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.

[PinkDaydreams]

Gel stickers will be getting ordered today then thank you! Ive got to pop into home bargains later actually so will see if I can find any in there. Are the gel window sticker things the same thing?

[ReallySpicyCurry]

@PinkDaydreams what about those fleece lined Crocs, or a pair of hiking type boots, if you can get them small enough - they're fairly waterproof. If they're cheap enough you could get him a few pairs and then wouldn't have to wait for them to dry out, and once the puddle jumping is done, pop warm socks and trainers back on - if he doesn't mind his feet getting cold and wet temporarily it might work

[footprintsintheslow]

@LittleMissLockdown I wonder if your one would love stuff put out of reach and on the sofa then?!

RE: Road tape... is it reusable?

[ReallySpicyCurry]

Gel windows stickers appear to be much the same yes!

[whataballbag]

@PinkDaydreams

I feel a terrible parent saying this but I wish my little one would wear wellies. He just hates them, full meltdown when I've tried to put them on him. It must be part of his asd as he wouldn't wear sandals in the summer either. I also tried some espadrilles for summer but again the same thing.
All this talk of splashing in puddles and playing in the back garden with wellies makes me feel a bit sad as I know he'd love it but just won't wear wellies. I suppose I could get a cheap pair of black trainers (that's all he will wear) but I'm worried his feet will get cold as they will get soaked quickly.

I had this exact problem with my 2 year old.

Solved by buying a size bigger and thick socks! Worth a try

[PinkDaydreams]

An idea has just come into my head! My boy loves leaves, I'm thinking of getting some artificial ones for when it's just too wet to pick up real ones from the ground 🍁🍂

[WeSearchedHereWeSearchedThere]

I have a 2y10m DS and 3 month old. Not going slowly insane at all... we are currently able to see my parents, I really feel for anyone who doesn’t have the option of sticking the kids in the car and seeking help!

For those considering a pikler, we found the slide (we got the triclimb + Miri) a necessity. DS isn’t massively interested in the triclimb on its own, but will use it as a slide, we send cars/toys down it a lot. And with one end balanced on a sofa/ottoman it’s a great stage/bridge/walk the plank/building surface.

I need to up my tuff tray game. Agree that things on a tuff tray are more interesting! Ours is currently a giant puddle outside, I might just buy another to keep inside. Does anyone have a stand - are they worth it? They seem disproportionately expensive compared to the tray!

[LittleMissLockdown]

I wonder if your one would love stuff put out of reach and on the sofa then?!

He was for a short while, especially the illusive tv remote, but now unless you're trying to help him walk across the room he's not interested in anything else. I'm hoping we're not far from walking as it is clearly frustrating him.

[footprintsintheslow]

@WeSearchedHereWeSearchedThere we have the stand. I store everything like Sabs and water toys under it when it's outdoors.

But when I was in the classroom I covered it in fabric and the kids used it as a den/reading cave with a torch and cushions. I think it's worth it. They used to pretend they were underground animals like moles in he dark...obviously a bit older than toddler age.

Not sure if you read up thread but I think a second tray is good as they can be stored on top of the first one and can act as a lid if it's a sandpit outside to keep it cat clear.

[ReallySpicyCurry]

@LittleMissLockdown so much sympathy for that prewalking stage. I found it really tricky and frustrating too.

[PolarBearStrength]

@PinkDaydreams are snow boots worth a try? Some of them are quite ‘trainer-ish’?
These are hideous but might fit the bill: m.reebok.co.uk/reebok-royal-classic-snow-jogger-shoes/FY3224.html?cm_mmc=ReebokSEM_GPS--GS-OPT-UK-Categories-NonBranded--NONBRANDED%20-%20Lifestyle-_-PRODUCT_GROUP&cm_mmca1=UK&cm_mmca2=&ds_agid=58700002162466942&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-_uwx57P7AIVAbTtCh2cFQIvEAQYICABEgK4hvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Or a bit less terrible: www.next.co.uk/style/ST271147/584769?dp=a&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-_uwx57P7AIVAbTtCh2cFQIvEAQYFyABEgJ0j_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#584769


Or you might be able to get some waterproof booties?

[PolarBearStrength]

Does anyone else feel a bit trapped by potty training?

Our little one is mostly there but he can’t always hold it and we may have mere seconds between ‘need a wee wee’ and the wee itself. Fine when you’re at home in easy reach of the potty but very tricky in a puddle suit or waterproof dungarees for example. Not so bad when there’s two of us and DH can lift him up whilst I strip off a pair of soggy trousers quickly but a bit of a nightmare on my own.

I really need to pull my finger out and buy a travel potty too as carting a normal potty around is a massive ball ache.

[ArtichokeAardvark]

This thread is AMAZING. 2.5 year old and newly crawling 10 month old. I am going to investigate KinderKraft knife and kinetic sand immediately.

We do a lot of baking here - current fave is cheesecakes as Godzilla toddler likes bashing up the digestives. Rolling pin optional. Otherwise teddy bear zip wire down the stairs goes well.

Are tuff trays really worth it? They look massive and I have visions of the damn thing taking up half my kitchen. At the moment he just sits at the kitchen table for painting etc.

Final shout out for learning towers. I bit the bullet and forked out for one when DS learned to pull up and would then whinge at me as he still couldn't see what I was doing up in the counter. It's been the best £100 I've spent on kid stuff as he still uses it every day nearly 2 years later and I've never had to worry about him toppling off steps or chairs.

[PinkDaydreams]

@PolarBearStrength I could give the snow boots a try! Anything a worth a try.
I've tried explaining why he should wear them, I've even showed him me wearing wellies and splashing in the puddles but his understanding is behind.

I saw in home bargains last week a tub of indoor snowballs, I think they were £3.99. Could be fun for a toddler snowball fight indoors?!

