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.

@Lostthetastefordahlias ok most of the time, still tricky to latch on, but I just unlatch her a million times til it’s comfortable.

Glad he’s on the mend @footprintsintheslow it’s going to be a lot for you to manage.

DS has asked for a ‘balloon party’ tomorrow. So I will dutifully blow up balloons, thought we could play target practice, balloon tennis, draw faces on them.

Went to argos today to pick up some Christmas gifts and brought home one of the catalogs for cutting and sticking.

In other news night feeds are a fucker with a smart phone, the amount of online shopping I am doing.

@MonkeyPuddle I've requested to join the group - my photo is me and my husband with our eldest in a fluffy pram suit! I really should update that photo

How come you get Argos catalogues? I haven't seen an Argos catalogue in my local for years! And I have an Argos card and everything

We have actually had a day of normality-met a friend for a coffee in a lovely seaside cafe, went for a walk, played in the park, hit the kid's charity shop so DD could spend her precious £2 that my granny sent her, went grocery shopping. It isn't going to last, we're back into lockdown on Friday. I was glad to have today though.

10 big plain gold baubles for £1 in the charity shop though! That's our bauble decorating sorted.

Oh, an indoor activity this afternoon after the shops - smoothie making. Lots of chopping, pouring, watching in awe as the blender did its thing, helping to tidy up- lots of opportunities for talking about colours, numbers etc

@ReallySpicyCurry they had a huge pile of them in the middle of the shop. But disappointing thin these days, probably 1/4 of what they used to be, if that!

Your day sounds lovely, I love those days where you just humble about and have a nice time doing not very much.

I’ve got some baker Ross Christmas crafts to do with DS but will do them once we’ve put the tree up, which we’re planning on doing this weekend when DSD is round. I’m not particularly crafty so I like something that takes the imagination out of it and come ls with instructions.

We've had a five hour stretch in the park. I was doing emergency childcare for a friend, we came home when we ran out of clean changes of clothes.

Totally knackered now and working from home tomorrow. I've preordered some craft for tomorrow: a toilet roll wolf and the houses to compete out 3 pigs story.

I also brought our homemade climbing triangle in from the garden just for a change. It doesn't fold down and I can't get it further than the kitchen as it won't go through the living room door but it'll be nice for a day when I'll chuck it outside again.

We have actually had a day of normality

Oh that sounds blooming lovely, I'm glad you had such a nice time. It's so strange isn't it how in such a short amount of time something so simple and normal has become such a treat.

We've had a five hour stretch in the park. I was doing emergency childcare for a friend, we came home when we ran out of clean changes of clothes.

5 HOURS, you're an utter hero!!! It was baltic hete yesterday I think I'd have looked like a snowman after 5 hours in the park.

How's the balloon party going?

Struggle a bit with crafts. Did a bit of play dough and drawing inspired by stories he's currently into, but didn't last long. Currently listening to Mogs Christmas CD on repeat and generally clambering, opening things, occasionally going back to a jigsaw etc

Nothing particularly inspiring - but I do love The Go Away Bird

I'm impressed with your non mixed up colours,! Ds just smushes it up as soon as it's opened.

Nothing of note happening here, going out for a walk when DD wakes up from a nap. I think ive used up all my fun mummy being in isolation.

Balloon party is going well. He only needed 5 balloons to be entertained. Batting them about and not letting them touch the floor was the highlight.
Been to B&M (again) for some Christmas window stickers so we’ll do that this afternoon.
Currently watching the Minions film for the seventy billionth time while eating lunch.

@footprintsintheslow 5 hours in the park?! Hero. I though I was good by doing 2!

I know 5 hours sound incredible but it's easier than being home. It's a park that the toddlers can be totally self sufficient in except for the swings which I say they can go ok at the end.

I take my own chair and a litre flask for coffee and a flask of soup. Enough pesto pasta for the toddlers to fill up on and before you know it the sun is getting low and you go home because it's cold and everyone has wee'd themselves.

