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.

Oh I love the ‘Book of Us’ idea. Might start one after Xmas. DS loves looking at old photos and artworks.

That sounds very tough footprints, hope your DH and you are ok.

What’s the best way to dye rice?

@OhRosalind
Rice in a bag or box with lid.
Add a couple of drops of food colouring.
Add 1/4 teaspoon of water.
Seal rice up and shake like mad
Add more colouring of it's not bright enough.
Shake again.
Pour rice out in tray to dry.

I found an old first aid kit we don't need any more yesterday, so the afternoon was playing with a rescue blanket! I think my 12yo enjoyed it the most

@OhRosalind this is our 4th one now just huge binder scrap books we do ourselves. It's crafty. They learn and were documenting memory's. Lockdown is obviously putting a halt to how many memories we can have BUT that's why we can add pictures and other things instead and write. Little memories like "dd got star if the week inside of a star
Ds was a brave boy when he went to the doctors"
Baby got a new tooth an draw a tooth and write it in
It's so much fun we could sit an do it for ages then I have my big picture albums too with just photographs.
Snapfish and FreePrints give you loads of free pictures and you only pay postage. Also free prints have other apps that give you 1 product free a month so you have get photo tiles and books and magnets etc and only pay postage. Great Christmas presents !! Xx

littlemisslockdown they're are sounding very similar. It's so frustrating isnt it, she's starting to let go a tiny bit when standing on the sofa but that's only to fling herself down to bounce.

@ohroslind - I put some rice and paint in a sandwich back and smooched it all around. Your then meant to then put it out on a tray to dry. I left mine in the bag and it went mouldy so I wouldn't recommend not using a tray

I really want a tuff tray but onky have a small house. I've seen a 60cm one which would fit down the back of the sofa but how fiddly is it unscrewing the stand?

@PinkDaydreams...I must admit it's a while since I've taken ours down, but I think it's quite quick if you undo one leg. The other thing we do is stick the whole thing outside (with waterproof cover) when we get sick of it inside.

Really enjoyed this thread. Hope it is ok if I join- I have a 2.5 yr old Dd and an 11 week old Ds. Am clinically extremely vulnerable so we don't get out much!! Luckily we live in the middle of some good countryside walks and DH is wfh.
Thanks so much for the Jesplay window clings recommendation @ReallySpicyCurry we have had hours of fun with those!
Some things that have worked for us lately:

• lolly stick flowers from First Palette website there are some great printables and easy crafts on there www.firstpalette.com/craft/flower-greeting-card.html
• spinning paper spiral snakes - template here : www.firstpalette.com/printable/spiral-snake.html
• paper plate jellyfish and sheep with cottonwool - will try to add a picture (not our actual ones!)
• getting a ballet leotard on and doing a Daniella Ballerina class from youtube
• andys wild workouts on cbbc iplayer
• cbbc also have a good program called “lets go for a walk” for something to talk about with the toddler on days its too wet to actually walk!

@FolkSongSweet how are you getting on with the timetable? We did this when we came home with Ds as he was premature and on a strict feeding schedule (appreciate BF is maybe different as DD was BF) so we planned the whole day for all of us around it and it did really help us find a better rhythm to the days. Now we still do the activities like “relax time” “music time” etc but in a less set way as I got bored of it and also found that I wasnt encouraging/ making the most of DDs independent play on the schedule. Have some yeast on order for the hedgehogs! Thanks for the ideas everyone!

Thanks for the rice tips!

That sounds lovely spidermomma. We make albums but I like the idea of a big scrapbook. I have a polaroid somewhere which I've been meaning to dig out to use with DS.

@Pinkdaydreams depending on the activity we often use the tuff tray without the stand directly on the floor. For some activities DS prefers to sit on it, he's still quite small though (23 months).

@LeeMiller get it dug out!!! That is perfect for a little project like that with the kids. Oh now you've given me an idea for something I'd like for Christmas now lol
I do love my photo albums but the scrap book is super what we've done. Messy but amazing

@LeeMiller @PinkDaydreams I agree there's nothing better than sitting on a tuff spot, with or without legs.

My grand plan of the tuff stop being tidily hidden under the sofa have been scuppered by a forgotten about central leg under the sofa

@MonkeyPuddle what about keeping it outdoors. Ours lives outside 90% of the time and I just bring it in when I feel like a change or when I want to put a volcano on it for a very one to ignore.

