Trapped toddler parents of the fabled Winter 2020/2021. Puddle suits at the ready..hello Christmas!

[footprintsintheslow]

New thread as the other one is running out.

A place to find find and share ideas of how to get through these crazy times with lockdowns and babies and toddlers.

New members welcome.

Happy New Year all! No snow for us today but we have a big bowl of leftover snowman snow to play with this morning. It’s really keeping him entertained while I feed DD!

Happy New Year everyone. No snow here but it's lovely and sunny and frosty. Just back from a nice walk in the park with DD who again found the muddiest, most disgusting puddle in the place and jumped in it then poked it with a stick, before trying to lick the stick

Just popping onto this thread as I have a toddler for whom puddle suits are no longer sufficient in the cold and wanted to say Mountain Warehouse are doing some fantastic deals at the moment, I bought their ski package yesterday plus thermals and could never have afforded it all new otherwise!

I really rate Mountain Warehouse for warm toddler gear - they have decent sales too.

Happy new year! @footprintsintheslow that’s a fab idea!

We’ve been up to the park, DP got DS ready, he put him in canvas shoes it was part quagmire part ice rink. Was lovely and good fun though. Took a picnic and a flask of hot chocolate. Home now for films and pop corn in our pj’s.

Happy new year everyone ! And happy birthday lass
Not to bad a day here sunny but still very cold. I though dh would take ds out for a nice walk when I was sleeping as 1st nice day in ages , but no he's sat and watched you tube with him all day. Not impressed as when dh goes back to work ds will expect it all the time and that won't be happening

Had a discussion argument with DH earlier about clothing. He was getting ready to take DS out to the playground (it's about 1 degree here) in an unlined anorak, no hat or gloves, no thermals and one pair of thin cotton socks rather than thick welly socks . I would like to think it's not a man thing and DH was just being a bit of an idiot... but it does usually seem to be men!

Also, his idea of "entertaining" DS yesterday for an hour was to put the TV on and watch back episodes of Great British Menu while DS shredded some polyester packaging on the rug .

Ugh I hate it when they’re inept. Just use your bloody brains! DP wore canvas shoes to the park as well. I’m marching us to Go Outdoors tomorrow. Was going to go today but DD needed feeding and I couldn’t be arsed having my tits out while trying walking boots on.
DP is making amends by cooking a roast. Food is my love language

Oh and whoever invented infant gaviscon is an utter genius, we’ve gone from 20+ projectile vomits a day to just a bit of dribbly sick. It’s a bloody miracle.

@GOSHquestion thank you for that.
@MonkeyPuddle hooray for ga is on!

Been in the fields today, planted our Christmas tree out and I sawed some wood to try and make a free version of this....

*gaviscon obviously!!!!

That's an ace idea @footprintsintheslow. Not very handy (urbanite!) but I do have a hacksaw in the shed so might shamelessly steal your idea and try to make an animal treehouse!

@MessAllOver well I sawed through my own glove so wouldn't call me very handy either.

My dad said cut the wood, let it dry under cover outside where the wind can get to it. Then when wood has dried out bring it to varnish if you want to.

Your dad is probably right, but if it was me I'd just give it to the kiddo- ,they aren't fussed about the finish!
With DD when she was smaller I used to frequently bring back a bundle of sticks, some lichen, moss etc and leave it in a.pile on a plastic sheet in lounge with some plastic animals. She had a lovely time , I'd completely forgotten this. I was possibly less bothered by the mess then.. Must do this for DS, maybe when school is back so DD doesn't come in and immediately take over!

I did put out something s on tuff tray the other day and it has sat out for s couple of days -kinetic sand in a box, Dino's and mythical beasties,lolly sticks, wooden counters and s few plastic trees. Nobody's been that interested tbh. DS did enjoy putting all the creatures into various bags and baskets he found from elsewhere and carrying them around. Not quite there with the imaginary play thing really.
I stayed in all day which was quite nice for a change (we have a dog) and even managed to do a few crafty things in the afternoon for DDs best buddy who is having a shitty coVid birthday as the minimal things they had planned all had to be shelved as her mum was isolating. We're meeting up Sunday and planning to surprise her with a few silly things . I thoight a rucksack full of teddies to join the picnic in the woods would be fun and party hats if I get a chance to make them. Some balloons. Any other v v v easy throw together ideas?

I reckon I'll hunt out a few suitable branches and copy your idea.
DD would like to the bits to fuel her fairy house obsession. Which has lasted all year!

Re puddlesuit s. I realise v controversial in this thread but just wanted to say I've always preferred separates 😱😉
They last much longer in terms of growth . Get dungarees with elasticated straps and prob get 2 years out of them . Also much less faff to get on and off. Coats - I tend to get a good quality v waterproof but not too hot coat (eBay usuay, most costly brand I can find) this last several seasons and layer up with fleeces and / lightweight down in underneath. I've got a super down jacket which ds2 is currently wearing. It came from tkmax was excellent bargain and is size 3-4 hand me down from DD but fits him fine, bit long but under the dungas no worries.

