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.

I love Christmas lights walks.

What are everyone's plans for Halloween? We were going to light the fire basket and make s'mores. I had the vague and foolish idea of buying a few more pumpkins and getting some hay off a horsie friend and making a DIY pumpkin patch in our garden. Toddler loves a pumpkin.

It'll not beat the fireworks though

If you have a child that doesn’t like coats. I find the dungarees and coat option works best.
He can get out of the coat but struggles to get out of the dungarees. If I put him in a full suit his strips it down to his ankles.

I have two kids in school so my day is punctuated by the school run which has its pluses and minuses. I am luck in that this one will potter about the house a lots. If this had been my rocket of a first born I wouldn’t have survived,

@ReallySpicyCurry

I love Christmas lights walks.

What are everyone's plans for Halloween? We were going to light the fire basket and make s'mores. I had the vague and foolish idea of buying a few more pumpkins and getting some hay off a horsie friend and making a DIY pumpkin patch in our garden. Toddler loves a pumpkin.

My favourite is when people don't shut their curtains so we can look at their Christmas lights whilst having a good old nose at the same time.

We don't 'do'halloween in this house so off the hook for that one.

I do have some small pumpkins on an Autumn plate in the kitchen which just creates a dedicated place to put all the twigs, leaves, conkers and stones that the toddler loves to bring home. Looks nice too.

Today's mission: do something less shit interesting with the tuff spot. Must clean out the sand first which I'll keep in a bucket underneath for another time.

Ooh I love the idea of the crafty pod but I think my DD (nearly 3) would just climb in and out of it constantly whilst covered in paint/glitter etc
We thought we’d be in our new house by now, now it looks like another 4-6 weeks. I’m seriously considering trying to re-enrol DD in preschool for a couple of days a week again. We’d still be saving on childcare compared with when I’m working. I suppose it just feels like an admission of defeat, like I’m not coping with toddler + baby + maternity leave with no baby groups etc

Took my third child to work out this life hack but: we’ve bought a couple of wider mouthed flasks. Put piping hot baked beans in at breakfast and it makes a really good lunch for the days we’re out and about being cold. Of course your children might eat soup but mine look at it assuming it’s some sort of devil magic trickery, so beans it is...

@LassoOfTruth I'd do it in a heartbeat, it's by no means a failure. You sound like you have a lot on.

I feel guilty for DS going to preschool when I don't work (long term sick leave) but he has a great time and it gives me the energy to actually do stuff with him outside of preschool.

Unless you are in an area where classes are running, I think nursery/preschool is the closest type of thing to a playgroup right now.

@LassoOfTruth if it makes you feel better someone asked me the other day if DS would still go to nursery when I was on mat leave and I realised I hadn't even considered not sending him! He goes two days a week and really enjoys it, saving the money would be nice but we can afford it and so I feel zero guilt about the fact that I know I'd struggle to cope with toddler + baby + mat leave with no groups, and so will definitely be choosing to make life a little easier.

I'd put DD in preschool/nursery for a morning or two now if I could, just to assuage my worry over her getting enough socialisation. And I cut my days at work just to be able to spend more time with her, and wasn't thinking of nursery at all and have massive "letting go of last child" issues

We do the open mouth flask thing too!

We put hot cooked sausages in it and bring bread rolls with us- hot dog picnic

Haven’t RTFT but I’d like to join! DD is nearly 2 but has some developmental delays and also sensory processing issues and she’s not yet walking or talking (although she is in that phase where she wants you to help her ‘walk’ around ALL the time which absolutely kills you back). I’m also 12 weeks pregnant with DC2 so currently trying to survive the constant nausea as well as entertaining DD. She doesn’t like wet messy play but will play with dry stuff like cereals, I’m going to try the paper shredder idea! We need a shredder anyway.

You are all putting me to shame with your creativity and interesting activities! I feel like I don’t make anywhere near enough effort as she tends not to like a lot of things so it can be quite deflating when you’ve set up an activity and bought all the stuff and she tips it over and wanders off but she is changing all the time and takes a while to feel familiar with new things so I know I should keep trying. I’m going to try persevering with play dough. She likes fine motor activities so I’m wondering if she might like decorating biscuits?

Sending solidarity to you all. We are in tier 1 just about still but tier 2 is looming and I’m dreading not being able to meet up with other people, it’s what keeps me (barely) sane.

I’m going to try the paper shredder idea! We need a shredder anyway.

It was fun but if you have a big kitchen I'd do it there, it was really hard to get the shredded paper off the carpet. DS1 put it in his garbage truck and drove it everywhere.

My little one is being a whinge today, I think he's coming down with a cold. He will be three in January. He's not into messy play at all, I've tried stickers again this morning but he just cried. It's going to be a long day!