[footprintsintheslow]

@PolarBearStrength I agree it's a real bummer. In fact we don't use puddle suits now as it's too complicated. She just gets wet and I have a change of clothes.

I do cart a normal potty round too as for me it's not worth it buying a travel one for this small window of time of needing it. However someone I know has one and thinks it's the best thing ever and has made their life better.

[ArtichokeAardvark]

@PolarBearStrength YES. You need an 'elephant potty'. I hate carting around the proper potty on walks but this thing is small enough to go in a rucksack. I've also ditched puddlesuits in favour of waterproof trousers as wrestling him out of the puddlesuit in time was a nightmare.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07YC9BZ32/ref=sspa_mw_detail_3?psc=1&ie=UTF8&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[OhRosalind]

Also a huge learning tower fan but if you don’t want to spend loads the Ikea hack is really simple (photo attached for inspiration then I’ll stop banging on about it).

Planning on putting potty training off to the spring, you’re brave PolarBearStrength

[ReallySpicyCurry]

I haven't found the strength to attempt potty training yet, was hoping I could wait longer and she'd just train perfectly overnight like my eldest did..

.... What are the chances?

[MessAllOver]

@ArtichokeAardvark. Are tuff trays really worth it? They look massive and I have visions of the damn thing taking up half my kitchen. At the moment he just sits at the kitchen table for painting etc.

Completely personal preference but tuff trays have four main benefits for us - 1) stopping the kitchen table being bunged up with projects and craft stuff so we don't need to tidy up for each meal; 2) the 'lip' stops spilled water, paint and other mess dripping onto the ground. I get very irritated with stamps and crayons on the floor and it keeps those contained as well; 3) easy to clean. If we've been really messy, I just take the tray outside onto the patio and hose it down; 4) it somehow confers instant attractiveness on otherwise boring toys and keeps DS amused for ages. For instance, I put some jigsaws on there the other day and, as well as keeping the pieces contained, he played with them for much longer than he would if they were on the floor.

That said, they do take up a lot of space (although you can keep stuff like play doh and paint boxes under them) and they don't do anything 'unique' that you couldn't do in some other way. It's a convenience thing here .

[1400spincycle]

@PinkDaydreams that’s tough. What size are your DS feet? Decathlon do a variety of different boots - these riding boots are basically wellie plastic?
www.decathlon.co.uk/p/kids-horse-riding-boots-100-navy//R-p-304533 they start from a 9.5?

or these open up with velcro if he’s worried about them on and off?
www.decathlon.co.uk/p/baby-snow-sledge-boots-apres-ski-xwarm-blue-and//R-p-306777

Or these might be a better option - they are waterproof and look more like trainers ( my DS had the summer ones and found them good- he also has sensory issues and very fixed ideas in what he will and will not wear.)

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/junior-warm-snow-hiking-shoes-rip-tab-mid-sh100-navy/_/R-p-163491

[BogRollBOGOF]

@PinkDaydreams

I feel a terrible parent saying this but I wish my little one would wear wellies. He just hates them, full meltdown when I've tried to put them on him. It must be part of his asd as he wouldn't wear sandals in the summer either. I also tried some espadrilles for summer but again the same thing.
All this talk of splashing in puddles and playing in the back garden with wellies makes me feel a bit sad as I know he'd love it but just won't wear wellies. I suppose I could get a cheap pair of black trainers (that's all he will wear) but I'm worried his feet will get cold as they will get soaked quickly.

Does he mind being cold and wet?

Mine (now 9yo) doesn't notice the cold. He's the kid sledging in shorts. Not had hypothermia yet over many winters!

Even now we have issues with clothes and he's decided this autumn of all autumns that he hates waterproof coats This years is a replacement of the one that was acceptable last year, heck last year's still fits, but will he wear either... at least now, I can point out the weather and the clothing options and don't whinge at me if you get drenched with your hoodless summer jacket...

If he's the kind of child that minds the wellies far more than being cold and wet, roll with it. Lug around spare layers/ socks/ trainers. It's not worth the meltdown and for us, it's less stressful to deal with after.

General tip for soggy weather, have sit mats so you can keep your bum warm and dry on a bench.

[MessAllOver]

@PinkDaydreams. Could you try waterproof shoe covers? I remember we had some for DS when he was crawling before he was wearing proper shoes and wellies. I've never checked, but they may do them in bigger sizes.

[riotlady]

Ahh, I have found my people! Fortunately DD is still in nursery 4 days a week so fingers crossed that stays open. Our current activities are curtailed even further because I’m unwell and experiencing serious fatigue, so I can’t do any long walks or anything too vigorous.

[ReallySpicyCurry]

If you're unsure about space for a Tuff Tray, this is what I got instead. It's a Garland square garden tray and it's currently £8. I had Tuffs for work, and when you have one on a stand which you can leave in place forever, they are superior , but as a largish tray that keeps everything contained but that doesn't take up loads of room, the Garland does a good job too,and it fits on the kitchen table and the toddler table. I stash it under the bed with shoes in it when not in use. Our house is small and higgledy, and when I brought a tuff home from work once, it was a total nightmare even trying to get it through doors and up steps. If I har the room to leave one up forever I'd definitely get a proper one though, but if you are going to take it up and down all the time it's a pita

[MessAllOver]

We had these Playshoe Footies things...They go up to 30 months. There may be something similar available that's bigger.

www.amazon.co.uk/Playshoes-Unisex-Waterproof-Footies-Navy-Blue/dp/B003SEOV64/ref=asc_df_B003SEOV64/?hvlocphy=9045909&linkCode=df0&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=207953815578&th=1&hvdev=c&hvtargid=pla-339007510258&hvrand=11772318110034752624&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21