Trapped toddler parents:"Where else can you post tuff tray pictures and moan about your husband?"

[PinkDaydreams]

Following on from the previous thread. Thanks @footprintsintheslow for the thread title inspiration 😁

@MonkeyPuddle that is good news! 🎉 hopefully the start of a new sleep routine for your little one!
Def don’t feel guilty! You couldn’t survive with so little sleep. We done the same technique when we wanted DD to go from co sleeping to her own cot. She adapted really well x

I’m glad it worked well for you too @BeHereNowx32 I honestly feel human again this morning! Helps that DP has taken both the kids out!
Have a good weekend lovely

@MonkeyPuddle, so glad you had a better night sleep, fantastic news. Warming the cot is a good idea , I did that a few times with DS1. I thought about putting one of your items of clothing over her sleeping bag so she has your scent even just until she settles. Obviously not ideal for safe sleeping etc but might help even for a few minutes whilst you see if she settles.

@PinkDaydreams today is definitely a new day. Hope you enjoyed your cakes. The Play-doh slime is £1.49 a tub so quite reasonable.

Boys are currently playing with this dartboard that has velcro balls, it was only £5 and is proving to he a success.

@Chocolatetrifle where do you buy the tubs from please? I can see multi packs on Amazon and Argos but I my want a couple to try. Also read that the consistency of the gold silver and red is very watery so wanted to avoid those colours.

@PinkDaydreams, I got single tubs from co-op. We have a big store near by and they sell books and toys which is handy. I got green and blue. Found some in my hair before though!

[quote Chocolatetrifle]@PinkDaydreams, I got single tubs from co-op. We have a big store near by and they sell books and toys which is handy. I got green and blue. Found some in my hair before though![/quote]
I'd never of thought of co op, thank you! Oh no, slimey hair doesn't sound good, nearly as bad as when I found brown playdoh on my bum! I'd been walking round all day with it and hadn't realised 🤦🏻‍♀️

Ds 23 months, has decided he has not napping doing the day much now so is quite tried by bedtime and the last two nights gas been a lot easier to get him to sleep, we are also dummy free.

Posted occasionally on the previous threads and just caught up with this one. Had a pretty rubbish afternoon. Plan for today was walk and seeing SIL. But DH had his first jab yesterday and has been in bed all day feeling rubbish. Should have probably taken DS (3) and DD (7 weeks) out but had stressful time yesterday at the park getting DS to go back to the car so just put on a film. Snapped at DS for pushing me and DD has been screaming loads. On the plus side managed to make some fairy cakes to eat this evening. But generally 'Aaaargh'. I'm so rubbish with DS, just can't seem to be the mum he needs.

Hope you have another reasonable night @MonkeyPuddle and enjoyed your quiet time this morning.

@PinkDaydreams, that's funny with the brown Play-doh bum. Hope you've had a better day today.

My DS1 has been a bit crazy these last few days, and I think I've just clocked why, your post about the baking Prettygirlincrimsonrose has jogged my memory. We made some cakies on Thursday morning and he was trying to eat sugar straight from the bag, I'm sure he ate a mouthful before I could swipe the bag. I definitely need to keep him off sugar because it turns him into crazy boy. Does anyone else find this? He's 3.6.

@prettygirlincrimsonrose, 3 is such a hard age! I'm with you. Plus you have a 7 week old too, (my DS2 is nearly 17 months). Just do what you need to do, a film is fine, try not to worry. It's hard getting them both out, especially if 3 year old is playing up. Mine definitely has ears but refuses to listen to a word I say sometimes We are here to listen. You are definitely all the mum he needs.

Hope everyone has a decent night.

Thanks @Chocolatetrifle, just feel like we need more realistic expectations for him sometimes and I remember he is going to push boundaries and express his big emotions physically and get distracted and all the rest of it. And then the next minute I snap at him for doing it. Anyway, today's another day, which started with the story of the gingerbread man and DS bouncing around naked (when he's a oh so cool teenager I think these memories will help!)

And glad I've jogged your memory, hope the craziness calms down today. I think DS is naturally a bit on the crazy side so I haven't noticed a particular effect when he has more sweet things!

Hopefully doing park today (DS's requests for the day are pretty much always go to the waterfalls and throw stones) and rearranged trip to see SIL and see how much chaos he can create in her garden. What are everyone else's plans?

20 mins of halfhearted crying and she slept from 7:30 - 3:30 woke for a big feed and then slept again til 7am.
Fucking hell. It’s like having a different baby. I had a bit of a cry about it this morning, I think from the sheer relief. DP is back in bed with me, which brings added benefits
Thank you for letting me moan and winge about her sleep, it just takes over life when you’re so tired.

