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

So DD woke once however DS was running around his room playing with toys by the sounds of it at 3am, the cat woke me up to go outside around 4 and then the dog started barking as the cat started fighting outside. DD was then up for the day at 5.30. sometimes the animals are worse than the kids.

We're meeting my sister and her twins at the park this afternoon. We haven't played with coloured rice in a while so I might bring that out for a change this morning.

@Lostthetastefordahlias I am interested in starting loose parts play too. I see lots of lovely things, like Tinker trays on Instagram. But don’t know where to start with it all. I did buy similar peg figures from amazon (similar to grimms seven people and seven cups toy). It’s hidden in a cupboard somewhere 🙈

@Chocolatetrifle they all sounds like brilliant loose parts. I might start a collection like that.

We were out in the garden all day, and DD slept 4:20pm- 5:30am! Loving this bit of sun

That’s an insane amount of sleep BeHereNow! That sounds awesome. Hope you are not too tired MotherofMonsters., have fun with your sister! Thanks for the answers to the loose play question, I think I will put a box of bits together first rather than buying anything especially. We are going to try scrunching up bits of leftover tissue paper to make blossom pictures today (like the picture) - I suspect I will be much more interested than DD as usual .

Our little boy arrived speedily last night. Born at home with a very smooth home birth. DD seems fairly uninterested so far but we're settling in well! She's got some new happyland toys to keep her busy for the next little while. Hope everyone has a lovely day!

Congratulations @drumst!ck, glad it went smoothly. Enjoy your squishy baby cuddles

Great news drumst1ck! Congrats on your little boy, and best wishes for an easy and restful recovery!

Congratulations drumst1ck

I unintentionally do a sort of loose parts play with DS2, as basically anything of DS1s that isn't a choking hazard he is allowed to play with - mainly duplo and chunky puzzle pieces. He can't use either properly yet but likes exploring the pieces/having a go.

I bought this in lidl yesterday which might fit the bill. DS2 has played with it lots (and its aesthetically pleasing unlike most baby toys)

@drumst1ck congratulations!!!! Enjoy the squishy baby snuggles. Hope you’re recovering ok. Eat all the snacks, drink all the drinks and get your other half to take aaallll the photos (and do all the nappies!)

We have some small parts toys, some little wooden rings, coins, peg people, DS plays with them sporadically, but he would much rather play with a toy like a fire engine, it seems to spark his imagination better.

I’ve had a tray with some rice crispies and the diggers out on the dining table for a couple of days and DS is LOVING it, edible playtime’s, what’s not to love.

DS was asking to go to the park at 6:30 this morning. We’ll be going once DD wakes up from her nap, taking sarnies and a bank loan to get a 99 from the ice cream van. I need my second coffee to kick in before I can face the park again.

We’ve got one of those bath bench things, that you rest wine on in the bath, brought it downstairs rested it on the buffet and the sofa and DS played with his cars on it for about an hour. He’s into rescuing games at the minute, he got bored half way through so I brought some teddies down for new rescues which helped keep him occupied.

We did bubble painting the other day, nice little activity, less messy than normal painting so it’s a winner for me.
Going to get DS to help me more in the kitchen I think, we’re having sausages for tea so he can prick them.

We’re currently watching telletubbies, DD is asleep on me with my boob hanging out and DS is like a limpet to my side.

@drumst1ck, ahh, congratulations on your little boy, so glad he is here safely and you are well

We have had little trip to a small library this morning which was a nice change and a playground visit. Ds1 is playing with the propeller and DS2 is playing with pom poms, we are gluing them onto card to turn them into caterpillars.

@drumst1ck congrats! Xx

Oh that reminds me we need to join the library now it’s opened since we moved house. I love the library, I used to take DS to rhyme time when he was a baby, I wonder if they’ll have one running again soon.

We had a lovely 3 hours at the park, sun was shining, loads of kids just playing nicely. DS is now knackered so I’m letting him watch an Octonauts film on Netflix, he absolutely loves it. I’ve bought him one of the kids BBC magazines which I will get out tactically at some point today. But for now, the house is peaceful.

Tried to get DS1 a haircut, completely impossible! Queues everywhere. Think will wait another week or so before attempting that again, probably will just phone up and book. Anyway, ended up in another library, seems that the theme is you can only browse for 15 minutes.

