Trapped toddler parents: support through winter and beyond

[squishymamma]

Following on from the previous thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4292353-Trapped-toddler-parents-Inspiration-and-support-needed-through-the-summer-hols

Not the most inventive name but apt I think...

Evening!

We're all okay, thanks for asking @Chocolatetrifle. DS1 and I are negative so far but obviously we're just waiting for the positive test!

Sounds like a bit of a day @Motherofmonsters. DS1 sounds a lot like your DD at the moment, it's pretty exhausting so don't be too hard on yourself!

I'm drained after today, went and got DS2's tongue tie clipped and he was obviously unhappy about it all because he screamed pretty much all afternoon. Gave him some Calpol and he was immediately happy, no idea how that happened because it takes a while for it to kick in

DS1 was very whiny and tired this evening, but I think it's because we've been giving him free rein on YouTube Kids as both of us are knackered - so he just sits and watches random videos (under supervision ofc) all evening. I always feel rubbish if I spend too much time on my phone so all being well the tablet is going to conveniently go missing tomorrow and we'll see if there's any change. Do you set boundaries with your DC?

Hope everyone has a peaceful and uneventful night

Hello everyone!
I seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth for the last week, so just having a read and catching up on everyone's news now.
Ds has settled well into nursery, and is even napping 1.5hrs now! However the germs have caught him already, so we had another violent sickness bug last week, and now he's stuffed full of cold and snotting everywhere, he's kindly passed it onto dh who is obviously now dying of man flu! Ds seems to be getting rid of it and doesn't have a temp this evening so he'll be getting shipped off back to nursery first thing!

@squishymamma oh I'm sorry to hear your dh has covid, maybe you'll be lucky and avoid it! Hope he isn't feeling too bad.

@motherofmonsters sounds like you've had a crap day, tis almost tomorrow though and I hope its better for you. I was actually thinking about you today as ds put a bloody fork into the washing machine, I then chucked a load of sheets in, it only ripped one sheet but had to be the superking one and the rubber seal has gone! Very annoying especially after sickness when everything needs washing.

Hope everyone else is good!

Oh god @Motherofmonsters dog sick is not what you need after a testing day! Hope everyone feels better, seems to be a horrible time for illnesses. DD was up half the night with a high temperature and lo and behold has tested positive for covid this morning. Nursery said we could still send Ds (he tested negative) but his keyworker is v pregnant so I felt too bad to send him. I am anxious about us all getting it and also a bit disappointed I’ve had to miss work already on only my second week back but what can you do. DH is wfh at least to help out. And I am going to do an Ocado order to cheer myself up got to use those tastbuds while they are still functioning!
Really glad your ds has settled despite the illnesses @Scotabroad24. How is work or have you not started yet?
Hope your DH & you all are ok @squishymamma. Our screen time rules vary so much depending on how exhausted we are feeling!! Not much help!!

@Lostthetastefordahlias, oh love I'm sorry to hear that about your DD. How is she now? Hope she gets better soon. Hope you got yourself plenty of treats on your Ocado order.

@Scotabroad24, glad your DS has settled into nursery and it's great he's napping there. It is indeed awful though the amount of bugs that get brought home when they first start.

We've been making a volcano this week and finally got some food colouring so we could let it erupt! Think will go to the library this afternoon.

@squishymamma it's easier to be a bit stricter with the Tele rather than a tablet which they are scrolling themselves. Perhaps just say to DS you can watch 2 (or 10) programmes, depending on how you feel at the time. I'm a bit useless in that I put it on to suit me a lot of the time.

Hi everyone, I've just found this thread and have been reading through it, though not all of it as it's quite long. I have a 20 month old DD and everything feels like wading through mud. When she's in a good mood it's great, but there are days when everything is met with whining/wailing/going floppy on the floor and screaming. We've had ongoing colds for the past month...possibly more than one cold, one after the other. My back always hurts from lifting her up and down or putting her down in the cot. And I feel chronically tired...she sleeps fine, so I can't even complain of lack of sleep...but even after 8 hours of sleep I wake up tired. Then am tired all day and often fall asleep on the sofa after dinner. Is this normal?? I take multivitamins in case it's a vitamin deficiency but no difference!

Hi Everyone,

Today I've spent 4 hours in minor injuries as DS broke his collar bone at school 😩. Another child ran into him in the playground and he landed funny. He's okay just really sad he can't use his arm and crash about.

Welcome @ChocolateDigestivesMmmm. My DD is much the same at the minute, it's very very frustrating and tiring.

I love your volcano @chocolatetrifle, I've been threatening to make one for a year. How did you start it off?

Sorry your DD is feeling poorly @lostthetastefordahilas hopefully you will avoid it

@Motherofmonsters oh no your poor DS, is he in a lot of pain? Hope you are ok too, it shakes you up when something like that happens. Hope your DS can get to sleep.