Today however I have suffered. H came home yesterday from parents and was up ill all night and I only got to sleep at 5am and the toddler woke at 6. I've worked all morning and I feel broken.
H has been sent back to parents!!'

@footprintsintheslow where did you get the wolf and houses for the 3 little pigs?

We have done the Christmas tree baubles from baker Ross which went well and filled about 20 mins.
My DS1 has such a short attention span, everything we do lasts two seconds. I don’t know if I’ve spoiled him as he is my first born but he needs me to play with him all of the time. DS2 will happily entertain himself.
We are in tier 3 again so I’m feeling sad today. We had a holiday to centre parcs booked with a visit to Father Christmas etc that’s just been cancelled. I’m ok day to day but this just feels never ending sometimes. I can’t believe how for granted I used to take the toddler groups and playdates, it feels such a long time ago now. I would give anything for a cup of tea and a biscuit, chatting to other mums while they safely play. I feel like I had started to build friendships with some of the other mums and now I’ve not seen them for 9 months. Sorry to have a moan, I know I should focus on the positive things.

@Postmanbear

I looked up toilet roll fox on Pinterest to get some idea and I'm just doing a grey version of a fox really.

Then the houses I've cut out a house shape from a folded piece of card. Then we have lolly sticks and straw to stick on. I thought we could huff and puff those over and then the brick house is the same but we will stick it on a duplo house so it's nice and strong.

We didn't get round to it today because of exhaustion and nurseries thoughts towards my husband.

We bought some Xmas books from charity shops instead and met a friend for an outdoor posh coffee boy my normal flask outings. I'm recycling last years Xmas books too and I'm going to put one under the pillow every night for advent....no wrapping required!

• murderous thoughts not nurseries thoughts!!!

@footprintsintheslow I love the Xmas book under the pillow!

Park today to feed squirrels and play on the playground. Made a birthday card (son scribbled on it for 20 seconds), played cars, played tea party, did some food shopping, read books and that’s about it.

We are going to a coffee morning tomorrow which I’m super excited about! I’ve never been to it so am looking forward to meeting new people but also a little nervous. Its an autism support group so I think that’s why it’s allowed to go ahead (socially distanced of course).

Postmanbear I don't think there's anything wrong with having moan occasionally, it's rubbish that there's so much we can't do with toddlers and is hard not having other parents to meet up with/talk to. Pre-lockdown I was starting to get to know some other parents of similar age children at a toddler group, and I'd love to have the chance to build up some friendships with mums of babies and/or toddlers next year.

I think sometimes giving yourself a chance to be upset and frustrated can help, otherwise you can just feel guilty for completely valid feelings. Obviously it also helps to focus on positives, but I don't think it helps to feel like you always have to do that. Here for a virtual tea and biscuit if you want to chat.

@ReallySpicyCurry normal day sounds lovely! DH and I are just as excited as DS1 when we bump into nursery/school parents at the playground nowadays.

@MonkeyPuddle that's DS1s favourite movie too, if your eldest is a comedy fan we can recommend 'Nativity 2' on Netflix - or as we call it 'the silly teacher movie'.

All fine here, DS2 was awake and smily for the zoom HV and showed off his crawling/cruising/picking up toys with both hands. Looking forward to lockdown ending so I can get DM to cut the boys hair as they both have uneven mullets atm.

May attempt a quick park trip/walk straight after the school run today if its not raining or too cold. (DS1 is always haaangry after school, maybe a snack in the fresh air may help)

I'm coming to moan again. I was awake from 1:30am again. Can't even blame H as he wasn't here. I'm just in a crazy pattern of waking at 1:30 and not being able to go back to sleep. Toddler is in front of tv whilst I slept this morning. These are the times. Tv is made for I suppose.
I'm going to drag myself up to do that 3 pigs craft to ease my guilt then more tv and bed for me again or maybe a snuggly film...gasp I just thought we could watch a Xmas film

@Postmanbear I know exactly how you feel. I have signed DD up for three days of pre-preschool, starting next September. I cut my hours at work because I was so determined to spend time with her at home and to do all the groups and just really enjoy the baby and toddler years, and I never had any intention of sending her to nursery, but I simply can't run the risk of nothing being open next year either and having a bored shitless and lonely 3 year old on my hands' who basically won't have socialised with any other children-or people - on a regular basis from the age of 20 months.

