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...

I know what you mean @Motherofmonsters, mine can be like that at 6.30 in the morning. It's hard being a referee all day. Hope you get some peace to yourself later.

Lots of love for IKEA here too! I see it as a massive home corner for the kids to play in whilst also being as near a romantic date venue as going to get these days.

We've been to the park today with the new dolly pram, it was a great hit.

I must say I'm done with family time with my husband now though. I'd very much like him to go back to work now.

Evening!

Welcome @pompomsgalore and @squishmycherry!

@VillageFete my DS1 is 22 months, so almost 2. He's a handful (though I think all of us would say this about their DC at times...)

Very kind of you all to be impressed with me hosting 3 days PP, to add context we live in Norway and so never have British Christmas dinner unless I make it. We'd planned and bought all the stuff and the turkey was defrosted so I thought why not?

However today I have woken up feeling totally rubbish, headache and achy back from lazy positioning when breastfeeding in the night. Still agony latching DS2 on so I'm gritting my teeth and using all the tricks to get it to go better, but that constant pain is also affecting me...so today we did absolutely nothing and it was wonderful.

@Motherofmonsters that's a really interesting jungle gym! If we had space I'd definitely get one.

@Camomila IKEA is amazing especially when child free. Hope you got what you wanted.

DS1 has been refusing to sleep for almost 2 hours now, we've been going in and singing and going out, rinse and repeat. Cannot wait to get our routine back...

Hope everyone has a good night!

@squishymamma do you have good breastfeeding support in Norway?

So ikea was a lovely fun date and we managed to get everything we wanted...but then about half an hour away from home the red "engine overheating" light went on...long story short we spent about an hour by the side of the road in the cold/dark and went home in a taxi with our shoe cabinet still in the car on the way to the garage
If we had had the kids with us it would have been super stressful but luckily it was just us so it was pretty funny/an adventure.

Sorry to hear about the painful latching @squishymamma, do they sell anything like lanolish in Norway?

Oh goodness @Camomila, glad you got the shoe cabinet you wanted but can't believe your car! How lucky the kids were not with you then, phew! Glad you got home eventually.

@squishymamma how are you today? Good luck with the latching, you are doing so well, you are only a few days post birth. Hope you are getting some rest.

This morning we've been out and back as it's pouring again. Just popped to town and the boys had a little go on the rides.

Hope everyone is ok today.

I'm very excited, for DHs birthday MIL got us a night away in a very nice hotel and we are actually going today. I've not been thinking about it because I was scared we were going to lockdown but it's going ahead! Just waiting for her to pick up the kids and I've dropped the dog off to my DM's.

Well done for already getting out the house and back @chocolatetrifle, I never get very far in the mornings.

Hope your okay @squishymamma, the latching is so hard at the start.

@Motherofmonsters that sounds like a wonderful present! Hope you have a fabulous night away, get lots of treats for you and DH, and have a lovely time.

Oh my gosh the dream @Motherofmonsters!! Me & DH have both been away separately but not together since we had DS 16 months ago - determined to do this soon! Hope you have a wonderful time.
Welcome back @pompomsgalore how old are your dc/s if you dont mind me asking?
We got stuck in traffic for 6 hours on the way back from PILs yesterday, Dd (3yrs) and ds were miraculously happy in the back watching their tablets but I am super glad to be home (to all the washing & unpacking & tidying) today.

Can I ask, has anyone gone from waiting in the room until their toddlers/ preschoolers go to sleep to leaving them to go to sleep by themselves and if so how did you do it?

@Lostthetastefordahlias, no, DS1 is 4, I still lie next to him/sit next to him until he falls asleep. dS2 still goes asleep on me with his milk. Actually tonight, he's just fallen asleep with his milk but before doing so sang a bit of Little Donkey himself . I just need to get DS1 asleep now.

I've never even attempted to let them go asleep by themselves yet. DS1 might just about do it but dS2 no way would and would just scream and scream, I guess some would call it attachment parenting, it's how I do it.

Obviously I had to wean DS1 from his bottle to go asleep (he was almost 3 when I did that ) and I really ought to start this with ds2.

Hello please can I join. I have a nearly 21 month old DS

Evening!

@Camomila what a drama, glad you got home okay. It's definitely less stressful and more amusing without kids!

Enjoy your night off @Motherofmonsters, sounds heavenly. Enjoy the breakfast too, that's my favourite part of the hotel experience

@Lostthetastefordahlias we technically leave DS1 to go to sleep on his own, but we have to go in and out many times and sing quite a few songs to get him to calm down enough. We also use Ewan the Sheep which he loves. So we take him into bed, sing a song, put Ewan on and leave. When he starts whining one of us goes in and sits with him, singing songs until he calms down. Or sometimes we just go in, get him to lie back down and put Ewan back on. We just repeat this until he falls asleep. Can take up to 2 hours sometimes...so not ideal. But sometimes he falls asleep immediately, so that's a positive.

