Trapped toddler parents: puddlesuits splashing towards spring

[WeSearchedHereWeSearchedThere]

All guardians of toddlers welcome, we offer ideas, activities, and a shoulder to lean on when it all gets too much. We’ve conquered winter, next stop spring!

Continuing from www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4105179-trapped-toddler-parents-of-the-fabled-winter-2020-2021-puddle-suits-at-the-ready-hello-christmas?pg=1

@drumst1ck

baby-travel.uk.com/products/isafe-baby-fast-fit-booster-seat-yummyluv-buon-cena-table-highchair-complete-with-tray?variant=32602724925521&currency=GBP&utmmedium=productsync&utmsource=google&utmcontent=sagorganic&utmcampaign=sagorganic&utmcampaign=gs-2020-12-12&utmsource=google&utmmedium=smartcampaign&gclid=CjwKCAjwgOGCBhAlEiwA7FUXkm9M6oMWeLTZFpyh7oef6MiZSCsxWCXsLpH2LQhp9BQIVbdpyQiK8xoCaIQAvD_BwE

We've never used a high chair as use this one from when they are weaning. Picture below, link above.

@Chocolatetrifle the radio is a good idea. Ours is always on (not sure if that's as bad as a tv for distraction) but anyway very now and again toddler will shout out 'they said school' or ' they said chocolate' so she's obviously listening in. The other day she said what's the name of the lady singing?...The communards 🤪

@Same4Walls good luck to get through the day.

@drumst1ck it's natural to be anxious but you are right she'll be fine. Maybe a bit clingy afterwards like mine was. Our baby is ten weeks now and I'd say life is getting normal now.

@prettygirlincrimsonrose gold star for you having a baby sleep in a Moses basket! ⭐️

Today we have made an ice tuff tray. H is off so I got him to make an igloo from some polystyrene packaging.

@PinkDaydreams I also thought of The Blue Planet Aquarium in Ellesmere Port the other day but as DS1 is not bothered by the aquarium fish in the garden centre we probably won't try that this year. Let me know if you find any other decent localish places to go!

@prettygirlincrimsonrose, congratulations on your new baby!

@WeSearchedHereWeSearchedThere, that is an amazing igloo and tuff tray set up! I played a rhyming game with DS1 today, what rhymes with fox etc ? Seems to be good for listening and language skills and doesn't feel too forced.

Easter bonnet trilby complete!

Looks great!@MonkeyPuddle

@Chocolatetrifle I took son to blue planet for his first birthday but he wasnt bothered by it, in fact he fell asleep going through the shark tunnel!

@MonkeyPuddle

Easter bonnet trilby complete!

That's fab!! You have a lot more patience than me, I'm rubbish at crafts!

@monkeypuddlelooks great! Well done you

Has anyone spotted whether kids under 5 are included in the rule of six in England from next week? I thought I’d seen somewhere that they’re not, but I may have made that up... hoping to actually gasp socialise (tentatively...).

I hope they're not included but I don't think they've said. To be honest I'm getting so fed up now so I feel like I want to make the executive decision to not include them if others I'm seeing don't mind. It's gone on to long.

I think under fives aren’t included. However, I will not be including mine whatever the ruling is.

Thanks for the hat praise glad I did the glue gun bit without the assistance of DS!

I feel like we need to book a big country house for us all. Bring the kids, the fellas, wine, snacks and give ourselves a great big ‘cheers!!’

@MonkeyPuddle

I feel like we need to book a big country house for us all. Bring the kids, the fellas, wine, snacks and give ourselves a great big ‘cheers!!’

Oh that sounds like a bloody great idea.

OK is asleep! He finally managed a nap at 3.30!! I've been on about a million walks today. Stuff the rules, there was no way I was going to keep him from screaming the place down from overtiredness if kept at home and honestly I value my neighbours liking me more. So we've spent almost all day wandering parks, through the town centre and random backstreets.

I'm just cooking tea then my only plan for the evening is to make it upstairs before I crash into an unconscious pile.

*obviously I meant DS is asleep but to be honest my DH doesn't look like he's far behind.

Does anyone know if we are allowed to travel out of our area to see family in the garden please when the new rules start? I'm hoping so and also hoping that train travel is allowed

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/explainers-52530518

This is from the bbc.

@Same4Walls oh bless you, sounds like a tough day. Don’t blame you for going on a walk, it’s what I do with DD some days, did it last week and it took her an hour to drop off despite having just fed and she was rubbing her eyes!