Then ended up in Spar shop and bought, wait for it...a light up yo-yo for £2.99! Loving these retro toys that seem to be out at the moment .

I take it all back.
DS is being whiny as fuuuuuck.
DD is projectile vomiting. She’s soaked through 4 changes of clothes since 2pm. Reflux/teething thing I think.
And to add insult to injury today is a no carbs day. Ugh.

@drumst1ck huge congratulations to you what wonderful news. Send a photo of you like we'd all love to see him...even just a baby foot or hand!!!

@MonkeyPuddle what's bubble painting?

Ahhh loose parts play or as we teachers call it, the random crap stuff. I keep a box of random crap including: acorns, conkers, rice, buttons, beads, corks, cotton reels, and put it out every now any again. It's good for tipping and pouring and sorting.

@drumst1ck fantastic news, massive congratulations from the pink household!

@MonkeyPuddle, oh no, poor DD, hope she is a bit better now and more settled?

Ah congratulations @drumst1ck - enjoy the newborn snuggles xx

Hope everyone is having a good day. It's sunny here so we're off to the gardens with a friend's, hopefully I won't lose DS this time. I have no idea what to dress us in as its hot but I don't trust it to not suddenly go freezing.

Hope everyone is well! I haven't posted for a while since overwhelmed with work and life stuff - going to catch up on this thread later.

@drumst1ck. Big congratulations! That is great news.

How is everyone making the most of their newfound freedoms? We are going to a little children's zoo near us tomorrow with a friend and then having two friends over in the garden next week for a messy play session.

Two of my friends have told me they are pregnant today. So many twinges but I definitely (probably maybe) think we should stick with two.

Managed to not lose DS but he fell over and grazed both his elbows and knees. Had a good time though, I must have tried him out as he went to bed with zero fuss. As did DD but she's literally just started crying

Morning everyone, how is everyone?

Hope everyone has a good day planned? I seem to get to Thursday and run out of steam and ideas.

Currently got everything out from the cupboard under the stairs where all the toys are kept. It's a free for all. Ds1 is 'fixing' the hoover with the toy tool kit and DS2 has a feather duster out!

Sun is out so that's something for later.

@Motherofmonsters, I know what you mean, when you hear of a pregnancy or see a little newborn all fresh and cuddly it does make you think...that's nature I guess making us think that.

I have 3 frozen embyos from our ivf cycle in 2016. Our boys came themselves naturally, Ds1 2 months after a failed ivf cycle and DS2 came naturally 2 months after a failed frozen embyo attempt. My frozen embyos therefore give me a bit of a dilemma and I'm always thinking what to do...but practically the answer is different (I'm 41 this year). Sorry if tmi, just thinking aloud. Anyway, on with the entertainment for the day!

Morning all.

Better day here, well I’m in a better mood. DS hasn’t really been in the mood for anything this morning so is just playing with his cars on the floor. Got his gymnastics class and a haircut booked today. When I told him this morning he was ‘wow mummy, what a big day!’ He’s so used to doing not very much I think.

@Motherofmonsters I feel the baby ache pulling now add is almost 6mo. But then I give my head a wobble and dream of the days where I might get some sleep again. We’re co-sleeping which is something I didn’t want to do but DD will just wake hourly if I don’t.

I’ve got a KIT day on Saturday, spending my spare moments doing the elearning I need to do for it. Brain is melting.

We don’t really have any friends with young kids locally so im a bit jealous of the play dates. Hoping that will change when DS starts school. Tomorrow is allocation day I think.

I go back and forth on wanting DC3 too, on one hand I picture us with 3DC sitting around the table, on the other hand I might have hyperemesis again, and they are so expensive!

This years goal is improve careers + move house so I don't have to think about it immediately (we're 32 and 33 so have a bit of time)

tomorrow is allocation day I think Aah how exciting MonkeyPuddle

We're ok, DS2 is teething and snotty and has been calpoled and is napping on DH. DS1 has been allowed to watch people play video games on kids youtube (on the tv, I'm in the room too) because I needed to send a recruiter a cover letter this morning. Am finished now, drinking my coffee then we are all going to go out and enjoy the sunshine and our last couple of days of Easter Holidays/Annual Leave