Cooker sausages into a flask and a bread roll.

Wow.

What a tip. What genius!

@LassoOfTruth my D’S is 3.5 and I’m 40+5 with baby number two. Been on mat leave three weeks now and I’ve been sending him to nursery two days a week 9-5, I have no regrets. He’ll be going throughout my maternity leave. Means he gets to play with other kids his age, they do messy play (I don’t other than painting, certainly not pissing about with a tuff tray and a newborn!) and I’ll be able to have two solid days of hopefully sleeping when the baby sleeps! Needs must!

I’ve heated up tinned sausages and beans and put them in a wide neck flask before, eaten out of kids stackable plastic cups with a slice of buttered bread. If I’m feeling fancy I even take a tiny tupperware of grated cheese.

Absolutely throwing it down here this morning. Toddler still needs walking... like a demanding dog 😂

@LassoOfTruth I've DS who is 2 and DD 2 weeks, DS is going to his childminder twice a week for full days. Honestly I'd go mad(der) if he didnt.

Today we had played with bubbles, coloured in a box and baked... all by 10am.

I've resorted to some tv before lunch, for the first time ever. He is a lot more hyperactive since she was born.

I'm knackered.

@OhToBeASeahorse Snap but in reverse! I've a two year old DD and a two week old DS. No childcare for me though- they're both with me full time. 😬

I'll admit TV has featured heavily in our day to day since DS was born but I'm hoping to gradually wean DD off it again now I've found by feet with DS for the moment.

I feel like I don’t make anywhere near enough effort as she tends not to like a lot of things so it can be quite deflating when you’ve set up an activity and bought all the stuff and she tips it over and wanders off

I have a no more than 10 mins (and preferably far less) prep rule for this reason. Weirdly, if I’m excited about an activity he’s often less likely to be impressed (maybe he can sense my desperation and need for approval). It reminds me of the start of weaning when I’d lovingly prepare tiny strips of veg only for them all to end up on the floor within seconds. Disheartening.

All you people with newborns and toddlers are superheroes, I’m knackered with one.

I don’t know if anyone has recommended it up thread but the Five Minute Mum book is good for quick set up games that use shite from round the house. They’re also good for having a quick 1-2-1 play session with an older child when the little one is napping.

it can be quite deflating when you've set up an activity and bought all the stuff and she tips it over and wanders off

Play it cool. I never say to DS "Oh look, here's a fun activity" because he's a contrary little beast. Instead, I ignore him and start doing the activity myself and that intrigues him so he wants to join in.

Haha I definitely need to learn to play it cool! My DD has a sixth sense for when I do or don't want her to do something. She has already developed selective hearing and is clingy and in need of my attention at ALL times other than when I suggest it might be bath time or bed time at which point she finally leaves my side and turns into this child who can do such beautiful independent play without the need for adult input! Amazing isn't it!

Hello @LassoOfTruth I remember you from the June birth clubs... sorry you are still not in your new house and hope there is light at the end of the tunnel!

From September I’ve been sending dd to nursery 3 days a week 9-3. Nursery opened back up in June but I wanted to wait til baby had arrived as I was terrified of her bringing Covid home and having to give birth alone. In retrospect I wish I’d have sent her from June. She really struggled with new sibling + no normal activities for her and has been SOOOO much better since being back at nursery. I am a better mum to both children too. Don’t feel guilty if you do decide to send yours back, I actually think it’s a good thing to protect yourself from burnout / insanity! This two kids thing is hard!

I have to say as well this thread is helping me be a better mum, plan better and more varied activities already so THANK YOU everyone!!!
Yesterday was a good day, we:

• collected ordered library books
• posted my eBayed old baby clothes
• had an hour at the playground
• picnic at the playground which was nice except for the head wind

That kept us out of the house til 1.30 then dd was happy to play with her toy horses, do puzzles, play doctors. I also did a load of washing and cleaned the kitchen somehow.

Today also good so far

• washing the old high chair ready for DS to be able to sit in it soon
• putting away washing
• jolly phonics practice with videos on YouTube
• a welly walk including snack on a bench - so much more exciting than a snack at home somehow! It was very wet and windy but felt refreshed
• more washing and putting washing away

This afternoon is playdoh, scooting and maybe time for baking biscuits

Hope you’re all having a good day

@thecakebadge. I get that too... It's "Mummy, do this" and "Mummy, play that" and then, when bedtime comes, it's "No, I'm just playing with my trains" and I'm ignored.

Can someone please link a tuff tray with a stand? There is loads of different priced options out there and I’m not sure which ones are any good.

The 5 minute mum has loads of great ideas that are easy to do.

We mainly play with lego and a big box of brio that I got off Facebook market place.

I also sometimes let them draw all over the kitchen floor in washable pens which they love.