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.

@MonkeyPuddle I’m going to order it, thank you so much! My boy also struggles with taking turns but hopefully once he sees how it works and how fun it is then he will participate.......we’ll see!!

I think it's going to be a long day today. So far colouring on different types of paper hasn't gone down well, bubbles were playing up (dropped the bubbles so they've shook up and won't blow!), shredded paper in the sandpit hasn't gone well either. Little one would rather sit in the sandpit and eat rice cakes! We have danced to the radio though. Sat in waiting for the postman, he's late this morning, hopefully he's actually got the books and waterproof trousers I've ordered!

I think it's going to be a long day today.

I have a feeling today will also feel like an eternity for us. We've been up since 5am.

Glad to hear everyone is still alive and well. Sending hopeful wishes that the weather improves. It's been truly awful here just constant sheets of rain which is making even walks hard work.

Quite a nice day here for once, we haven't made it to the garden though as we've been sitting inside waiting for a phone appointment for DD1.

We made chocolate chip bars though- Mary Berry's Fast Cakes is absolutely super for toddler friendly baking recipes.

I've just gone to ground the last day or two, too much toast and Duggee, totally ran out of steam, but tomorrow is the last day of isolation.

DH has bought me a stand mixer to cheer me up

Today is absolutely a long day. all round.
Newborn DD cluster fed from 8pm to 2:30am when I finally cracked and cried my eyes out and made DP take her so I could get some sleep. She slept til 7am when DS woke up and threw a wobbler as he couldn’t go and watch the tumbler repair man, social distancing rules.

But we have read every Julia Donaldson book, attempted some gluing and sticking (only wanted to do the gluing part), played rescue trucks.

DP is currently taking him for a walk to the shop. He’s got money to buy bread with, very exciting.

I’m hoping once I feel like I can drive again in a few weeks it’ll be easier, at least we’ll be able to go to the park and I can just strap DD into a sling or the pram. And I won’t feel quite as much like a prisoner in my own home.

We are all ill here DS2 has a snotty cold and no longer sleeps. Ironically DS1 (in primary school, mixing with everyone) is a picture of health

But, I got my MSc results today and I passed so that cheered me up loads. Saving the celebration take away until we all feel better though!

Bloody well done Camomila!!

We finally got into the garden to enjoy the nice weather. There is something about November sunshine, I'll give it that. All cold and buttery.

My internal struggle over whether or not we should get chickens again occupied much of the time, but luckily DD didn't notice as she was too busy trying to persuade our cat to have a cup of gravel tea at the mud kitchen

@MonkeyPuddle I know exactly how you feel. I was itching to drive again. I will never forget that first trip of wheeled freedom to the Sainsbury's cafe it felt like a reintegration into society.

DD's eating is totally crap due to being at home all the time. She just wants to graze on fruit, sultanas and crackers all day. Which could be worse, but I'm quite keen on sitting at the table for three meals a day, which was no problem until the last few weeks recently. It's because we don't have that combination of being outside/busy/distracted/properly hungry I think.

@Camomila huge congratulations on the results. That's fantastic, what an achievement!

Well done @Camomila!

What worked well today:
Cutting and sticking from lidls magazine.

Started an Elmer milk carton creation. To be continued as toddler can't focus that long.

Just randomly we made a 'hat'. Cut some cardboard strips and joined them together to make a band. She then stuck pom-poms and bits on. She loved it

Also these magnetic toys. I've no idea if they are cheap in real life but I bought them from a mum2mum sale for £1.50. She's loved them consistently for a year now. I cannot recommend them enough.

But, I got my MSc results today and I passed so that cheered me up loads. Saving the celebration take away until we all feel better though!

Congratulations!!! I hope you're all feeling better soon.

We had an inside day as the rain didn't stop until about half 4. Biggest hit today was cardboard car ramps. I thought small person would be too young to get the concept but he spent over 30 minutes pretending to drive cars up and down them (stopping every now and then to chew the cars). I honestly think its the longest anythings distracted him from his still futile efforts at trying to walk in weeks.

Cardboard ramps sound good and I love the card hat. I think I'll try those tomorrow, I bought a box of cereal today so that'll do for the hat! Obviously I'll cut it into strip's, not just plonk it on son's head as a box of cereal......although that could work!! 😂

The rest of the day was flash cards, park to feed squirrels, playground then reading a magazine this evening. Nearly bedtime, it's been a good day today after me saying this morning that I think it'll drag!

Ordering a bottle of champagne for Camomila and a crate of wine for the rest of us. A couple of very long days here, next door’s lockdown coping strategy is knocking down walls and moving bathrooms, resulting in naps of 20mins not 2 hours. Not sure who was more knackered by bedtime this evening, DS or me. But, It has been gorgeous sunny weather and that helps massively. We’ve been on a couple of walks as far as we are allowed, DS is willing so far if I let him carry an old handbag of mine.

