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

@MonkeyPuddle sorry to hear it's been one of those days... hope you get a bit of time to yourself tonight and a bit more sleep tonight.

We all have 'those' days, I know I did on Tuesday when I couldn't even make the pancakes right and 3year old flooded the sink and kitchen floor whilst 'helping' to make drinks.

Hope everyone has some peace tonight and a good night.

Are we ditching the old thread now?

I fucking hate parenting today. The baby cries if she's awake. She's hardly ever awake but she just cries and won't be put down.
Toddler has behaved like a total brat all day and I've had a gutsful. I feel like she's pushed me to the edge.

I'm going to set up a tuff spot tomorrow to try and start afresh plus I'm going to do some scissor practice that was on the old thread.

@drumst1ck we've also removed the surrounding bits from the stickers

@DayBath we didn't get on with back pack reins but she liked the ones that just go round their wrists. She used to pretend to be a dog on a walk abs the reins were cheap as they sell them in Poundland. Not as safe as reins but better than none.

@MonkeyPuddle great news on the test

@EspressoExpresso you can use paint instead of food colouring.

Sorry to everyone who's finding it tought today, tomorrow is another day and all that

@footprintsintheslow I feel you. Determined to have a better day tomorrow. I’ve told DP I want to clean tomorrow, it’s like meditation to me, I want a full hour.

DP and DS are in the bath. Heard DP making a comment about it being time to get out so I’ve just took them up some ice cream to have in the bath and keep them in the bath for an extra 10 mins of peace for me.

DS fell in the river again today, it's like his special talent.

He has been a nightmare today to, he just wouldn't listen to me. I swear the dog follows instructions better sometimes.

We've played with the rice again today. I hid the peg puzzle pieces in it and he found them, he then filled in the puzzle board with rice to 'make ice'

DayBath the dog poo sounds like a bit of a nightmare. But poo aside, I would tend to put DS2 in the buggy if I want to actually go somewhere specific, and if I let him walk it's just wherever he wants to go really, that's the point of a walk for him after all, so I don't worry about having a particular aim. Except that it's annoying if it's cold and you're just standing still somewhere!

Thanks for the ideas everyone! We did manage a walk today, poo free for once but he managed to soak inside his wellies by finding a knee deep puddle, he was very pleased with himself. He did dart into the road again for a split second, it's a very quiet cul de sac but I think I just need permanent restraints on him now. I've been worried what people might think of me having him 'on a lead' as people are so critical of reigns but I really need to prioritise safety as he's such a wild one. I'll try your suggestion of a wrist one @footprintsintheslow.

I've remembered something else I used to do with DD, she loved silicone chocolate moulds. We had a tray with heart shapes and one with little squares. She would fill them up with play rice or water over and over again.

Oooh and fake washing up is always a good one. Stick just the bubbles from bubble bath in the bowl, minus the water. Kept her busy for ages on the kitchen floor while I did the real washing up!

If any of you have those crappy little rechargable hand vacuums you can cut up bits of paper for them to hoover up. We do it with our pretend Dyson that actually has real (although very weak) suction.

@MonkeyPuddle sounds like you've had a shit day too. My shit day has been followed by a shit evening.

I've got a headache from crying and I feel terrible. I've lost my rag with the toddler, rowed with the H and the baby has cried for hours this evening. I'm trying to get the sling to work for us but no luck so far. I video called my friend to get her advice and then couldn't stop crying and then H and I rowed in front of her (on the call) and I stormed off. What a shit show.

Tomorrow will be better and I've set up a simple tuff tray to try and start the day in a better way.

Wishing you a better day today footprintsintheslow. Nothing more stressful than a crying baby especially when you’re tired. You have given me so many great ideas I wish I could suggest something but just hoping everyone is in a better mood for you today!
Glad your test was negative MonkeyPuddle. The shower cap idea is genius PinkDaydreams. The only thing I can think to add to the 14/15 month old activities is DD used to love tearing paper, like tearing a magazine page once I had started a rip. Also unwrapping toys from paper and foil. I think I have posted it before but this blog post has some great 12-18 month ideas
chicklink.com/20-activities-for-a-toddler/
I am aiming for a super easy Friday. Maybe an indoor picnic & a daytime bath bomb bath for DD and fingers crossed a lot of napping for baby DS.

to all those who had horrible days yesterday. May today be better... and it's nearly the weekend (although that's somewhat more of the same for us here rather than a nice break ).

Hi everyone! Somehow lost the last thread. No idea. Hope you are all keeping well and surviving. He weather is finally getting out of Baltic freezing where I am! Yay!! I am looking forward to more garden days with some planting and water play. Although i have run out of ideas for how to keep my 2 year old (only starting to speak, a bit behind on her physical development so) occupied this morning. Anyone any ideas for something that doesnt involve painting?

It actually helps just reading that others ARE in the same boat, I always find baby/toddler years quite isolating anyway even without Covid. We were up at 5am like always, but the plus of that is youngest gets my sole attention having cuddles on the settee. Today the three year old is helping me in the garden and we’ll do “schoolwork” when her sister naps. For the toddler reprobate I’m making some cardboard treasure coins for her to put in and out of boxes, teacups and the till, she likes that. The wind is howling here so I don’t think we’ll get out which is a shame.

