Trapped toddler parents: Inspiration and support needed through the summer hols!!

[PinkDaydreams]

Following on from the previous trapped toddler thread!
Sorry for rubbish title!

We have this threading game here which DS2 loves @squishymamma, your DS might like something like this too. It's ok for that age group.

Here it is:

That looks like a good threading toy @Chocolatetrifle! We have one that gets used a lot but it is not so cute. Our nature reserve trip was good thanks despite the drizzle. They do a very low key class that I can manage with both my 3yr old and 1yr old. And we had an actually quite relaxing lunch in the cafe after!! Not the norm at all . The baker ross catalog is super tempting. Going to get some wooden lanterns for DD to paint & put an electric tea light in.
Just broke DD’s bed slats when sitting down on her bed to put DS to sleep for his nap (quite heavily admittedly as was holding DS, his bottle, his dummy, his blanket and my kindle) need to work out how to fit some exercise into my days!

Just taken the boys to Smyth's toys, oh the stress! I'm literally sweating!

DS1 has just headbutted DS2 and DS2 has just headbutted the couch in response !

Oh my goodness DS will not stop crying, he's been going for 45 minutes inconsolably - we've tried literally everything, DH has now taken him out in his pram for a walk in the hopes the fresh air and change will help. Think he's just overtired and overstimulated, but he'll calm down for like 2 minutes and then it's back up to shrieking pitch. Send help!

Oh no @squishymama I'm hoping the fresh air has worked for you. It's so hard when they get that upset. Hopefully he's settling down and you can destress.

I'm hoping you have been able to destress as well @chocolatetrifle. You sound like you're having a bit of a day to.

I properly lost my cool with DS again. I'm meant to be teaching him emotional regulation and not reacting angrily but it turns out I can't regulate myself at all either. I've got a bit of the blind leading the blind situation going on.

We managed to get him to sleep in his pram but then he woke and began again when we tried to transfer him...so we brought the pram inside and rocked him in it until he fell asleep. Have left him with DH after we had a huge fallout over it so going to bed feeling a bit crap really.

@Chocolatetrifle thanks for the ideas, that threading thing looks really interesting. I'll see if they have something similar over here. Hope your DC calmed down eventually and you got a bit of a break.

@Motherofmonsters I feel like emotional regulation is one of the hardest things for anyone including us adults! But I also think it's good that they see we also have these big emotions and that we can acknowledge them and apologise for the way we react - so you're doing great hope you have a more relaxing evening.

@Lostthetastefordahlias sounds like a lovely day. Great idea with the lanterns. And I bet it wasn't just you sitting on the bed that broke it they get put under a lot of stress with all the bouncing and moving around! When to fit in healthy things like exercise is the eternal question, there are some mums who seem to have the perfect routine down...I am not one of them

Hope everyone has a peaceful night - I'm mentally preparing for another round of screaming when DH tries to transfer again. Wish us luck

How is everyone today?

I had another crappy night but I've realised today that DDs back molars are coming through so that might explain why.

I've done nothing today except snack and we watched frozen for the first time. Now quickly emptying yesterday's dishes from the dishwasher to feel like I've achieved

Not much to report from here today. Preschool and Asda trip and we have cleaned out our tortoise enclosure. Rumour has it DH is bringing in fish and chips, mushy peas and gravy for tea later hurrah. Boys have behaved today

@Motherofmonsters, I hope you have a better night tonight and you get some more rest. Those teeth are a pain indeed. Try not to worry about the emotional regulation. We are not robots, saints or Mary Poppins. You are teaching him so much and doing your best, that's all any of us can do.

@squishymamma, that sounds hard for last night. Did he settle and stay asleep in the end. I've done that before and took either out for literally anything to get to settle. Here it usually mean they are getting ill but I hope it's not the case for you. Is your DS feeling ok?

He's been fine today, we thought it might have been constipation but nursery say he's pooped there so no idea what it was. Meanwhile I have his cold now very excited for bedtime but also nervous in case we have a repeat of last night. DH pointed out that DS did this whenever he was in a development leap/learning something new when he was a little baby, and he does seem to be changing at the moment, so maybe it's that. I just want a rest

Glad to hear you had a relaxed day @Chocolatetrifle and I'm very jealous of the chippy tea, they don't exist here and I miss them so much!!

@Motherofmonsters glad you found an explanation for the sleeplessness, hope they don't take too long to come through. Also can't believe you've never seen Frozen before! What did you think?

It was okay not my favourite, I much prefer Tangled and Moana.

Glad he's feeling better @squishymama, fingers crossed for a proper nights sleep.

I'm very jealous of your fish and chips @chocolatetrifle. Glad they've behaved for you today

The laundry God has favoured me today, put a nappy in the wash and it didn't split apart! Just very very full

Yep, the chippy tea was delish.

@squishymamma, it could be the molars starting to give him trouble. How old is he now? 21 months? I had similar bedtime antics at that age, with ds2 a couple of months ago, namely refusing to go to bed until gone 9 and I'm sure that was a sleep regression so it could be that. Hopefully tonight was better? Did he settle? Hope you feel better soon.

