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

Thank you for bike advice :) I'm now thinking a 3 wheel scooter instead as I think he's more likely to use this then get him a bike for his 4thbirthday when hopefully he will be more interested

Anyone else's house turn into an absolute sty when it's sunny?... Grass tramped all over the house, multiple changes of clothes everywhere, leftover picnic squished up, toys everywhere, 50 thousand cups and bottles lying around, suncream smeared on the sofa...it just seems never ending!

DD has spent most of the day with the paddling pool out, pouring to her hearts content. Added some washing up liquid and she rubbed bubbles all over the garden for a solid hour. Hope everyone has had a good day!

Been a lovely day here, I can highly recommend inviting other adults round, who are willing to play hide and seek for hours! They have a tween, who very sweetly played for ages with my 3 year old. Very strange to socialise again, albeit outside and distanced. My next step needs to be putting some shade in the garden, as I think 3 year old will live outside as soon as the weather is reliable.

Hope we’re all moving towards decent sleep. My little one (9months) has just discovered sleeping on his tummy, and as I predicted he now sleeps much better! Had a few nights where he would wake up on his tummy and scream because he scared himself, but now we seem to be past that.

@drumst1ck absolutely! Not sure why it should be the case, but the garden is full of detritus (cups, plates, chairs) and so is the house...

This sunshine makes me feel I'm winning at this mum game. We had an early morning buggy board walk and stopped at a local church to see their Easter display, then called at a local playground for a hour on the swings.

This afternoon was a trip to see the ducks and geese.

More garden play then. I got some of those little bats that have balls attached on elastic and they have been successful today.

Ice cream man visit too.

DS2 woke about 4 times last night and DS1 twice so hoping for a better night. Hoping all the fresh air will help.

@PinkDaydreams, glad you have sorted the scooter. I have no advice on the bikes as my 3 year old is not really interested in his bike, he's too big for the balance one, but is not that interested in sitting long enough on his bike with stabilisers to learn at the moment, he would rather run around!

Hope everyone has had some sunshine too and hope everyone has a decent sleep.

Evening all. @PinkDaydreams I’d definitely get one second hand, DS has never been interested in his, apparently it goes too fast, despite him travelling the grand sun of around four feet on it the entire time he’s had it. I’ll be getting him a bike with stabilisers for Christmas when he’s 4.5 I think.

DS was at nursery today so it was just me and the baby at home, chatted to next door over the fence most of the afternoon. DP went to argos and took DD with him, I sat on the garden bench and did a breathing meditation for half an hour and my god, it felt wonderful.

Tomorrow we will be making Easter cards for relatives. Going to do marble painting, but with a small ball as we don’t have any marbles and once dry cut egg shapes out and glue onto some cards. Spread the craft over two short activities that way.

Need to go and pick up a bath chair for DD (£2 on Facebook marketplace!) so will pop to the park near the pick up for a change of park scenery.

I’m glad we’ve all had better days, just shows what a little bit of sunshine can do for our mental health, that little spark of positivity.

I’ve come to bed, DD is sleeping on DP downstairs, I’m going to get off MN and read my book til 10, he’ll bring her up at midnight, she’s been all pukey again today (she had 5 outfit changes until I decided she could just stay in her nappy) and coupled with the heat she’s been in my boobs aaaaaalllllll day so a little time apart is a good thing.

Hi everyone!

Thank goodness for some sunshine.

We had a rough day on Monday and a better one yesterday. DS is just not listening to instructions and we went on a walk and he just refused to go back to the car. I had to physically drag him and me, him and the baby were in tears by the end.

On Tuesday I took.him to a farm - just the play area is open but its huge. DS had a great time but heavens he is so full on. He doesnt stop talking to people, wandering off, running away etc etc. DD cried everytime.i tried her in her pram so I was trying to get her to sleep in the sling. She did eventually for 30 mins. I was exhausted by the time we got home but he had a lovely time and she managed a nap so it's a win.

If I could.just get her to sleep in the cot it would be so much easier. I feel like I'm shortchanging DS so much.

Sounds like everyone had a lovely day yesterday, thank you sunshine!!
We walled down to the park that's further away, fed the ducks and squirrels, played in the playground then slowly walked home. After lunch it was a walk to the local playground then home for padding pool and running round the garden. DS fell asleep an hour earlier, must have been all the fresh air and running round

Can't see a repeat of yesterday happening today, it's very cloudy here and even some fog!

Everyone is sounding very active! My mum lives on the same road as us so we've been in her garden in the afternoons.

I was going to set up a potion tray again for both of them but they're playing really well so I don't want to disrupt their flow. DS has covered the dining room table with his fireman Sam playset and Playmobil. DD is pottering around looking at books and pulling bits out.

Morning all, sunshine was short lived I see! It's cold and cloudy now, boys have been fighting over bouncy balls in the garden and DS1 had mud all over his face and, hands and trousers before 8.15am. Garden is not as appealing today.

Been out on the buggy board walk to a local farm which whilst it's not open you buy some eggs and we managed to see a horse, pig and chicken through the fence so that was nice.

Hope everyone has a good day today.

Morning all. I'm so glad everyone has had a positive few days, it's amazing how much more optimistic and content the sunshine makes you feel.

Another one who has woken up to fog, cloud and cold grey weather. It will probably be another trip to the park today and possibly some playing in the garden depending on small monsters mood. Our days always seem very monotonous when it's dull and windy.