Outdoor wall? Drill two big screws in and hang it up... That's where we kept ours during the summer.

Honestly so tempted to just order one but then I stop and think we'll where's it going to go when not in use?! Found a different one on Amazon that looks like it'll fold down easier compared to the other I was looking at that needs unscrewing to take it apart.

This is a good tuff tray alternative - Ikea table which you can put two deep inserts in, or have the lids on and use it as a normal child height table.

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/flisat-childrens-table-50298418/

I think I’ll just shove it in the outhouse to be fair, I can’t stand clutter in the living room so the fact that it’s sitting behind my sofa is doing my head in.
I was going to put the play dough on it when we next get it out, I think half the time just slightly changing things up reignites their little minds.

OK I've been inspired to try and find a tuff tray. Looking online there seem to be some cheaper alternatives - do they work OK or am I best getting the original?

We got this one. It dismantles easily but I mostly push it under the kitchen table fully assembled as my girls use it most days (they're 19m and nearly 3). It's narrow enough to carry out the back door and plonk in the garden on warmer days (water play etc). It's the best toddler investment ever!!

Children's Plastic Sand & Water Mixing Play Tray - BLACK - 70cm x 70cm & Height Adjustable Stand. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08K7LTJM1/ref=cmswwrcppapifabccD4SUFbV0RAB0V?encoding=UTF8&psc=1

(The stand just has little knobs that pop in and out of holes, IYSWIM, no tools needed whatsoever)

Can I join? Been reading through for last couple of days and you all seem like such a lovely (and scarily creative bunch).

I have DS (almost 3) and he's getting a little sister in March. Normally favourite and actually absorbing activities are looking at all the waterfalls in our local park and throwing things in water, but as we're potty training I've been doing fewer trips out while he gets used to the idea (although took himself for a few wees and a poo today so hopefully we're getting there).

So many great ideas on this thread. It's hard to get DS into much indoors for any length of time apart from TV and being read to. Occasionally manage an activity/game based on the story/programme, although not for long (today was making 'something for Sula' with pasta and glue). Scribbling and jigsaws take up a bit of time, but he doesn't really play with his toys, and it doesn't feel like we'll ever get to him spending hours playing with figures or cars or trains. We also extended over the summer and we're still sorting things, so lots of mum guilt for months of limiting what he could do.

How relaxed are you all? I want to be so he can explore but I feel like I'm still constantly trying to encourage him to be gentle, not throw, leave things alone for a minute so I can get something ready etc, and end up annoyed far more often than I'd like. Really not a natural toddler mum

But tuff tray and other bits are sitting in my basket on amazon so hopeful for pouring/scattering activities.

I decided not to get a stand. Bit too much of a spend when it’s almost Christmas.

Hi @prettygirlincrimsonrose my son toilet trained just before 3, we do lots of walking and he’s taken to having a wild wee with lots of enthusiasm!

I find it easier to get D’s interested in an activity if I just set it up the night before, so it’s there when he comes down in the morning and before ive had chance to turn the telly on, ones that’s one the day can go to pot quite easily.

I was wondering, would anyone be up for a Facebook group?might be a bit easier than this thread?

@footprintsintheslow the situation with your DH sounds so difficult. I hope he's feeling better and you've managed to get some sleep.

Hello and welcome @prettygirlincrimsonrose, your DS sounds like my DD- she likes to be on the go, and "proper" independent playing (where you can leave them and go and make dinner) hasn't really clicked with her yet, she still needs loads of input, but I think they get a bit better at it at about 3 and a half, if I remember correctly from my eldest being that age.

Not much happening here, mainly because I've been out as much as possible since my release from self isolation, so when we've been at home DD has just been following me around "helping". Though we discovered a new and wonderful game - we liberated the old doll's cot from the eaves. It is a vintage one, with wheels. The cat has claimed it as his bed, so "pushing baby cat" around the house is the order of the day. "Baby Cat" is huge, muscular, jet black, and as thick as champ, but he does look very fetching, all tucked up with his little quilt and pillow

@prettygirlincrimsonrose welcome to the thread. I'm pregnant too and we've already had a couple of babies born on this thread.

@prettygirlincrimsonrose I try very hard to be relaxed cool mum but I’m uncomfortably shouty mum at some point most days! All the tuff trays in the world won’t stop my boy’s obsession with climbing on the sofa to try and move the pictures (which DH refuses to just take down!).

@MonkeyPuddle totally up for a FB group