DP and me sat and watched a film last night. Laughed and joked with each other, we’ve not done that in ages as we’ve both been knackered. It was lovely. If she goes down well tonight we have dinner at the table planned followed by the games we bought each other for Christmas that we’ve not bothered to play. Can’t wait.

We found a small local funfair yesterday and it was AWESOME, about 5 rides the perfect size for DS, he was holding my hand in the queue and jumping with excitement. Fenced off so one entrance point, sanitizer on each ride, well spaced out, people counting the attendees, socially distanced queues, was really impressed. DS burned through £20, had an absolute blast and then spent an hour in the playground. One of the best days we’ve had in a long time.

@prettygirlincrimsonrose be a bit gentle with yourself, you’ve just had a baby! You are being the best mum to those two and don’t doubt it. I found going from one to two really hard going but I had to get DS out most days to the park, he’s like a dog, needs a good run around! I used to go later morning and take sandwiches and drinks in the baby bag, we would be there a good 3 hours, come home, plonk him in front the the telly. Scatter some toys out and then do tea. I found being outside was good for the both of us. It also meant that when DD napped in the pram I could do some 1-2-1 playing with DS so I felt I’d done my Mum Duty for the day in regards to giving him attention.

We’re off to my mums this afternoon, DP is off to the pub with some mates, both children are in their pj’s still, well, DS is just in pants. He’s currently perfecting his square eyes watching Paw bloody Patrol again.

Yesterday went well, they had a lovely day considering it wasn't what it was meant to be with the regulations. The kids had a great time, DS made friends with the photographer so hopefully I'll get a nice picture of him.

The family have all gone down to the peace but DD needs a nap so 'unfortunately' I have to stay home in the quiet by myself with a cup of tea.

Glad you're finally getting some sleep @monkeypuddle and are reconnecting with your DP. Everything is so hard when you don't get sleep. Sounds like a great day at the fair.

@MonkeyPuddle, that's fantastic news that you had such a good night, so pleased for you. Sleep is so important, when you get a good stretch it makes you feel you can do anything!

@Motherofmonsters, glad the wedding went well, bet it was lovely to have a change of scenery.

@prettygirlincrimsonrose, hope you've had a better day. Just remember your DD is still so tiny you are going through a lot and no doubt up all hours too. Try to be kind to yourself too. Getting through the day is all we all try to do!

We've had a quiet day really. It's turned so cold! Went to the park when the weather was brighter earlier and it was nice. Just pottered around for the rest of the day. Less crazy behaviour today (still some) so that's a win I think, see what tomorrow brings!

@MonkeyPuddle that sounds like such progress - well done! We are putting the cot up tomorrow and going to stop cosleeping. I dont want to, I love it, but we need some normality.

I know the weather has been crazy lately! We had hailstones a few days ago.

We were inspired by the thread asking for vegan fish and chip recommendations and spent the day of the seafront, had fish and chips, icecreams, a long scoot and played on the playground. Ran back to the car just as it started to rain, DC (and us!) were exhausted and are having early nights.

It was 75% fun 25% stressful (DS2 insisted on walking but kept trying to go either into the sea or the cycle lane)

@MonkeyPuddle glad the sleep is going so well, you must feel like a new woman!

@prettygirlincrimsonrose don't be too tough on yourself, 7 weeks is tiny still. Hope you had a nice time at the park, the waterfalls sound really fun!

@Motherofmonsters I love a good wedding, glad you have a lovely time. DP and I are planning on getting married but it’ll just be us, the kids and my mum and sister with us. We’ve both been married before and just want to get wed and go eat masses of Greek food at a local restaurant.

@OhToBeASeahorse get the cot up, kick tat baby out your bed and get some rest in your body. You can always message me if you wanna moan/exchange tips.

@Camomila beach sounds fab! I always worry about using the loo on days out like that!

Tomorrow DP and I are off to buy a new bed, we’ve got a squeaky metal frame and the mattress is shit now, it’s got a memory foam topper but it’s just not that comfy. Bensons for beds have a sale on and there’s a king sized divan with my name on it!!!

We've been lucky with toilets - the council reopened all the public toilets after the first lockdown in March 2020 and they've been open ever since.

We're all awake and watching tellytubbies/drinking coffee after our early night last night. Got a bit of a sore throat too but it's ok - we are off to DMs later so DH can concentrate on a work thing and I will sneak in a little rest while the DC are playing with the grandparents.

@Camomila oh I might have to investigate then! Though thought of having to have a wee in the North Sea was putting me off slightly!
DS’s grandma on his dads side (known as The Witch) away from the kids has a caravan on the coast that exDP takes DS to sometimes but they just end up going to the park on the site so it seems pointless to me.