Well, I asked the postman this morning if he'd like to trade my post for a small boy......I think that sums up the mood for today!! seriously though, he's in a right strop, got to wait in for parcels though unfortunately as haven't been given time slots. Nipped to the shop this morning for bread and milk which DS was not happy about.

Cloudy, cold weather has hit here as well. DS currently playing with a monster truck in his kinetic sand, he’s refusing to get dressed this morning for some reason so is just in his pants, hey ho.

Going to give him an early lunch and head out to the park. Need to break a tenner so will let him choose something cheap in B&M.

I’m feeling a big bleugh this morning, think it’s a combo of vaccine side effects and DD not sleeping brilliantly. Ended up bring her into bed with me at 3am. Nothing lots of coffee won’t sort out though.

We’ve got DS Lego for his 4th birthday, a box of mixed pieces and then a couple of sets (fire engine, ice cream van) does anyone have any nifty storage ideas?

3 year old's strops is what makes me take both boys out by 8.30am for a walk now weather dependent, somehow it just calms him down. 15 month old has started temper tantrums too. Can't bear both screaming at the same time.

Not really a nifty but I just use large plastic storage boxes to put everything in.

We've got the sticker books out and the space projector torch which DS1 loves.

Our lego is just in a giant clear storage box with a lid. Ikea do special lego boxes now but I'm not sure they are worth the delivery fee. Can't wait till ikea reopens!

DS2 fell off the sofa today Luckily we have carpet, It's the only thing I like about carpets - the softness (we all have allergies)

Going to DMs with DS2 for lunch and to play in the garden, I have two job applications to do but I might sit in the shade to do them while DS2 and mum play.

I am loving the warmer weather. DS1 came home from school with a tan yesterday! Need to start suncreaming them again.

@Chocolatetrth
yes defo agree about getting them out! I've noticed if I don't take ds out by a certain time in the morning then he starts getting ratty.

@Camomila have you been blessed with the sun again today?! Good luck with your job applications, is it a complete change of career you're going for or same role but change of company?

Just popping my head in to say please wish me luck...We're about to embark on bedtime without dummies for the first time... Tonight is going to be a very very long night!

Good luck @Same4Walls! I’ve just managed to introduce a cuddly toy which DS is loving at bedtime, so next step is taking the dummy away. DH and I keep chickening out...

@WeSearchedHereWeSearchedThere

Good luck *@Same4Walls*! I’ve just managed to introduce a cuddly toy which DS is loving at bedtime, so next step is taking the dummy away. DH and I keep chickening out...

Thanks for the luck. He's obsessed with them but keeps biting through the teats so it's not safe for them to stay. If it wasn't for that I'd honestly be keeping them for as long as possible and definitely chickening out. He's already a shockingly bad sleeper so this is likely to tip him over the edge.

Good luck with no dummies! I haven't dared take it off DS yet, he only has it to sleep with, he doesn't have it during the day at all. I was planning on sending it off with father Christmas but he doesn't understand, speech delayed and ASD so I'm waiting a little longer until he can understand and communicate a bit more. Let us know how you get on and massive good luck!

@PinkDaydreams

Good luck with no dummies! I haven't dared take it off DS yet, he only has it to sleep with, he doesn't have it during the day at all. I was planning on sending it off with father Christmas but he doesn't understand, speech delayed and ASD so I'm waiting a little longer until he can understand and communicate a bit more. Let us know how you get on and massive good luck!

Thanks for the well wishes so far he's been chatting in bed and squealing occasionally for the past 30 minutes but nothing major and nothing to justify me going in yet....

In all fairness when I say obsessed, I might be slightly over egg exaggerating as he did only have them for naps and bedtime. However since he was tiny he's never settled without them to sleep and he definitely sees them as a signal that it's time to close his eyes and shut up for a while. I was totally hoping he would be able to be reasoned with when we took them away and am praying he doesn't discover his thumb as a replacement!

@Same4Walls, good luck for tonight. How is it going so far?

Both my DS's never had dummies beyond 6 weeks, they both spat them out. However, I milk fed my DS1 to sleep via bottle until he was about 2 and a half, because that was all I could to to get him asleep, then my Mum had a quiet word with me saying it was probably time to stop. I had to tell him his bottle had gone to another boy who needed it more. Surprisingly he was OK after 2 nights. No more bottles.

I am however repeating the same pattern with DS2....

Hope it all goes well for you tonight, if gets crossed and well done making the brave move.

*fingers crossed, that should say!

Good luck @same4walls, it's scary trying to do something different with sleep. It's why I put off attempting night weaning/not feeding to sleep for so long.

Good day here and no tears at bedtime although DD chattered away for ages but I just watched TV on my phone while I waited.

He's still not asleep but so far he has not screamed blue murder which is what we had anticipated... I'm hoping it's a positive omen but the realist in me suspects he's lulling me into a false sense of security.

We have had a lovely day thanks PinkDaydreams sunny but windy. DS2 walked to DMs local playground to play on the toddler climbing frame, and then my brother and his girlfriend came around to hang out in DMs garden. DH dropped over DS1 straight after school too for some garden socialising. Got picked at around 6 when it was getting cold. I think both DC will sleep well tonigh! I did sneak indoors to do my applications for a bit - similar roles to what I do now, but a bit more responsibility.

Good luck same4walls how did bedtime go for you?

Did anyone play any April Fools jokes? We told DH there was a "bad leak" under the sink, we put a leek under the sink with an angry face drawn in pen - DH found it as hilarious as DS1. I donated the leek to DM for soup afterwards.