an hour. I’ve promised that they can do some painting on the tuff tray. I might also let them have a super long bath if the weathers bad.
I hope you all have a good weekend!

I've been awake since 2am and put the tv on at 7am and went to sleep but those little bastard go Jetters have ruined everything as she's woken me up to change it as she hates them. I hate them too now and want to kick their little heads in. Cocomelon will save me now on Netflix. Anyone tried that?

DP and DS defluffed the big filter of the tumble dryer in the shower this morning. Took a good 20 mins and was ‘totally fun!’ apparently. Will be getting him to do that again!
We got DSD coming over soon, she’s struggling with having a new sibling, starting high school, lockdown etc so we’re having an afternoon of nice things, park, pancakes and playing. She’s just gone veggie soup I’m going to get her in the kitchen and helping with dinner b

@ReallySpicyCurry we live 10 mins from IKEA, my house is essentially a small version of the shop

DD has played by herself for nearly an hour, without once trailing me down to floor level or grabbing my leg, I've actually had time to mix my Christmas cake, thank you Jesus, Mary and all the saints in heaven, please let this be a new habit. Currently sitting beneath the sink afraid to move in case she senses it. DH frozen like Mr Tumnus in the hallway. This is unprecedented. She slept last night too.

@footprintsintheslow DD hates GoTwatters as well, Cocomelon is like toddler chloroform, but it's also the most annoying thing in the world. It's my desperation show. Glues the child for long enough when I absolutely have to have her in one spot for fifteen minutes for whatever reason

The Kinder egg toy train videos are very addictive. Lots of them have been played in our house as I'm trying to finalise a work submission for Monday. I flatter myself they're "educational" because DS tries to re-enact the scenes he's watched with his toys for ages afterwards.

Inside day here, DHs throat is super gross (looked using a phone as a torch) and he can only eat soup and ice cream. I have a bad back from carrying the children about...moan moan whinge.

DSs are being good though, DH made them a blanket fort in the living room and they are sitting inside together with all the baby clothes. DH is supervising from the sofa while watching F1.

I have sneaked off to fold laundry (drink tea and eat chocolate too).

*baby toys

Both my children are napping simultaneously!! I have tidied the house and am now eating a massive bowl of pasta whilst watching trash tv. If I could orchestrate this every day, I’d be a very happy woman!

Can anyone tell me what teething looks like with molars? DS has been all out of sorts the last few days. I know some of it is probably new sibling emotions but he is really up and down. Very snotty, complaining he’s tired a lot, saying his head hurts. But then the next minute he’s absolutely fine, running around and giggling. It’s really odd!

@PolarBearStrength we are going through similar and he is also fiddling with his ear

@PolarBearStrength I love that you got rest and carbs! Heaven!
When DS was teething he shoved everything into his mouth and his poo’s stank of vinegar

I don't have a toddler, my heart goes out to you all. I'm not sure how I would have coped this year with a toddler.

Not sure how we survived the day but we did it and she's in bed and so am I.

I did go to Wilkinson and spend a bit on tuff spot investments for a present wrapping themed one and then silver sparky stuff for an ice themed one...

Playdoh here this afternoon. Nothing exciting but I chucked it on the tuff tray and it kept DS busy for an hour or so before DH took him to the playground.

Storing up ideas for our Christmas-themed tuff tray - splashed out and bought a little Santa train for the wooden train track.

Sideways torrential rain here all day. DD got her wellies on with her PJs during breakfast but even she balked at actually going outside. She’s getting better at imaginative play though. We got hours out of a large cardboard box today - a good hour was spent pretending to post her to see grannies/aunties etc. Was exhausting but very cute!

I've been thinking about Christmas themed tuff trays as well

We're doing absolutely nothing this Christmas - no Santa trips, no Christmas train, nothing. No point. So I thought on 1st of December I'd give DD1 a little decorated tree for her room and a big tub of hot chocolate to work her way through over Advent, then for DD2 I've ordered some Lanke Kade Christmas figures- Santa, a tree, a snowman. I'm going to set them up as a little play scene on her little desk, which is right beside where the tree will go. I've bought woolly snow and will add pinecones and holly etc. Hopefully it'll stop her attacking the tree if nothing else

@OhToBeASeahorse eat pulling here too!

@MonkeyPuddle terrible poos in his night nappy the last two mornings. He usually only does (solid) poos in the potty and these are like the awful allergy poos he did when he was younger so I think it must be his teeth!

@ReallySpicyCurry I can recommend the play mobile advent calendar. Someone gave me their set last year and I wrapped them in tissue for each day.

Can't decide whether to rewrap them this year again or give her the whole lot for a good tuff spot tray scene.

Does anyone have any ideas for a chicken tuff tray? DS is obsessed with them at the moment.

I cut out moon and star shapes out of card today and DS stuck sequins, gems and glitter on them for a quick activity