So many great ideas, my list is getting long!
Successes here this week:
-tumble tots videos on YouTube (two days of DS staring blankly while I sang and leapt around, on the third day he started doing the moves and requested the ‘scarecrow’ video). Feels like more of an activity than me singing on my own.
-Aromatic play dough - first we picked the rosemary, lavender etc to add to the dough

• ‘Where the wild things are’ theme: we made Max’s crown, danced like monsters, and splashed with boats in the bath. Tomorrow planning on using some googly eyes stickers and mouth/ear/nose shapes to make monster faces from paper plates.
• heads/bodies/legs magnets from Djeco have kept DS entertained at the fridge for AGES while I cook. I’ve only given him 3 of 8 so far. He thinks they are hilarious.

-squeegee and some water, DS loved this, he did the outside of the shower while I cleaned the bathroom, then moved on to the kitchen cupboards etc...

Can I have a moan please?
I don't know about any of you but I'm getting fed up of seeing whilst out on walks people mixing with other households. I'm in a tier 3 area and this was going on before the national lockdown as well. I thought we were meant to be in lockdown and not allowed to mix? It frustrates me that I haven't seen family for months because I'm sticking to the rules yet the neighbours in the close regularly have others round to their houses.
Sorry to moan I just really need a hug from my mum as I've had a tough couple of weeks. My son loves seeing his grandparents too, I know he will be so excited when we can finally see them.

@PinkDaydreams it’s tough when you see other breaking the rules. Could you meet up with your mum outside somewhere? I know it’s not the same as going round to hers for a cup of tea but it’s a lot better than nothing!

@MonkeyPuddle you’re doing amazing, proper activities with older one when little one is so tiny!

DS2 almost rolled over today...I suddenly realised I’d better consider some baby proofing, I think we’ve forgotten the chaos of a crawler...

I got a reusable sticker book from Melissa and Doug. Tore all the sheets out, and one scene + one set of stickers has been a nice post-preschool activity for the last couple of days.

Gosh I feel properly lazy reading some of these things!

We have mainly been doing Brio the last few days. Still doing the Longest Ever Settling In at nursery. I am thinking of starting a thread about it because it is so ridiculous (we are in WEEK EIGHT!!!) and I am tearing my hair out. If it wasn't a corona year I would feel stuck in limbo. As it is the whole year has been limboish so I am sort of going with it.

@WeSearchedHereWeSearchedThere unfortunately one of us would have to get the train to meet the other and at the minute I don't want to risk either of us getting fined for unnecessary travel.

Can I ask you about the sticker book as I've been looking at those on Amazon. I ordered puffy m&d reusable stickers the other week but they're rubbish. Is it this kind that you have, would you recommend it?

Ah, yes I’d be a bit wary of public transport too. You are allowed to use it though, as long as it’s in order to do something you’re allowed (going to a place which is open, exercise, etc).

Yes that’s the type I bought - I got the house one. It’s five ‘scene’ sheets and five corresponding sticker sheets on a pad. I tore them all out and then peeled the sticker edge off the sticker sheet (does that make sense? The bit which would be left if you removed all the stickers) - that meant DS could get the stickers off himself. They’re not sticky, just clingy, so as long as they stay clean they’re properly reusable. Pretty decent quality, will have much more play value than normal stickers as I can put them away and bring out again in a few weeks, plus no irritating scraping of stickers off the floor, fridge, etc...

Oh I used to have loads of sticker books like that as a child - I absolutely loved them! I had a house one, beach/seaside with all kinds of wildlife, farmyard. I wonder if they still make those ones I used to have?

I'll order one, thank you! Son keeps changing his mind about whether he likes stickers or not!

Thank you!

We went on an 'outing' to get DS2 (10m) a coronavirus test this morning (he started coughing last night from all the snot but just in case) He smiled all the say through my sticking the swab up his nose luckily!

DS1 is happy as he is playing educational games on my laptop as we kept him off school. Will be good and do some reading practise after lunch too.

BertieBotts why is it so long? That seems the opposite of what most other schools/nurseries are doing atm.

@PinkDaydreams. I sympathise. Haven't seen my siblings since February and DS hasn't seen his uncle and auntie. They live at opposite ends of the country and we'd all stay with my parents in the middle usually, which obviously hasn't been allowed since March. It's too far to travel for a day trip. So it's grating to see others breaking the rules when I'd love to see them.

Been working flat out to finish a work project so we haven't been doing anything exciting this week. Next week, we have an empty celebrations tub (mostly me ) and some adhesive felt in greens and browns so we're going to make a dinosaur world with a pond. Also have an empty egg box for a cave and kitchen roll tube for a dinosaur tunnel.

Today is a struggle. It's DH's and the kids last day of isolation and we've all had enough. DD wouldnt nap so had a fun battle to get her to sleep.

So far all we've done is make Duplo towers and watched to much TV

@Motherofmonsters you deserve a bloody medal, you really do.
It’s must be absolutely shite having to isolate.

Our tuff tray arrived this morning. Unexpected bonus of massive cardboard box as well. I’m thinking that could be made into a den.

My son goes to a massive chain nursery and they have a parent app of activities, I totally forgot about it, but tomorrow we will do spinning a number spinner and pegging the corresponding amount of pegs onto a coat hanger, good for maths and fine motor skills apparently.

Can I join? 39+3 with DC2 and have a 2.5 year old DD. We're seasoned puddle jumpers and spent many hours out today as most days, but the mud and nesting just don't mix! Especially with open plan and dog. It doesn't matter, we still do it and get out of the house but it is becoming a bit annoying!