Socks - John Lewis do school type knee high socks with real wool. I spent years hunting for some thing like these. All grey which is boring, and confusing now we have them in several sizes 🤔 but best kids socks I've found yet. I have a thing about cold feet!

Thank you for the birthday wishes! I’m used to there being nothing open/nothing to do on my birthday so happy to have a fairly easy going day today! We didn’t have enough proper snow to build a snowman (too icy) but I put a bunch of ice/snow in with the peppa pig toys in the tuff tray which went down well. My new year’s resolutions include relying on tv less to entertain DD. She really needs to go back to preschool but I don’t know when we’ll get that sorted. Poor kid, even she’s getting bored with tv/you tube songs now and I have major mum guilt.

Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday @LassoOfTruth it was my friends birthday too today so we had a lovely group video call with beer/wine/Baileys this evening.

I had DS2 in tights underneath his trousers today, need to rummage for DS1s old snow suit in the cupboard to see if it fits (its age 18m-2 I think) or otherwise I'll order him an age 1-18m one.

I have discovered a good new show to watch with DS1 (or any DC that enjoys transport/vehicles) - Ice road rescue on Disney Plus. DS1 enjoys looking at the trucks, I enjoy looking at the Norwegian rescue guys

@Souperspooker yes you are totally right about just bringing it all in now and we do have a constant supply of sticks and crap, but I want to do this as a little project for myself. Bit ambitious yesterday with the saw and a 9month bump but I've slept well! Also my cutting is a bit wonky so if they will ever be stacked I'll have to sand them flat.

We are doing dinosaurs in the tuff spot today. And last night me and H got ALL the toys out and reorganised the three rotation boxes to accommodate new toys and to make sure they are balanced. Seemed like a faff at the time but worth it in the long term I think.
We've got two smaller boxes that live on top of bookshelves and one larger wooden blanket box. So the bigger toys automatically go in there.

@Souperspooker yes I agree about separate coat and waterproof trousers. A few people said on here to buy seperates and I much prefer now I have. Son has still got an all in one snow suit which he wore the other day but trousers underneath and Welly socks got completely drenched in it! Whereas his waterproof trousers are properly waterproof and his clothes underneath don't get wet.
I bought trousers instead of the dungaree style, muddy puddles, got them brand new from eBay and I'm very impressed.
Regarding coats, are snow coats waterproof or just thick and warm and only shower proof? Theres a couple of snow sets (jacket and pants) on mountain warehouse that are cheap but not sure if waterproof?

Regarding coats, are snow coats waterproof or just thick and warm and only shower proof?

I just had a look on the website, the younger kids all in one thing says its waterproof but the older kids seperates are all shower proof apart from one slightly more expensive set.

If you are looking for a warm waterproof coat DS1 has a trespass 3 in 1 coat, it's not sold as a ski/snow coat but we took it to Italy 2 winters ago and it was fine.

I hadn't thought of a three in one, that'll probably be the best type to go for I think, thak you!

I like the separate items as well, I really rate the muddy puddles waterproof trousers. I keep a big IKEA bag in the car and stand DS in there one leg at a time as he takes his wellies off, strip them down and then shove him on his dry shoes and on the car.

We’ve had loads of snow today so we’ve been to the park. It was really lovely. Pretty sure DS hugely boosted his immune system by eating snow off the floor, hey ho.

We’ve had the kinetic sand out for the past few days and he is loving it, keeps going back to it. I’ve got it on a lap tray so it’s relatively contained.

We’re currently snuggling on the sofa, watching the snow fall and eating popcorn. I’ve got the wool out while both the kids are occupied/asleep.

Cheeky pic of DD as she is bloody beautiful

What a sweetheart MonkeyPuddle! Beautiful baby. Earlier DD (2.5yr) had a massive meltdown about DS (4months) laying on his baby gym, apparently it is hers. It is cold but bright here and DD is out with DH and I’m feeding DS with a cup of coffee - a rare moment of quiet!

Aww lovely tiny baby @MonkeyPuddle I had my 11m old in the sling today after using the pushchair for months and he felt giant.

We also had a good day, managed 1.5h walk round the local woods, DS1 would have gone longer but I was cold having draped my coat over DS2s sling so he wouldn't be cold/could have a nap and given my scarf to DS1 - need to be better dressed next time we go!
(I had warm legs at least - primark thermal leggings are excellent)

We're sitting with hot chocolate and popcorn too - giving ourselves another 10 mins then DH and I will start cooking dinner/tidying up.