@Motherofmonsters, oh my that was close. I've done that myself and it's the worse mess I've ever seen in my life.

Hope everyone gets some sleep tonight.

Oh, I've never watched Frozen either!

Frozen 2 is even better - DS1 does a fab rendition of "Into the unknown"

All ok here - just tired, DS2 keeps getting up around 5-5.30am since the clocks went back. Poor DH had to bang on the living room window for 5 mins to be let in last night after work (I put the kids to bed then fell asleep on the sofa with the key in the lock)

It's a miracle @Motherofmonsters! Haven't done that myself but I bet it's just a matter of time.

Yeah he's closing in on 20 months now @Chocolatetrifle so maybe it is yet another sleep regression...tonight he went down really easily and hasn't woken up yet which is almost unheard of. But if he follows his usual pattern every other night is terrible, so I'm not looking forward to tomorrow night

I haven't watched Frozen either, DD will not watch any films, they are all “scary” - just wants Bluey for the millionth time. I’m sure she is starting to sound a bit Australian.

Hope everyone had a good sleep - did DS go down ok @squishymamma? I remember how difficult it was being in your third trimester (I think you are?) with a toddler. At least once baby is here you get to sit & feed them a lot!
I am up before my two again! Bliss! Although DH is still asleep so thats maybe more blissful.
Can I ask, has anyone got any tips for getting 3yr olds to have a period of “quiet time” once they drop their nap? Whatever I do DD just doesn't seem to rest - have been trying to get her to sit down and look at books etc after lunch but it just hasn’t worked really.

Morning @Losthetastefordahlias I used to struggle with that too - DS1 didn't really like books or crafts. The wooden train set worked wonders though, I'd set him up a massive complicated track and he'd spend hours driving the trains around and chatting to himself about what they were delivering. If you haven't got a train track a really big village of small world people might work?

Has everyone started their Christmas shopping yet? DS1 is easy because he can tell me what he wants but DS2 is tricky because his answer to most things is "dinodor" or "cheese"

Morning everyone, so far today we have played with the Lego and then DS wanted to do crafting. He found a bag of feathers so I cut bird shapes out of card and they've been merrily gluing them on. Going to try and get out for a walk this afternoon when DH finishes work.

I haven't started yet as I haven't got any idea what to get them. DS literally wants everything he sees and DD has no idea what I'm on about. I usually find things on Facebook market place but there's nothing on there of interest either

This morning DS1 has gone to football class and I took DS2 to the playground near our house. This afternoon I am going out without any household members! It's my friend's birthday so I'm picking her up and we are going for lunch.

Going to get DS1 a little keyboard and some imaginext stuff for Christmas, little cars and puzzles. It's DS2'S birthday two weeks before Christmas. Got him a big toy farm and animals that I picked up reduced back in June plus a toy garage, cars and little bits for his birthday. Same really for Christmas, puzzles and superhero figures etc and an orchard game each, oh and they've both got a pretend till. They are both getting new scooters too as DS1 has outgrown his and it is all battered. He was trying out the NERF one in Smyths the other day but I'm not ready for anything like that yet! Plus he's not old enough luckily.

Does anyone do a Christmas Eve box? They are all the go now aren't they?

How is everyone today and how is everyone feeling? Did you get decent sleep? For once my boys slept until 6.30 so I feel like I've had a lie in. Off to clean upstairs now before going out. This afternoon DH is in control with his mum and I'm totally going to enjoy leaving them to it!

@Lostthetastefordahlias, my dS2 still naps luckily but he's only 2 next month. DS1 however does not understand quiet time and I can't do anything to make it quiet. He might sit and watch a quiet-ish
programme for a bit but that's it. There's not much quiet time here, just two boys who go more crazy the more tired they are.

Something practical seems to calm DS1 better than sitting and reading sometimes. It's hard though I find when they just don't stop.

Does anyone do a Christmas Eve box? They are all the go now aren't they?

No, but i've done my own take on it and wrap both DC up a new book on their pillows Christmas eve (I think it's a Scandinavian tradition to get get new books and read them Christmas eve, it sounded really nice).
We never had Christmas Eve boxes growing up but were always allowed to open one present when we got home from midnight mass.

Those sound like lovely presents @Chocolatetrifle I find it hard buying DS2 stuff as we've probably still got it from DS1. Seriously tempted to wrap him up a cheese platter (He would enjoy it, he ate so much cheese on holiday!)

I have a small wooden engraved crate that get out when the tree goes up and put the Christmas books in it. Christmas Eve we normally all have new PJ's, not matching ones though,just generic ones so theycan be worn throughout the year
DS has never understood Christmas, he's been singing songs the last few days but still doesn't understand so a box with chocolate/sweets in (which he doesnt eat) and other festive things will be lost on him. I think I'll get him a festive bath bomb for Xmas Eve though as he's just started to enjoy these.