Sorry to hear so many of you are having a rough week, hopefully today is a better day.
I'll join in the moaning with a stifled yawn and some incoherent muttering about small child being in full on party mood at 2am....

It actually helps just reading that others ARE in the same boat

I'll also agree emphatically with this sentiment. Sometimes it's just nice and reassuring to know that it's not just me that feels like I'm failing miserably at parenting and all parented out before 7am.

@same4walls yours must have been partying with mine!

Not sure what our plan is yet, we've woken up late so DD's nap is going to be really late. DS randomly decided he wanted porridge for breakfast, he hasn't eaten it in 2 years so we made that together, he helped chop some fruit to put on to

Good morning hope everyone has a decent day.

Got the sofa cushions out on the floor and ball pit balls, tunnel and sensory scarves out for a living room adventure playground but 3 year old is trying out swear words on repeat so feel like a failure already.

Need to get a grip.

@Motherofmonsters we love porridge here. No we don't love it but we eat it everyday as I think if we've started with porridge and the rest of the day goes to the dogs all is not lost. I've started to soak it overnight so it can be made one handed with a screaming baby if necessary.

Here's to a better day today everyone. God speed.

yours must have been partying with mine!

I feel your pain, I hope yours had an enjoyable time at the moonlight party, I appologise for the lack of party bags.

Apparently I was most unreasonable for trying to spoil his fun and wanting him to go back to sleep. He got very cross at me for not understanding why 2am was a perfectly acceptable time to be awake.

Morning all.

@footprintsintheslow my love that sounds like an utter shitter, I hope that lovely tray is appreciated!

I didn’t know that there were party bags up for grabs —side eye at DD— but we saw a lot of the night. DS is at nursery today so it’s not as hard.

I can tell my standards of parenting have come down (several) levels since having DD. She’s currently sat in her bouncer chair watching a series of brightly coloured veg dance across the tv while I wait for the 30 mins while her meds kick in, I wouldn’t have let DS do it. But needs must. I’m also shovelling granola in.

I can tell my standards of parenting have come down (several) levels since having DD. She’s currently sat in her bouncer chair watching a series of brightly coloured veg dance across the tv while I wait for the 30 mins while her meds kick in, I wouldn’t have let DS do it. But needs must. I’m also shovelling granola in.

I don't even have the excuse of my parenting standards falling... DS who is about as far removed from being a precious first born as possible has been enamoured by the dancing fruit and veg since about 5 months old.

Are we all jinxed ?

DS woke up howling just before 7 this morning. Went in to see him and he's had a huge nosebleed. Blood everywhere, including over his teddy, who is now whizzing around in the washing-machine with all the bed linen.

@Same4Walls

I can tell my standards of parenting have come down (several) levels since having DD. She’s currently sat in her bouncer chair watching a series of brightly coloured veg dance across the tv while I wait for the 30 mins while her meds kick in, I wouldn’t have let DS do it. But needs must. I’m also shovelling granola in.

I don't even have the excuse of my parenting standards falling... DS who is about as far removed from being a precious first born as possible has been enamoured by the dancing fruit and veg since about 5 months old.

I plonk my 3 month old and 2 year old in front of cocomelon in the mornings while I do the wash up. I had a strict 'No TV before dinner' rule with DD1. I have no standards with DD2. Poor child is doing well if I remember she is there.

@Same4Walls

I can tell my standards of parenting have come down (several) levels since having DD. She’s currently sat in her bouncer chair watching a series of brightly coloured veg dance across the tv while I wait for the 30 mins while her meds kick in, I wouldn’t have let DS do it. But needs must. I’m also shovelling granola in.

I don't even have the excuse of my parenting standards falling... DS who is about as far removed from being a precious first born as possible has been enamoured by the dancing fruit and veg since about 5 months old.

I plonk my 3 month old and 2 year old in front of cocomelon in the mornings while I do the wash up. I had a strict 'No TV before dinner' rule with DD1. I have no standards with DD2. Poor child is doing well if I remember she is there.

@Same4Walls you are my type of parent!

@MessAllOver ah the poor love, that must have been a jolt to the system!

DD had taken to unlatching from my right nipple in the way that over excited puppies play with toys, by clamping down and tagging her head around. Fuuuuuun.

👋 Hi folks, can I join please? 3.5 year old DD and 6 month old DS. DD is thankfully in nursery 2 days a week (Mon and Tues) but other than that I’m in charge as DH is working from home. By Fridays I’m all out of energy and ideas. Oh and DS woke 8 times last night which was just the icing on the cake. We had some success here recently with cutting and sticking. She also seems to be enjoying jumping so we’ve been using clean microfibre cloths as stepping stones which is fun. I can really recommend the Usborne 100 piece puzzles which we got for a bargain from Amazon last year.

I’m trying not to do too much baking because I’m meant to be on a diet (hahahaha) but sometimes I just have to as it passes the time. We got some plastic knives for DD recently too which she likes helping me in the kitchen with.