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.

[quote MessAllOver]@PinkDaydreams. We haven't tried it here but might have a go! Seems like the sort of thing DS would like... he's very tactile (I think that's the right word?)[/quote]
I've taken one for the team and ordered some, i will let you know how we get on with it! 😂

Great, will watch with interest!

Am a bit played and crafted out and have a work deadline for Wednesday (just taking a sneaky break but better put my nose back against the grindstone now DS has been dispatched with DH to the park!). So I think we're going to have a TV free-for-all next few days (DS is luckily at nursery tomorrow) and then try to go cold turkey come Thursday.

@mummabear - it's so hard, I don't blame the refusal but sometimes they just need to go out. We can manage a day totally at home but any longer and he literally bounces off the walls.

I've cracked and ordered DD2 a scooter to combat this exact problem with walking. She's bored of it, it's as simple as that, it's the same two 1.5k loops over and over since March.

I've got her the Ozzbozz My First Scooter. It was £20 off Amazon. Has anyone got it? Reviews seem ok. Toddler scooters seem expensive! She can manage the balance bike OK but freaks when she picks up speed, so we're keeping it for the patio - I think a scooter is a better option for walks.

On that note, I ust went on a six mile walk with a friend and it was bliss. She brought coffee and Norwegian waffles and we sat on socially distanced rocks on the shore and had a picnic. Only a big fat heron was there to witness our rebellion.

@footprintsintheslow good luck for induction tomorrow!

I’ve managed to dispatch DH and DS to the playground with the balance bike. I have a love-hate relationship with the bike, DS adores it, but there’s nowhere at home to ride it, so we have to get all wrapped up and out. And then when it’s time to come home put it away (it lives in the boot of the car) he wails, and wails “my biiiiiike” 🤦‍♀️. Length of time riding the bike makes no difference, and we can ride it until he is the one who asks to go home because he’s cold - still makes no difference when the bike has to go away! And just in case you think he’s deprived, he has three indoor ride on toys too...

@PinkDaydreams playfoam sounds interesting!

@footprintsintheslow love it, definitely Lowry-esque!

I have bought some new bubble bath, so tomorrow we’re doing whisking bath foam (and then mopping the kitchen floor, which is in need of it!). I also decided baths are a good way to occupy an hour or so on a grotty afternoon, so I’ve got some child-friendly colour changing bath bombs.

In my small snippets of non-child life, I’ve started watching Schitts Creek from the beginning again. Love it!

@ReallySpicyCurry. Remember if anyone spots you, the waffles are for the birds. Definitely not a picnic.

@ReallySpicyCurry we got DS a scooter for Christmas and so far he will walk with it between his legs, he will not put a foot on it, so far it is not worth the money spent on it

I’ve dropped DS round his dads house, he’s not back til Tuesday night so I have two full days of napping when DD naps and doing a bit of needlework.
God I feel awful saying it, but I’m looking forward to a few days of just having the one child to look after, even if she is a puking machine. But just two have two days with toddler chaos, the constant need for attention, the being touched by him all the time, I almost feel like I’m about to have a little holiday. I love him so so much, but I also like it when I’m not in charge for a few days.

We all have toddlers here so anyone caught having fun and picnics can plop a boob out and say I'm just stopping to breastfeed. The police will be so embarrassed that they'll run a mile.

We made it out for a walk today with DS on his balance bike - he’s great on it and it means we can actually walk at adult pace! The forest near us was absolutely rammed though. And then the baby wanted to cluster feed all afternoon so we FaceTimed my mum and had an hour of spot the dog - much more screen time than I usually allow but needs must!

Child lasted approx 8 nanoseconds in the park today before seeing all the skaters and going I WANT MY SKATES. I have no idea where anybody's skates are fgs. She was partly mollified by pavement chalks indoors on sugar paper. But only partly. Mummy did not want to go back out and skate in the dark.

Can I join? My youngest are 1 and 3. 1 year old is cutting her molars and 3 year old keeps disappearing in search of ‘peace and quiet’ from the screams. I’m desperate for them to come through for her sake and ours.

Currently on mile 9,867 of our local forest and beach walks. Luckily the kids are still enthusiastic but I’d love to bask in the warmth of the previously mentioned strip lights and machine coffee from the soft play centre!

