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.

[Kaboomba]

Hello!!

Just found this thread!!

Having a quick read through and thought I'd mention the crafty pod for those that don't have space for a tuff tray. It's like a pop up play zone that can be chucked in the washing machine and folded right down.

[Kaboomba]

www.craftypod.com/craftypod.com/index.html

[PinkDaydreams]

I hadn't thought of shoe covers, thank you, I'll have a look for them. I think snow boots he will also not like as they're similar to wellies

[randomsabreuse]

My DC definitely go in puddles without wellies (because they seem to be able to find them even when it's not been raining), they don't seem to be too bothered by wet feet and we just plan to wash/dry well when they get home. We just try to avoid being out more than an hour. My 5 year old would rather wear trainers so she can run better and is not fussed by cold wet feet - she is a warm creature though.

Decathlon have some more rugged trainers from small sizes (were too wide for my DC) that are more waterproof (so long as not in over the height of the shoe). Mountain Warehouse have slightly waterproof trail running shoes starting at a 10.

[FolkSongSweet]

@Nancydowns

Who was up an hour early this morning.

Gotta love the clocks going back. 😁

Does anyone use a grow clock?wpuld it be best to put it back the full hour, or should I do it in 15 minute increments over the next 4 days.

We put the gro clock an hour back before bedtime last night so it was “right” this morning. DS woke up at his usual 6.30 (obvs 5.30 today) but miracle of miracles went back to sleep for another hour! Praying he sticks to it...

[FolkSongSweet]

[quote 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.
]][/quote]
Wow wish I’d known about this! We had a my carry potty which was great. DS potty trained very young (18 months) which meant (1) he had a small bladder capacity for ages and (2) he was too small for adult toilets so we got loads of use out of the travel potty. Now he’s 2.5 he’s fine weeing in bushes and can plonk him on big toilets, so the travel one hasn’t been used in months.

[FolkSongSweet]

Also agree that waterproof trousers are much more practical than puddlesuits once they’re out of nappies. I think they tend to be warmer as well as you can put them on over a warm winter coat. We have the Polarn o pyret dungarees - bought them last year when he was 18 months in age 1-2 and they’ll still fit him next year at 3 so a proper good investment.

[PebblesAndBamBam]

@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.

We made it a precondition of going out that DD sits on the potty and tries. No potty, no out. Because it's now routine, she's fine about it and we've got about three hours of time before she'll need the potty again, which is fine for most trips. Any longer and we take the car, which has a potty in the boot if need be.

[Nancydowns]

We put the gro clock an hour back before bedtime last night so it was “right” this morning.

That may have worked but we didn't know the clocks had gone back until we realised this morning her clock and our phones said different times!

[MonkeyPuddle]

On the subject of waterproofs, I’ve bought DS 3.5 these, in age 5-6, he’s a a big lad anyway, his trackies are age 5-6 from Asda. Really rate these trousers, wiped the mud off, kept him warm and dry and stayed on well. They’re also really long in the leg so I’ll get at least two winters wear out of them I reckon.

[Nancydowns]

Today we're making bread hedgehogs. My kitchen mixer has been really temperamental though so it could end with half kneeded bread and me very stressed out. I hate kneeding bread by hand, it never comes out the same.

[MonkeyPuddle]

This is him in them, loadsa room for growing

[polarisation]

Haven't read the last few pages, but we got fleece lined salopettes in Lidl yesterday, and they had waterproof jackets and trousers too. I can't see them on the website so I'm not sure if this is the right week for them - some of the Middle of Lidl stuff seems out of step presumably because of Covid.

Our council gymnastics we signed up for in March is set to resume on the 5th, but until I confirm I don't get to find out how they're making it safe....? Also not sure if it will be ok to bring 3mo along in the carrier. Not sure I feel like it's a good idea but she loved it before!

[polarisation]

Oh and there were fleece lined wellies, with light up soles for £8.

Mothercould on Instagram has some good ideas for crafty things that require minimal cleanup!

[MessAllOver]

Today we have put the wooden train set on the tuff tray. There has been a lentil landslide which has buried Thomas and Percy and is now being cleared into a yellow dumper truck using a very small plastic spoon while I drink coffee and Mumsnet.

[OhToBeASeahorse]

I really need to up my game- I feel really daunted by these suggestions and that isnt fair on DS. I'm going to try and spend some evenings preparing stuff (while I feed the baby).

Today we have gone for a walk and all jumped in muddy puddles (my poor newborn in the sling!), then this afternoon we have read and done some colouring and then he has gone to the shops with daddy.

I'm going to try baking with him again - we did rice krispie cakes last time but I basically got everything ready while he napped.

[MessAllOver]

@OhToBeASeahorse. That sounds like a very nice day . Apart from pushing DS into the garden for half an hour, I'll confess that we haven't really got out of the house today (it was a howling gale this morning!). Making DH do a quick playground run now the sport is over and the weather's better, though.

[OhToBeASeahorse]

Thanks @MessAllOver.i think I'm a bit hormonal and DS is a bit out of sorts so I'm feeling guilty that I canr give him as much attention as I could do before.

I've ordered a tuff tray today

[MessAllOver]

TV is fine too . Not every day has to be a winner...

DS is at nursery 2 days. The other five, I try to aim for two "winner" days where we do something new or special and then three days where we potter happily drawing, colouring, playground, toys and TV.

[SuperbGorgonzola]

My personal favourite is an afternoon bath, ideally about 3pm after The Dreaded Walk, for several reasons;

He stays in one place so I can sit on the landing on my phone
If I put some audio stories on my phone or tablet for him, he'll listen to those for ages
Straight into comfy PJs
No need for bathtime before bed so you get downstairs -and crack the wine open- a bit sooner.

[SuperbGorgonzola]

@OhToBeASeahorse

I really need to up my game- I feel really daunted by these suggestions and that isnt fair on DS. I'm going to try and spend some evenings preparing stuff (while I feed the baby).

Today we have gone for a walk and all jumped in muddy puddles (my poor newborn in the sling!), then this afternoon we have read and done some colouring and then he has gone to the shops with daddy.

I'm going to try baking with him again - we did rice krispie cakes last time but I basically got everything ready while he napped.

Please don't feel bad. I am not an "activities" mum either. That's what I pay Nursery for.

My son has loads of fun just playing with his toys while I'm in the room and generally chatting to him. TV is generally on all the time and sometimes he stops to watch a bit, sometimes he doesn't. Sometimes we bake or do some drawing together, and I do my best to get out every day but otherwise I think relaxing, unstructured time is so important too.

[Ori3]

Problem I have with puddle-jumping is my nearly 2 yr old son likes to actually sit in any puddle he comes across. Right in the middle. The bigger the better. And then refuses to get up. He has wet socks within literally seconds of going out. Despite me putting him in waterproof trousers/wellies.

Anyone else have this?

[OhToBeASeahorse]

@Ori3 oh that is a bit of a nightmare! I'm not sure there is a solution apart from a hazmat suit?!

@SuperbGorgonzola thanks - you're right, I just feel like I've lost the balance a bit

[WeSearchedHereWeSearchedThere]

all this puddle jumping... has anyone ever been tempted to take a camping chair on their walk to chill while the toddler messes around? Asking for a friend...

[MessAllOver]

If you can find a (fenced in) playground with puddles and a bench, that's the most bearable combination.