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Original poster

Oh boy. I'm stuck.

28 replies

Squiff70 · 15/08/2022 14:50

Here's the scenario:

I'm lying on our bed next to my sleeping toddler. Every time I tried to put her on her cot in her own room she cried so hysterically she actually scared me because she's never cried like that before. She isn't unwell.

I'm 9 months pregnant and due to have a C-section this Thursday.

I'm in excruciating pain with SPD and have no painkillers or drink to hand.

I haven't eaten since 8am. Had a visitor this morning who left later than I had anticipated and fed my daughter whilst visitor was still here with the intention of grabbing lunch after visitor had gone because my toddler almost always has a nap after lunch.

I can't leave my little one on the bed on her own. She's in the middle of a king-size bed so I could put lots of cushions round her but they wouldn't stop her falling off the bed if she woke up whilst I popped downstairs for a few minutes.

I can't and won't leave her unattended upstairs unless she is in her cot (she can't climb out yet) as there is no baby gate at the top of the stairs and nothing to stop her falling.

She will sleep for at least an hour.

Is there a safe way to leave her unattended for about 10 minutes whilst I go downstairs for a snack, drink and pain relief? I will not compromise her safety for my own comfort but I'm in so much pain I'm dripping with sweat.

OP posts:
Dartmoorcheffy · 15/08/2022 14:57

If she's asleep now in the middle ofvthe bed I would put pillows either side and go down to get your drink. Close the bedroom door.

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 15/08/2022 15:00

Cot upside down over her like the mousetrap game?

(Do not actually do this.)

Oh boy. I'm stuck.
Ihaveaquestionn · 15/08/2022 15:02

pillows On the floor either side of the bed
Can you put the monitor on in there?
shut the door behind you

she will be fine

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haveiever · 15/08/2022 15:03

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 15/08/2022 15:00

Cot upside down over her like the mousetrap game?

(Do not actually do this.)

this is genius 🤔

Original poster
Squiff70 · 15/08/2022 15:10

I'm still stuck! I can put pillows on the floor round the bed, yep. No monitor though. It is set up in her bedroom over the cot so if I unplug it and bring it in our room to plug it in, it'll wake her up.

I'm thinking my only option is to sneak to the bathroom and dose myself up on her Calpol. And starve.

OP posts:
Hidingawaytoday · 15/08/2022 15:11

I agree with PP's pillows and monitor. Can you bring your snack, drinks and painkillers upstairs so you're only a couple of minutes and eat lunch on your bedroom?

Original poster
Squiff70 · 15/08/2022 15:11

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 15/08/2022 15:00

Cot upside down over her like the mousetrap game?

(Do not actually do this.)

If the cot didn't weigh about 100kg I'd probably consider that as a viable option 🤣

OP posts:
PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 15/08/2022 15:12

She will be fine. Honestly, get up and leave her. Leaving a sleeping child in the middle of a king size bed is in no way shape or form
compromising her safety.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 15/08/2022 15:12

I hope you've managed to move now OP, pillows either side of her and on the floor. When she wakes up teach her how to safely get down off of the bed by rolling on to her belly and shuffling to the edge feet first and sliding down the bed side if she does not already know how to. Teaching children (including toddlers) to do risky things safely is how you build resilience.

Leaving to sleep like that was totally normal when we visited family, I remember my baby brother (now 30) being put to sleep on my grandparents double bed

hellcatspangle · 15/08/2022 15:14

I wouldn't have even thought twice about leaving a toddler on a bed for five minutes. I'd just put pillows on floor or either side, close bedroom door to stop potential fall down the stairs and do what I've got to do.

UnboxedThoughts · 15/08/2022 15:14

Order takeaway immediately. Get pain killers when it arrives, and sit back upstairs with your food and drink. You'll be out of the room 2 minutes tops.

mattressspring · 15/08/2022 15:14

You are not stuck you are over reacting. Just why up and do what you need to do.

fuckwhatshouldido · 15/08/2022 15:16

How old is toddler? If anything under 2 then lob some pillows round her and go do your thing. If over 2 then you’re being a bit bonkers, sorry 😆 do you have a stair gate at the top? Just close that and she’ll be fine!

wouldukissafrog · 15/08/2022 15:22

Just go as quick as you can and get a snack !!!

TheWildRumpyPumpus · 15/08/2022 15:25

Toddler as in she sits up, climbs, walks, gets into all kinds of things she’s not supposed to, navigates soft play like a demon?