Ouch, the molars. That's a tricky time. I too wanted to disappear for peace and quiet when DD cut hers!

I'm going to come right out here, and agree with everyone missing soft play. There's a time and a place for soft play. We had a lovely one near us years ago - in a bug, airy, bright building, cheap to get in, free milk and toast for the toddlers. I used to take DD1 up during quiet times, and turn her loose while I did university work.

I also really miss our local toddler pool. DD2 loved it.

I really, really miss soft play. Most round about us have closed for good, including a fantastic little play cafe run by a lovely, kind lady who DS adored.

@MessAllOver I miss softplay too! So much!

Anyone doing Joe Wicks? I was pregnant during the last big lockdown so just puked rather than exercised but I thought I would give him a go this time. However, DD may just scream because he isnt the wiggles or mr Tumble. She struggles to understand that the TV isnt just for her lol.

Have a go at cosmic kids instead, I found Joe wicks was too hard for my then 5 yr old, toddler definitely no.
Cosmic kids superyoga even better- 5 minutes of proper joining in with them silly active gun, then let them get onwith the 40 minutes story one and do some jobs..b

@Souperspooker. We meant to have a go at Cosmic Yoga last time but never got round to it. We'll definitely try it this Thursday (DS at nursery Mon-Wed this week).

Cosmic Yoga is great. DD2 loves it, though it's recently been superceded by toddler ballet classes on Youtube.

Does anyone have any tips for encouraging a 2.5 year old to get dressed/shoes on and off etc by themselves? I thought I might as well use this time to teach DD a few life skills I'm also starting to wonder would it be worth giving toilet training a go. I'm not particularly bothered about waiting but while it's cold and we're not going anywhere.... Make hay while the sun shines and all

@ReallySpicyCurry one thing I’ve read and seems to be a good idea is making sure their clothes are slightly large, and therefore easy to get on and off. My just-3 year old will take his own clothes off, but persuading him to put them on isn’t getting far (he can do socks and trousers by himself). I’ve been thinking of setting up more of a morning routine for us - putting out a couple of outfits for him to choose one. Especially as we don’t have anywhere to be in the morning, so it doesn’t particularly matter how long it takes! Also that might persuade him out of the hooded onesie he’s been wearing for several days...

Really spicey curry- hmm might be setting yourself up for a big stress!
Keep things simple

Tuff tray.

Fun this morning which amused Ds while I at last manage d s small amount of school for dd6

Oatmeal (panic bought in first lockdown, u have loads, not oats I found!!) With the farm animals plus various containers and spoons/scoops. Feed the animals.

Other ideas?

He was genuinely sad when appeared after nap that it was gone. Result!

Can you buy just the stand for one of these? On Amazon seems not and I vaguely recall chat about this pre Christmas.

Btw I'm feeling totally swamped , angry and premenstral but finding so much solace on MN. Thanks everyone it's so good to know youre not alone.

Potty training - I had a bunch of have me down knickers from friend with older girls, prob age 7 used on 3 year old. I was amazed how tight they were when I finally bought her pants in the correct size and now i always buy a size or two up for comfort.. and for me too!!

This is the sort of level of detail of a mother s information / know how I get so cross about countless fathers not even having a notion of..

@ReallySpicyCurry I highly recommend Oh Crap for potty training - worked for DS in 4 days when he was 18 months. Family thought I was insane for even trying but worked really well. Also second the advice about having pants and trousers in bigger sizes - so much easier for them to pull up and down.

Today was a failure. She screamed like someone was murdering her at Joe Wicks, then followed me around screaming for a snack for an hour (she had just had breakfast). We managed a walk and playground, and collected some leaves to make hedgehog pictures. However, she only wanted to paint when we sat down to do the pictures. I gave her paints, she screamed and threw the paper and brushes on the floor (I managed to grab the paints in time). I tried including her in folding clothes while listening to nursery rhymes. She screamed at that too. By this point the 8 week old was howling. I have given up. I am cuddling the baby. She is watching cocomelon. I feel a bit of a failure today. Contemplating wine and the bath when Dh gets home

@MummaBear4321 definitely a wine and bath night! If it makes you feel better we’ve all been there. Cuddling the baby with toddler in front of their cartoon of choice is 100% an ok way to get through an afternoon at this point (and frankly the option is on the table for the rest of the winter as far as I’m concerned).