Today was the last day my parents were here, DM looked after the kids while we went shopping which was heavenly (never thought pre-kids I'd say that about shopping...). DS1 has been in a great mood but is definitely not a fan of the amount of time DS2 is spending attached to me, he's started trying to get DS2 off my knee while I'm mid-feed so he can sit on it instead. DH is working Monday but nursery doesn't start again until Wednesday, I'm dreading being alone with both of them - especially as DS1 is also good at getting into dangerous situations while I'm trapped under DS2...

Breastfeeding is slowly getting better now, seem to have gotten over the worst of it. The support is okay here but either you have to pay loads for it or you go to the clinic which was shut all through the COVID period, so I really struggled with DS1 and ended up learning tons to manage (and spending all the money on lactation consultants!) so I'm using that with DS2 and it seems to be working. We do have Lanolin here but I just use silver cups, they're fantastic at healing wounds

Anyway I have rambled on way too long, time for bed! Hope everyone gets a good sleep.

@Lostthetastefordahlias I used to lie on a single bed whilst baby fell asleep in cot. I didn't do anything to change it but it just became unnecessary over time. Things got easier by themselves.
I was here the first day this thread started. It was a Sunday morning and I was pregnant. That baby is 11 months now and my other one is 3. I have a much older one too who is at uni... I used to have to sleep with her and I certainly don't anymore!

@squishymamma what's silver cups? I know you know this but use your own milk to heal your wounds. Bloody amazing.

I was actually going to ask everyone what their one year olds favourite toy is?

I'm giving her mainly things her bigger sister had and that has been in the attic. I don't feel bad about that as they are quality toys and I don't want loads of stuff as our house is very small.
But if there are any recommendations I'd love to hear them.

@pompomsgalore literally that, silver cups (they look a bit like little bowls) that you put on your nipples inbetween feeds with some breast milk in them. They're antibacterial and help wounds to heal. Was recommended them by the lactation consultant with DS1, and my agonising open wounds I'd been struggling with for months were gone in less than a week!! Have attached a screenshot of the ones I have. They're amazing.

When my DS1 was one we bought him a "cleaning station" with a little hoover, mop, brush etc. He loved our real hoover so it made sense. He thought it was amazing (even though he couldn't walk!). He also really enjoyed building blocks at that age I remember, mainly knocking down towers I built. That was hilarious

Welcome @Whatelsecouldibecalled!

Oops forgot the picture

@pompomsgalore, we had a pretend Henry hoover set last Christmas which my then one year old liked. Plus a ride on car (thomas the tank) got lots of use too.

Hi all congratulations @squishymamma on your new addition.

It's been an interesting few days here, I have covid but luckily dh is off work so he has been looking after the children. My older ones are fairly self sufficient it's my younger ones that need looking after really.

We all went for my covid test as it was in the next county so quite far, trip in the car was fun for all!

DH has been taking the children to parks aswell they are trying to work their way around ones we don't usually go to for a bit of a change. Children are asking to go to soft play but dh understandably doesn't want to go indoors at the moment incase he ends up catching covid off me.

@pompomsgalore my son loves his toot toots but his favourite toy is the dustpan and brush 😂

@Whatelsecouldibecalled, welcome.

@Plantsandpuddlesuits, oh no, how are you feeling? Hope you get better soon. Understand about the soft play caution, we are the same here really. My 4 year old is desperate to go but I'm so wary as he always gets ill after going, so we are sticking to outside playgrounds at the moment.

How is everyone? @squishymamma how is baby doing? How are you feeling?

Thanks for the replies on the going to sleep on their own question! Glad its not just me @Chocolatetrifle!
Welcome @Whatelsecouldibecalled!
How are you feeling @Plantsandpuddlesuits, do you have any symptoms? Hope you are all ok, its so tough isnt it when you are stuck inside ill.
Thats similar ages to mine @pompomsgalore, 3 & 16 months. My 16 month DS favourite toys are musical, a toy drum, a pretend piano, a tambourine (all from charity shops except the drum). He also loves this ball roller my aunt got us & has since he was 11 months. Its plastic & overpriced but he plays with it for hours!
We are struggling so much without preschool and our usual weekly routine. Me more than the dcs I think!!

Can I ask if anyone has taken young kids to Centre Parcs before? Is it worth it if they are 4 and under or is it more for slightly older kids?

@Lostthetastefordahlias, yep, know what you mean. I miss the get up and out preschool routine in a way. It's hard getting both out but at least you know where you are up to for the day! Although we did manage a lovely afternoon yesterday at a national trust property.

This morning we are just nipping to get some party food for tomorrow's tea. Was going to get some fireworks but after bonfire night DS1 has decided he doesn't like them.

@Chocolatetrifle

Can I ask if anyone has taken young kids to Centre Parcs before? Is it worth it if they are 4 and under or is it more for slightly older kids?

Yes @Chocolatetrifle we go every year, I have older ones so upper primary high school age and younger ones eg preschool infant school age

Id saybits great for all ages and definitely cheaper activities wise for younger ones eg my younger ones are more than happy with a pool session in the morning, lunch and nap then park in afternoon etc, even feeding the birds and squirells from the patio is an activity in itself whereas my older ones would go swimming then be up for a proper activity eg climbing followed by Starbucks etc

Which one are yiu thinking of?