Put pillows either side of bed and she will be fine!

WhiteFire · 15/08/2022 15:27

In about two weeks time you will be scratching your head that you even thought this was an issue.

Hope the C-section goes well.

Original poster
Squiff70 · 15/08/2022 15:28

Thanks for the suggestions. I got up off the bed as quietly as possible but she woke up.

It's really not fair to suggest that I'm overreacting. Also not fair to suggest toddlers "over two" don't need such caution.

My daughter is two and a half but she has severe developmental delay due to extreme prematurity. She's only recently learned to walk and can't talk yet either, except a couple of single words. Don't judge every child of the same age the same please. Life isn't always that straight forward.

She knows how to get off a sofa safely (I taught her months ago - on her tummy, feet first) but don't know if she'd know to apply the same logic to getting off a bed.

Anyway, she's wide awake and wants me to play now. Any chance of me having a quick rest was over before it began! At least now I can take her downstairs and get myself some paracetamol and a drink/snack!

OP posts:
IcakethereforeIam · 15/08/2022 15:31

Ugh! I had SPD with my first, everytime I walked my pelvis c4ackled like a forest fire. Disappeared completely once I'd had my c-section.

I sincerely hope you're in the process of feeding yourself. All the best to you.

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 15/08/2022 15:34

I had SPD with my first, everytime I walked my pelvis c4ackled like a forest fire

I know damn well this was a typo for crackled because of the forest fire thing, but part of me is imagining a pelvis letting out an evil, witchy laugh every time you try to move.

mattressspring · 15/08/2022 15:34

Squiff70 · 15/08/2022 15:28

Thanks for the suggestions. I got up off the bed as quietly as possible but she woke up.

It's really not fair to suggest that I'm overreacting. Also not fair to suggest toddlers "over two" don't need such caution.

My daughter is two and a half but she has severe developmental delay due to extreme prematurity. She's only recently learned to walk and can't talk yet either, except a couple of single words. Don't judge every child of the same age the same please. Life isn't always that straight forward.

She knows how to get off a sofa safely (I taught her months ago - on her tummy, feet first) but don't know if she'd know to apply the same logic to getting off a bed.

Anyway, she's wide awake and wants me to play now. Any chance of me having a quick rest was over before it began! At least now I can take her downstairs and get myself some paracetamol and a drink/snack!

That's quite the drip feed. Without which I do think you were over reacting. I'm sorry she woke up and you didn't get any rest though. It's hard work being in the last bit of pregnancy.

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 15/08/2022 15:38

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 15/08/2022 15:34

I had SPD with my first, everytime I walked my pelvis c4ackled like a forest fire

I know damn well this was a typo for crackled because of the forest fire thing, but part of me is imagining a pelvis letting out an evil, witchy laugh every time you try to move.

Like, "MUA-HAHAHAAAA! You thought you'd just stand up and pootle over to the fridge, did you? Nyeh-heh-heh-heh-heehhh!"

Original poster
Squiff70 · 15/08/2022 15:50

mattressspring · 15/08/2022 15:34

That's quite the drip feed. Without which I do think you were over reacting. I'm sorry she woke up and you didn't get any rest though. It's hard work being in the last bit of pregnancy.

Show quote history

It really isn't drip feeding. My daughter's developmental delay didn't really need to feature in the original OP because whether she was toddling at 12 months or two years, the issues surrounding her safety would have still stood.

She just stood in the kitchen sobbing whilst I tried to make a sandwich, I had to keep stopping to pick her up and reassure her. She's a fragile little thing today - needing lots of cuddles and reassurance. I think she knows a huge change in her life is about to happen. She's not wrong...

OP posts:
Original poster
Squiff70 · 15/08/2022 15:52

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 15/08/2022 15:38

Like, "MUA-HAHAHAAAA! You thought you'd just stand up and pootle over to the fridge, did you? Nyeh-heh-heh-heh-heehhh!"

Show quote history

Disturbingly, with SPD that's EXACTLY what the fuckers do!

OP posts:
mattressspring · 15/08/2022 15:52

Sorry. I thought you included it because you felt it relevant. Anyway I don't want to get dragged into an argument, so I shall bow out now.

IcakethereforeIam · 15/08/2022 15:56

I saw the typo., thought well that's not wrong and had a little cackle for old times sake.

OP your daughter, bless. It's odd how they can melt your heart and, simultaneously, make you tear your hair out.