Trapped toddler parents: puddlesuits splashing towards spring

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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

Urgh I've been stuck in DDs room all night, she just wouldn't go into a deep sleep. My knee cracked at one point and it woke her. I think I'm being punished for her sleeping so well on sat.

Oooh I’m glad we had a bunch of nice days yeaterday.
My 80 year old next door neighbour had a full day of garden visits from various relatives, it was lovely to see.

@Motherofmonsters it’s just a blip, you’ve had better nights and will have them again. I had the audacity to cough last night, DD was not impressed, terrible parent that I am.

Have sent both kids downstairs with DP, DD was up hourly expect for a block of sleep between 3-6am. DP is WFH so I’m going to sleep til 8:30 and take over for the day

Busy morning in the sun today, brought the ball pit out and books and DD was very happy. Struggling to get her to drink more than normal though, worrying about her getting dehydrated! Anyone else have this issue with toddlers refusing to drink?

@drumst1ck yes DS is awful! This afternoon I'm going to set him up a tea making station in the garden (fruit tea) and he drinks that quite well

DS can be a bugger to get to drink, I’ve bought some plastic picnic glasses and wine glasses to use in the garden over summer, hoping the novelty factor will help. Last summer he was about 80% ice pop by 3pm mind you.

We’ve put the tuff tray on the grass and put some water in to make a giant bird bath, our garden backs onto some woods so it’s proving very popular with the birds.

We’ve come inside now, we were at the park all morning and then into the garden, he’s knackered and DD needs to snooze.

Back from park, had stand off with 3 year old who insisted he opened the car door himself to get in, which of course he couldn't. I helped him which resulted in him screaming 'I want to do it myself' . Argh. Had to wrestle him in.

Home now and he wants me to blow up paddling pools! Thought it was supposed to be easier in nice weather .

It's great though having some sunshine, although ironically both DS's are still wet and muddy! They both gravitate to the outdoor tap!

Hope everyone is having a good day.

I agree with the novelty cup/ beaker. A new cup always made my D1 drink more.

Novelty cups on the shopping list then, thanks!

Love the giant bird bath @MonkeyPuddle. We have some lovely little birds (couldn't tell you what they are...) nesting at the bottom of the garden which would love that.

Took DD to visit some family friends in the garden this afternoon. She was terrified of them and stuck to me like a limpet, poor thing. Think this socialisation stuff might take some getting used to! She's exhausted now from a lot of sun a new faces so sofa cuddles and Peppa until tea.

Calpol plug in is on, vapour rub everywhere, saline spray up the nose and some calpol. If this doesn't work nothing will.

Sounds like lots of fun in the garden has happened today. It was my grans funeral so they were at Nanny's for the day. I got to have tea, cake and uninterrupted adult conversation which was nice, shame it had to be for this occasion though

@Motherofmonsters I’m sorry about your gran. Tell us about her? If you want to obviously. Don’t if it’s too much.

Both my kids have had danger naps. DS reckons he’s hungry and is seeing tentacles. Go to bloody sleep.

@Motherofmonsters sport to hear of your loss, what was she like?we've been to a garden birthday 🎉 play date which as very exciting. I was a bit worried that my toddler didn't really mix that well and wouldn't conform. So wouldn't eat when the others were gone wrong etc. Nothing major to speak of just little niggling thoughts that she wants like the others. Hopefully that's just lockdown and not socialising. Their birthday is tomorrow so maybe she's just off then scale with excitement.

Found these online if anyone needs them! Always ready for new ideas.

@footprintsintheslow I think they all have to relearn how to socialise, it’s all new again, and they had your legs to hide behind to help them feel strong and safe, that’s a good thing. Hope she has a fabulous birthday with all the love, toys and sugar x

**Motherofmonsters, sorry to hear that today was your gran's funeral. Hope you managed to get through the day. Hope you manage to get a bit more sleep tonight and DD feels better. The calpol plug in is a great thing.

**MonkeyPuddle, hope you get some sleep tonight too.

**Footprintsintheslow, try not to worry too much about your DD. Is it your DD's birthday tomorrow? Hope you have a great day.

Both DS's seem satisfied with the fresh air and so much outside time today and have conked out.

Hope everyone gets some peace tonight.

Ooh and this. This is right up DS’s street. Not sure he understands or is thinking particularly deep but he’s all about favourite things at the minute.

@MonkeyPuddle, some fab ideas there , particularly the Easter egg eating den, if I have read that correctly? Love the idea of hiding under the table and eating an egg, think I will try that myself!

I absolutely read it as Easter egg eating den 😂 bloody hell, if ever a bunch of women needed to eat chocolate in a dark hole!!

@MonkeyPuddle, I'll be first in the queue to make that den!

@Chocolatetrifle I’ll bring the choc and the wine, we just need to sort babysitters

@MonkeyPuddle sounds fab! Hurrah for the Easter egg eating den, the answer to all our prayers at the moment!

I think the next thing we all deserve is a night in a spa hotel minus kids and husbands/partners!

Motherofmonsters sorry about your gran, I hope the funwrawas as nice as it could be given the circumstances. I bet she would have been pleased you enjoyed the cake and company.

footprintsintheslow hopefully it's just the excitement, I think even many adults will struggle to properly socialise. Especially as we all have literally fuck all to make small talk about.

Chocolatetrifle an Easter egg eating den sounds fantastic is there room for a littlw one. I'll leave DS at home .

We've had yet another park day and today we got the car washed which was a thrilling highlight. Ds is becoming a proper daddies boy and now cries everytime he leaves the room, so that's fun.

*funeral was (damn fat fingers)

@Motherofmonsters so sorry for your loss

It sounds like we all enjoyed the weather yesterday, I can't wait for the days to stay dry and be able to spend plenty of time outside.
I started a separate thread about a bike for my 3 year old, I'd appreciate some advice from you all please! Any suggestions? Is a balance back too small now for a 3.3 year old? He won't sit on ride on toys or scuttlebug, well just started sitting on a motorized motorbike but it's broken (my fault as I didn't know I had to charge it when not in use 🤦🏻‍♀️) so would like something to replace. Does such a thing as a bike with removable pedals that can be added at a later date exist please? Isla bikes look good but the rothan balance bike apparently only suitable up to age 3 from the review I've been reading.

Maybe look on fa

DS has a Carrera coast balance bike, he got it just before he turned 3 and his cousin has one that he's still using at 5.

...

Had some progress last night, DD did a 5hour stretch and then 2 wake ups. Started the day at 6.30.

Last day of Preschool for DS before Easter. Got some housework to do and then might go out in the garden with DD. I've got some sad flowers so we might make potions

Oops got cut off there, I was going to suggest looking on facebook selling for a balance bike, then if he outgrows it quickly you won't have spent too much money.
DS1 never liked his balance bike so got a normal bike with stabilizers for his 3rd birthday. We took the stabilizers off at 4.5.

I'm now on annual leave for 2 weeks Going to spend today moving all my books to somewhere DS2 can't pull them off the shelf. Have got the toddler slide out but the back of the sofa is still much more fun to climb sadly for me