Re: the volcano , it's just a toilet roll glued onto the paper, it needed to be card really, and then we just scrunched newspaper and dripped glue all over it and some wet newspaper and painted with paint stick when dry. It's messy when you do erupt it , should have gone in a bowl or the tuff try perhaps.

Welcome @ChocolateDigestivesMmmm . Whining, moaning, tantrumming? Yep, know all about that here with 2 and 4 year old, oh and 45 year old DH .

He was in a bit of pain yesterday but had a bad night. He was up lots crying, not able to get comfy. He finally went to sleep properly at 2 and now I'm not sure whether to wake him up normal time so he sleeps tonight or let him sleep in and have a late bedtime tonight. He was so upset in the night about not being able to go to school or the park. I'm hoping it heals up quickly, he can't do his therapy either so it's going to be a tough couple of weeks. I will have to give making a volcano a go, I reckon it's an okay one handed activities.

Morning!

@Motherofmonsters oh so sorry to hear about DS. I'd let him sleep but that's just because my DS1 is so whiny when he's tired so I let him sleep as long as possible

Welcome @ChocolateDigestivesMmmm, nice to have you with us! I am also in the same boat, DS1 is turning 2 next week and he's exhausting. Both DH and I are permanently tired and my bedtime is about 9pm we're here to support!

Fab volcano @Chocolatetrifle, storing that one in my memory for a rainy day!

Hope you're all doing okay @Lostthetastefordahlias, everyone I know who's had it hasn't had bad symptoms and maybe it's better to be done with it since we're probably all going to get it at some point...DS1 has started coughing today so I'm debating whether to test him again or not. It's not compulsory any more here for small children. Hope you enjoy your treats you should definitely have ordered

@Scotabroad24 ugh bugs are the worst. Closely followed by man flu, how on earth is it so bad they have to stay in bed all day? My DH does a show of "trying to help out" before inevitably ending up on the couch making comments about how wonderful I am to be doing everything hope you all feel better.

DS1 is home today because we have an appointment at lunchtime to get passports for both DC, it's been a nightmare because the entire Norwegian population wants a passport now everything is opening up and you have to get a police appointment for it, so there have been no appointments and we're supposed to be coming to the UK in May. But yesterday I checked for the 100th time and in the neighbouring district they had one appointment which was today - so we grabbed it it's such a problem, it was the main story on the news last night...

Anyway that was completely not toddler related at all DS1 is currently eating Cheerios and watching TV, I'm still not dressed so should probably do that then see if we can get him outside for a bit before the appointment.

Hope everyone has a good day!

Morning everyone, how is everyone and the DC's with covid this morning?

My dS2 decided that 5.20 was the perfect time to get up today , so he's now settled down for a nap. I have just over an hour until I need to get to collect DS1 so I can either get the laptop out and do some work or sit and stare in to space for a bit then close my eyes....

This morning, after dropping DS1 off we just nipped to the bakery and have played with the dollies and did some orchard games.

@squishymamma, hope your appointment goes well and you can get the passports sorted.

@Motherofmonsters, that's terrible, do you just have to give calpol and/or ibuprofen to manage his pain. How long will he be off school? You will be worn out too. Hope you get through the day ok. Just do what you can, telly and treats.

Hope you get your passports sorted @squishymamma.

What did you decide on @chocolatetrifle, I think I would have gone for the nap choice.

They've just said to give him Calpol and keep it in a sling. He's refusing both...
My SIL works in a hospital so she's going to bring a different sling later to see if he'll use that.

He seems fine, other than only using one hand. I've had a message from his teachers, a phone call from the head teacher and his class made him a get well soon video which was very cute.

@Motherofmonsters, how is your DS today? Did he sleep better last night? That's lovely that his class sent him a nice video message. How are you? Yes, I went fir the sit down /eyes close option.

Both my boys have colds, you know when the wet bogeys are dropping out of their noses, yuk. Makes me feel sick.

Not much to report from here. I've debuted the tuff tray yesterday and it's going down well. So far I've put some blocks on for tower building and a counting bears game.

Any ideas are definitely welcome!

How is everyone today? How are the DC's and DH's with covid?

Happy Friday everyone!

@motherofmonsters, how awful for your poor ds (and you!) How is he today? Hope he has painkillers stronger than paracetamol and ibuprofen!

@lostthetastefordahlias how is your dd? I havent started work properly yet, monday is my first proper day! Getting nervous about it now that the nursery nerves have gone, always something to stress about isn't there!

@squishymamma hope you get passports sorted! How exciting that you'll get to come back to UK this year, I bet its been a while!

@chocolatedigestivesmmmm I feel your pain on the colds front. Ds has just started nursery a couple of weeks ago and I swear there hasn't been a day where he hasn't been full of snot. Luckily I've avoided it but as per previous post my dh has caught the cold and its the end of the world!

