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.

Bedtime does sound v early, I'd try shifting that half an hour later as well. Just to see if it helps.

DS2 loves saying goodnight to the clock and I really think it's helped him sleep through somehow!

I hate it when posters counter everything that's offered, sorry!

Bedtime is early because when it was 7-7.30 he still woke at 6 so we decided to bring it earlier to increase the amount of actual sleep.

Old MP3 player loaded with his favourite stories? If he wakes up, just put it on for him to listen to.

I don't let DS get up before 7 (it helps that he still has the sides on his cot - never tried to climb out and it's a huge cot-bed one so loads of space) but I will put on the ipod on if he wakes too early or is having trouble getting to sleap. DS particularly likes Gruffalo, Highway Rat, Dr Seuss ones, Tiger who came to Tea, the Very Hungry Caterpillar and Hairy Maclary. He often falls asleep a few stories in and I just creep into his room and turn it off.

Right today will be a better day, it has to be after yesterday and last night —after someone had me up 4 times—

Thank fuck kids come out cute. It’s the only saving grace sometimes.

DSD is here today homeschooling which means on her breaks she’s all about giving the baby cuddles, fine by me! She’s really good with her as well, so delicate and kind. Well, that’s DSD all over, she’s an absolute treasure.

Deffo get a grow clock @meow1989 and have a look on Facebook as people sell them on pretty regularly, lack of sleep is an absolute killer and I’d struggle with such early mornings. A friend of mine had real success with theirs.

@meow1989 have you tried white noise? I said on here the other day how my three year old sleeps wonderfully with it playing all night. If he does wake he normally falls back to sleep listening to it

6 has I be better than 4.30 though! But I e see what you mean :)

I got a grow clock been such a blessing although I did find it tricky to set up so teenage son did it for me!
It was ds 4th birthday yesterday not the day we had planned as snowed in but still a fun day sledding and building snowmen. My dad (who's in my bubble) couldn't make it out . But I'd much rather he stayed safe as he's almost 80 and I worry about him

I’ve just seen play.hooray on Facebook put together a scissor skills box, some kids scissors, paper, junk mail, card etc in a tray and let loose, supervised obvs, but I’ll be doing that tomorrow with DS, he bloody loves scissors.

Ah happy birthday for yesterday @jobbyjg jr!

@MonkeyPuddle

I’ve just seen play.hooray on Facebook put together a scissor skills box, some kids scissors, paper, junk mail, card etc in a tray and let loose, supervised obvs, but I’ll be doing that tomorrow with DS, he bloody loves scissors.

Having a quick nosey on the website and playhooray has a book. Does anyone know if its any good? I've got 5 minute mum already, is it similar?

I know she sells play packs, which are like cards with play ideas on but they seem to require a lot of accessories which had put me off buying them. She did an advent calendar and there were a few negative comments about all the additional crafty bits that needed to be bought to go along with it.

Thank you! Might give that a miss then, at last with 5 minute mum she tends to use alot of stuff alrey at home or easy things like pens and paper, cushions and toilet roll tubes!

I have her on my Facebook, she’s got some really good ideas but I think they’re a bit extra effort compared to five minute mum and I know my effort levels are depleted at the minute 😂

We’re going to make valentines cards tomorrow from the kids to grandma and their aunty using loo rolls.
DS has been hankering to do painting and this seems like I can keep control of the mess somewhat!

Loving the loo roll idea for Valentines cards. Definitely going to give that one a try later on this week. I froze some plastic fish into the tuff tray overnight in the garden and DS had great fun dissolving the ice with warm water and cracking it with a spoon. The Paw Patrol then came along in a boat to rescue all the fish. It didn't last long but it was good for 30 mins or so until the ice melted .

Ooooh good idea. Stealing! It’s going to be -4 here tonight so I’ll get ours outside, think I’ll put the dinosaurs in.

Since it's not like DH and I can go out at all on Valentine's Day this year, we're planning to do some themed baking and cooking with DS. Nothing too ambitious , but thought we'd give heart-shaped pizzas and cupcakes a try (you just use a marble or other small object which can be baked to push the cupcake cases in to get the heart shape).

Ahh you romantic! That’s pretty ingenious with the marble trick though!
I’ve ordered a giant chocolate orange brownie slab for DP from a woman on Facebook.
I’ll be getting drunk and he can do the night feeds with expressed milk. Tis but romance 😂

@MonkeyPuddle

Ahh you romantic! That’s pretty ingenious with the marble trick though! I’ve ordered a giant chocolate orange brownie slab for DP from a woman on Facebook. I’ll be getting drunk and he can do the night feeds with expressed milk. Tis but romance 😂

Chocolate orange brownie is my idea of heaven!!!! DH is healthy eating so theres no cake in the house and it's making me sad! Hurry up and open Costa so I can come and sit inside with a latte and a cake and watch the world go by!

Anything to break up the tedium of another lockdown sunday! Also, need to start training DS up on the proper way to treat future girlfriends .

I feel your pain! We’re on no snack February, a bit like dry January. Fuck me it’s hard work!

The brownie is chocolate and white chocolate orange on one side and then biscoff biscuits on the other side 😍

Not really got any valentine's plans here but I did see this which we might attempt for DH. Expecting a massive amount of failed attempts first...

Ah that’s super cute @drumst1ck but I know DS and my white walls would be a disaster!

We're finally out of the trying to lick all the paint stage so I'm feeling optimistic

But god, you're all making me hungry with all this cake talk. Pregnancy hunger is massive at the moment, I ate 6 slices of toast for breakfast yesterday...

@drums1ick, if it makes you feel better I ate an entire fresh white cob loaf yesterday by myself with loads of butter. I just couldn't stop. DH is on no carbs so I did him a favour really

Gro clock ordered! Also going to try rousing ds at 4 to encourage deep sleep. Little pickle had a dry night as well he asked to wee each time he woke up! Tha k you for everyone's suggestions, I really appreciate even if I have a comeback for everything 😏

Have had a child free arvo as pil have had ds for me (childcare and covid test came back negative within 12 hours!) So I can clean. 3 hours of.straigh cleaning and I've got a pristine bathroom, ds room and spare room.... only 2 more floors to go 🤦‍♀️ (not a brag- we have a town house but small footprint so not massive). But I think once I have done a good spring clean it'll feel more manageable keeping on top of day to day. Ds due back bathed and in pj's at 7 so dh and I nipping out for a burger King (take away obvs).
My lovely mum has offered so many times to have ds so I can have a day and night (not been away from him for more than a few hours since Dec 2019 and much as I love him, j
I know you all know how I feel!)

Loving the valentines ideas! We did salt dough today including a heart that Im going to get ds to paint for dh. Going to have a proper look at some suggestions for Saturday too as am working tomorrow and Fri.

Also thanks for thoughts around butterfly thing, think I'm deffo gonna give it a go.