@same4walls that sounds like a tough day! You've earned your collapsing in an exhausting pile!

I hope under 5s don't count, and I think the guidance is a hit blurry with travel isn't it ? It changes from "stay at home" to "stay local"? I think that's a bit open to interpretation.

I have no ds - video called him earlier and he excitedly proclaimed "mummy I'm having a sleepover right now!" And chattered about his day. I miss him! Remind me of that when he's being a terror tomorrow

@MonkeyPuddle

I feel like we need to book a big country house for us all. Bring the kids, the fellas, wine, snacks and give ourselves a great big ‘cheers!!’

Love this, but also up for ditching kids and fellas... I mean, the kids are my life, but I’m seriously considering booking myself a night away in the hotel up the road. One day of just being alone

@PinkDaydreams my understanding is that “stay at home” is being lifted, but the government “urge” us to stay local. So unless they actually issue any more legislation or guidance, that means it’s up to individual discretion.

@Same4Walls twice this week I’ve been in bed for 8pm. I feel much better for it!

Glad to see everyone is surviving.
Tough day today. Baby is sleeping dreadfully and DS is literally Taz. He is a crazy thing. He threw his pens on the floor today for the billionth time and I cried.

@ohtobeaseahorse you poor thing, we've all been there with the desperate crying, it's a horrible feeling. here's hoping tomorrow is better

@OhToBeASeahorse, that's a very hard day indeed, get some rest whilst you can and sleep hopefully and fingers crossed everyone will feel better tomorrow.

I can't believe its the anniversary of lockdown starting tomorrow, it gives me chills thinking about it. I remember watching Boris say only go out once a day to exercise and no mixing other than with your household and I just thought what on earth am I going to do when I get up tomorrow with a 13 week old and a 2.5 year old to entertain all by myself whilst DH works upstairs. I thought does Boris not know my toddler is a whirlwind who needs to go out more than once a day? Really wish I had this thread back then with everyone's ideas and support!

Fingers crossed we can start seeing more things open soon.

Hope everyone gets a good sleep.

OhToBeASeahorse sorry to here you had such a rough day too, here hoping today is a million times better.

meow1989* I hope DS enjoyed his sleep over.

Chocolatetrifle It blows my mind to think weve now been in this situation for a whole year! I try very hard not to think about how long it's all been going on though as it makes me increasingly miserable when I realise just how little of DS's life had been normal.

We're already having a much better dsy at this end as DS didn't wake up for the day ib the middle of the night . I've vowed today to moan less and to try not to do as many steps as my poor feet still ache. I hope everyone has a lovely sunny day.

Oh my goodness a year really is flown by! I think to me it feels like not as long because we were allowed out for that eat out to help out fiasco which yes I went out twice, then I saw family Christmas Eve , so that's made it feel like not as long. But flippin Eck we've all done so well, it's been bloody hard it really has!

Ok so stay local, hmmmm, yes that is going to be a difficult one to decifer

Well DD woke every half hour last night, I can only assume I was evil in my past life.

We've played with play doh this morning, put the shopping delivery away, played on scooters outside and I'm having my scheduled quiet time cup of tea. Probably the best thing I did was teach DS the meaning of a quiet cup of tea. DS wants to make gingerbread men and slime (separately) later

Argh, I’ve spent this morning so far trying to work out childcare. I was convinced I wouldn’t go back to work, but now I’m not sure. But apparently I have totally missed the boat, all the best places round here are full (I’m looking for September) and so I’m sifting through options that so far I’m really not too happy with. Feeling like a mummy failure this morning... also really resentful that this is inevitably my issue to solve not DH’s. He will say “we’ll do whatever you want” and think that’s being supportive (it is in a way, just not the way I want!).

Sorry, this is my safe whinge space...

We’re doing a little better on sleep. DS2 (8 months) is a bit of a pain in the evenings, but we’ve taken the side off the big cot bed, attached it to our bed, and he’s sleeping reasonably in there once I go to bed.

I killed two birds with one stone this morning, emptied all the random packets from the larder cupboard (half a pack of bulgar wheat that was best before July 2018 etc.), emptied them in to a tuff tray and got the diggers out. Kitchen floor is covered, but both kids loving it!

@Motherofmonsters I'm having my scheduled quiet time cup of tea. Probably the best thing I did was teach DS the meaning of a quiet cup of tea You are a genius!