@chocolatetrifle can I come and play at your house? Your crafts and tuff tray look excellent!

Not much to report here, its my last full weekend with ds before I start work, so we are going to the next town where there's an amazing playpark that he loves, and gps are coming over tomorrow. Also have to find time to make/buy costumes for nursery next week as its almost carnaval time!
Hope everyone has a good weekend!

I hope you are ok @Motherofmonsters - poor little DS and it’s so difficult to look after them when they are unsettled or in pain isn't it. I hope he is more comfortable today.
Things have gone from bad to worse here. Dd is thank god fine and back to her usual high energy self, but me & DH both have it and we both feel fluey with it. So its a struggle! 1 yr old DS has a really bad cold but has tested negative so far, just whinging constantly. I just really want to go to bed in peace and quiet with an ice pack on my head. Forgot how restless the dc get when you're in all day, and how long the days are!!

Great volcano @Chocolatetrifle. I totally agree on the snot its disgusting. DS always gets it all over his dummy (bleurgh).
Welcome @ChocolateDigestivesMmmm. I can completely sympathise with the frustration and exhaustion of the 1-2 stage. Its awful but I cant wait for DS to be a bit older! I love the baby stage and from 2 + but I struggle with the inbetween bit! Shouldn't say that. However I would maybe try to see your Gp if you still feel so tired after 8hrs sleep - I am wondering about an iron deficiency maybe, that was how I felt when I was anaemic? I took iron supplements and changed my diet & it was like a weight being lifted. Hope you are having an ok day today.

I would definitely hold s playdate for us all of I could @Scotabroad24 . Try not to worry too much about next week, easier said than done sometimes I know though.

@Lostthetastefordahlias, oh no! Really sorry to hear you and DH are both poorly together, that really is pants. Do you have an appetite? Just put some easy toys out and the Tele on and lie on the couch then take it in turns to go to bed. Hope you feel better soon and you can get through the day. Thinking of you x

Thanks @Chocolatetrifle - I haven't lost my sense of taste (yet) so am currently on the couch eating all the fruit I usually save for the DCs and thanking the heavens for Paw Patrol

DS1 is in his captain America costume and dS2 is in a batman costume and ds2 has today started making cat meow sounds at me when he wants me! What on earth?

Hope everyone is ok what with the storm.

Hi everyone,

DS is doing okay in the sense that he doesn't seem to be in any pain and is up bouncing around.

His behaviour however has been absolutely awful, hitting, shouting, just running around not listening. He's totally unregulated and I don't know how to get him back with his arm out of use. I've messaged his therapists but had no answer so think I'm on my own. PIL did take them outside in the garden for an hour so I could pick up a bit but other than that it's been relentless. I'm not sure I'm going to be in one piece after 6 weeks of this.

Sorry your feeling rubbish @lostthetastefordahlias Its such a mission when both adults are ill.

There must be something about cat noises @chocolatetrifle as DS is quite partial to them as well. Sounds like fun at yours with them dressed up.

DS is still wide awake, how? DD was up at 5, this is too many hours of children in one go

@Motherofmonsters, totally hear you. Both mine were up at 5.15 this morning for reasons I cannot fathom and dS1 went to sleep at 8.45 last night. Tuff tray action is in full swing already with bits and bobs I left on it but it's just too damn early. They are both going to be whinging by 9 am saying they are tired.

Morning fellow tired ones,

@Motherofmonsters hope you got some sleep in the end. It must be hard for DS having only one arm, being out of routine...are there any aspects of his therapy that you can do? Just to get him a bit back into a routine? Thinking of you!

@Chocolatetrifle is the tuff tray everything you hoped it would be? I'm so jealous! My DM has bought DS1 4.5kg of kinetic sand for his birthday so I should maybe find something similar for that...

@Scotabroad24 hope you enjoy your weekend. We just bought a cheap costume online for Carnival here, it's so flimsy but DS1 is so uninterested I didn't want to put in so much effort!

@Lostthetastefordahlias how are you feeling today? Hope you managed to get some rest.

Our passport appointment went well and they will be with us in the next 2 weeks, yay! Other than that, not much to report. Today we are having a family party for DS1 who turns 2 next week, no idea how time has flown so fast. I've hidden the tablet and done a toy clear out, planning to rotate them, and he's already been much better at playing and had more energy.

Best go start getting everything ready for the day, hope everyone has a good day!

Morning!

Ds went to sleep at 11am, DD woke up at 11am and I got in bed at 3am. DS woke up at 6. DH is working all day so it's going to be a looong one.

I'm glad you got your passports sorted @squishymamma. Hope your party goes well and you all have a lovely day.

Well done for being organised with your tuff tray this morning @chocolatetrifle