DD slept through the bloody night again, this time with no feed! I have no idea what’s happened in her little brain but something has clicked and it’s amazing. Now it might not last, but I’ve had three good sleeps and I feel like I can tackle anything!

DS is with his dad today so we’re off to order a new bed, I’m planting out my sweet peas, attempting to make a TeePee for DS to play in 😂

Have wonderful days ladies

Morning all, happy bank holiday.

It's raining, so we've had our usual rainy day trip to the shop. Got some treats. Tele is on, watching Andy and the band. He can do a lot that Andy guy.

Had the building blocks, magnetic tiles out and boys played happily for a while. I got some large pom poms so we were throwing and catching them into a basket. A bit of simple fun. Boys like to scream at each other though, it's so loud. DS2 is starting to use more new words and woke everyone up shouting 'hiya'.

Have got a new water and sand table for outdoors but it's too wet today to use. Perhaps tomorrow.

That's brilliant you've had another good night MonkeyPuddle. Hopefully now you've turned a corner.

Hope your sore throat gets better Camomila.

@MonkeyPuddle thank you! Cot is up.... gulp...

Those of you with a baby as well as a toddler, how do you manage a routine? When we sleep trained our son we followed a routine of up to an hour's nap somewhere between 8.30 and 10.30, then up to 2 hrs somewhere between 12.30 and 3.30 (then a 30 min at 5 when he needed it). But how I manage that and going anywhere is anybody's guess. With DS I could always make a drove longer but not sure he will be impressed with that!

I'm so behind but trying to get in on the chat now.
Re. Water and squash. I was a very strict water and milk only mum but dd has had reoccurring Irvine infections since December so I bought squash to up her fluid intake. I call it medicine squash and I give her a big well diluted glass of I think she hasn't drink enough on a particular day or if she hasn't had a poo.

Food: no regular snacks here really. If we are out it's a grazing picnic galore or of all the normal crap and yummies but at home it's three meals. She rarely asks for anything other than I offer. If she refuses to eat I quietly passive aggressively say ok darling that's fine and just take it away. That's normally enough to make her scream that she wants it back.

@MonkeyPuddle howS things since the Pnonics car park night?

@OhToBeASeahorse don't beat yourself up. Toddlers can be total bastards and push us to our absolute limits. I've lost my mind this week and screamed at my dd when she purposely woke the baby. I really shocked and scared her and cried on and off for the day after it as I was so shook up. She then went on a park date and was horrible to my friend son. I know I'd modelled aggressive behaviour and then she copied. I feel shit about it. But we can only learn and move on. Every day is a new day and we mustn't dwell on it.

My baby screams so much. She's so miserable often and I've had some really low points this week. Couldn't even be bothered to come on MN and moan. I feel
Better now. Christ parenting is hard!

@MonkeyPuddle not sure about the curriculum where you are but reception children are only required to begin to Mark
Make. And rhyming words is year 2 age 5-6.
Love the rainbow hair picture.

More catching up
From me later

Argh I'm back again. I'm feeding the baby and everytime I think she's asleep and sneak away she's screaming uncontrollably after a few minutes

Re: white noise.
I literally couldn't parent without it. I've got a free app and I've got a Hummie. Ewan hasn't worked for us. They are quite pricey new but I got it for £25 on marketplace. I've also bought a Rockit in desperation
this week.

Re: leaking nappies and changing beds. I read on here once to double make the bed. So waterproof sheet and normal sheet then waterproof sheet and normal sheet. That way when they leak in the night you just whip off the wet and dump it in the bath and the bed is already made.

@PinkDaydreams don't take one bit of notice about people and their budget comments. Fuck them!

@OhToBeASeahorse glad to hear you have accessed help.

@Camomila I'm renting too if it helps. Can't imagine when we'll buy a house. Basically all our parents will have to die first. Awful but true.

Right baby looks asleep. I'm off to cook a chickpea and spinach pie

@OhToBeASeahorse, it's so hard to manage baby nap and toddler. Think your DD is about 6 months, when my dS2 was that age, dS1 was 2.8, it was last June in the middle of lockdown. dS1 would have all naps in the pram, one early morning, one before or after lunch and one for half an hour about 3, if he'd had a before lunch sleep. I've never got him to sleep in the cot in the day so I'd just put his pram in the kitchen or inside the house if I was playing outside with DS2, but it was lockdown so we really didn't have any where to go! He dropped the third nap of the day a few months after that.

Totally appreciate it's different if you are trying to get DD to nap in her cot and keep DS quiet. My DS1 has deliberately woken DS2 by shouting at some points which is very very soul destroying. The only other thing I can think of is timing a nap for a return car journey home from somewhere.