I feel very cheated tbh. When I had DD1 I was very young and skint and had to absolutely fight to build a good life for her, not once did I rest on my laurels. I didn't expect to have any more children due to fertility issues and enjoyed every second of maternity leave then working part time with DD2. And now all of this crap means I feel ny hand is forced a bit with nursery, and then we'll be on the school run treadmill once more and that'll be it. But realistically it's not coming back is it, the little groups aren't just going to pick up where they left off, it's all going to be changed and different

@ReallySpicyCurry. I think that's very sensible (if sad to have to do it ). Being at home with young children when you can do playdates, playgroups, classes and other activities is totally different from being at home and them seeing no other children except on the odd socially distanced walk. I'm glad DS is at nursery, at least part time.

@MessAllOver definitely. DS does three days, we get some lovely time in the morning and after nursery and it feels like a good balance. But cheated is a good word for it @ReallySpicyCurry. It's frustrating having an idea what want toddler years to be when it's just not possible. DS has started getting more into singing and I bet he'd like music groups now and maybe join in (last year he generally just headed for the exit and I had to accept my vision of groups wasn't going to work for a while).

Today DD actually used the walker!! I'm so excited, I've had it for months and months and she would just sit down. Now she's done it once she's used it loads, it's almost like it's fun to walk.

We took DS out on his balance bike and he mostly fell of it. He's fallen off it more times today then he has in total the last 6months. I blame his imaginary turbo boosters it gained after watching Blaze.

Other than that just the usual toys of kinetic sand, happyland track and Duplo. We did a little bit of a puzzle book but he didn't want to do it properly

It must be a strange day as for the first time in DS's 3years he wore his socks inside the house. Usually he has to take his shoes and socks off no matter what.

19.58 and I’ve just crawled in to bed, party time on a Saturday night... We’ve all been in the same room for two nights (previously DH cosleeping with Mr almost-3 and me in with baby). But both kids were awake at 04.30 this morning - separate we’d have got them back to sleep but together that was not happening. So we’re back to separate rooms for a while longer as everyone is happier and better rested that way! I’m pretty sure the 4 month old will be in his own room before the almost 3 year old is in his.

Planned activities for this week include making an epic batch of play dough and filling the tuff tray with it, then putting a scene of some kind (animals, cars) on top. I keep seeing it on Instagram and it looks fun. First though, need to remove tuff tray from moss and slug filled back-of-shed.

Hello all.

We put the tree up today.
But DP had stored it in the shed rather than the loft so it and all the decorations got a bit mildewy. Lovely. So today I dettol’d a Christmas tree. And then hung a car air freshener on the back of it as I’m convinced it pongs. But DS loves it, he keeps telling me how beautiful it is and I keep catching him just staring at it.

Baby Dd is almost 4 weeks old now, not sure when that happened. She’s turned into a nap refusing, pukey, limpet baby which is a bit tough, DS’s behaviour has definitely worsened and I’m not dealing with it as well as normal as she’s up 2 hourly a night to feed and sleeping in her basket in the day is just not happening, so I’m a bit crabby a lot of the time. Trying to remember to do the ‘how to talk to little kids’ way of speaking as it does work, just my brain doesn’t at the minute. I know it’s all biologically normal, it’s just knackering all this lack of sleep.

Tomorrow my mums coming over, she’s in our bubble. She’s going to bath DD while I have a break and DP deals with DS.

DS’s gymnastics class is restarting this week and I can’t wait, he absolutely loves it and I’ll express off some milk so that I can leave DD at home so me and DS have something to do just the two of us which I think he needs.