Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask where you take your highly inquisitive baby/toddler when it's raining and you don't drive?

36 replies

FutureGadgetsLab · 10/05/2016 08:14

DS 9 months thinks he's about 2. Walks holding hands/with an A frame walker, climbs, crawls, is into everything. Does not nap often.

So I am stuck with where to go today. Unless I take DS out, he causes chaos at home. He climbs all over the furniture, licks the windows and chews up anything that isn't nailed down. He is constantly on the go!

I'm getting stuck with what to do with him all day. There's no soft play near me and I don't drive. Any ideas? I'm looking for something cheap preferably but I'm open to any suggestions.

I've taken him to museums before which he loved, he also likes garden centres.

OP posts:
JustPoppingIn · 10/05/2016 08:17

Do you have a local pet shop you can visit? We are regulars at Pets at Home

allowlsthinkalot · 10/05/2016 08:21

We go out on the bus a lot. Put a waterproof all in one on him and let him explore in the rain.
The library
swimming
soft play
Just for a walk

AlysaEdwards · 10/05/2016 08:22

What's wrong with taking him outside in the rain? Isn't he waterproof?
Dress both of you appropriately and take him out in it! My youngest loves rainy day walks snuggled in her pram. He can practice his walking.
Are there any children's centres near you that have play rooms to use?
Give him a 'dry' bath with his favourite toys in it. Try making a fort for him from cushions/pillows. Make some homemade shakers from bottles and pasta. Play with some of his toys with him?
You might have to get over him causing 'chaos' - although not sure how much damage a baby that little can do.

almostthirty · 10/05/2016 08:24

All in 1 rain suit the out side to explore the mud. It's not cold outside just wet so he should have loads of fun.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 10/05/2016 08:26

I spent loads of time in garden centres when DS was little but he also enjoyed a trip to Tesco Confused loads to see, counting, colours, shapes etc. always fussed over by other customers which he loved! He's 4 now and still loves Tesco, think he's going to work there Grin

Original poster
FutureGadgetsLab · 10/05/2016 08:26

Popping I think there is one about 2 miles away, I could walk to that with him. I never thought of that.

To the other posters, I'm still taking him out but I was going to take him to the park which is obviously out now. He doesn't like wearing shoes so I can't take him to walk on wet grass.

As for the last bit, he causes lots of damage. My main concern is him though, he keeps falling over and I'd rather he be somewhere soft/indoors than on my tiles because they're very unforgiving.

OP posts:
KimmySchmidtsSmile · 10/05/2016 08:33

Any café with a kid's play area/corner.
Local library (am not in UK).
Welly boots on with brolly for puddle jumping peppa pig's got a lot to answer for
Our local book shop which has a tunnel and slide/ local Lego shop which has demo tables/ local superdrug equivalent that has children's trolleys to shop with.

Used to have a soft play nearby but sadly it shut down.
Go to museums too.
Use car seat as 'cinema chair' on sofa with DVD and popcorn.
Indoor Bear picnic.
I can get to airport in 18 minutes to plane spot if really was desperate dc3 also loves the station.
Sadly do not have a paint-a-pot nearby and build-a-bear shut down -plus was £££
Go swimming sometimes, attempted indoor bowling never again, all three of mine were always fab at cinema mornings but from 2years
Feel your pain OP live in a shit tip
Brew

RedToothBrush · 10/05/2016 08:34

DS was like that. He hated shoes.

Keep trying though. If he starts realising that shoes mean going out, he will start finding his shoes and giving them to you when he wants to go out!

If you have unforgiving tiles I recommend some sort of mat. You can get fold out ones from Ikea or you can get 'jigsaw' squares (not sure where you get them).

It gets better fairly quickly with the falling over.

RedToothBrush · 10/05/2016 08:37

And YES to boots.

That's what we did first to persuade DS that shoes were a good thing.

Original poster
FutureGadgetsLab · 10/05/2016 08:38

Red I have a giant rug but obviously DS wants to walk on the small section of floor not covered. Confused

I'll keep trying with shoes! He hates clothes of any kind which I'm hoping will improve.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

OP posts:
LunaLoveg00d · 10/05/2016 08:44

I can't take him to walk on wet grass

Why not? His feet will get wet and maybe a bit muddy - big deal. It's not cold at the moment, walking on wet grass in bare feet is no different to walking on sand at the beach. Just stick a towel in a poly bag in the bottom of the pushchair to clean him up.

plantsitter · 10/05/2016 08:46

No playgroups near you?

Original poster
FutureGadgetsLab · 10/05/2016 08:51

Why not? His feet will get wet and maybe a bit muddy - big deal. It's not cold at the moment, walking on wet grass in bare feet is no different to walking on sand at the beach. Just stick a towel in a poly bag in the bottom of the pushchair to clean him up.

He refuses to walk on dry grass, I can't imagine he'd like wet grass any better!

OP posts:
bakeoffcake · 10/05/2016 08:54

I'd put all the sofa and chair cushions on the floor and let him play on them.

I also used it have a small plastic slide which I brought inside when it was bad weather. I'd put cushions around it as we had wooden floors, but my Dds loved playing inside in it.

Dd2 was walking and climbing at 9 months. Just remove anything breakable or precious and try not to worry. It will pass!

FeckOfffCup · 10/05/2016 08:59

Yy to pets at home, DS loves it - I discovered this by chance - we spent a good half an hour in a pet shop yesterday just watching the birds and the fish. He didn't want to leave!
If it's raining and we need to get out I usually get the bus into town which he enjoys and go for lunch somewhere. He loves people watching.

Artandco · 10/05/2016 09:00

Stay indoors when torrential.

  • sofa , take all cushions off as indoor play area. Add blankets as a den
  • use torch under blanket with him
  • bubble bath, get in with him, put some music on and play together in bath
  • put in highchair and let him 'cook' with you. Ie eat raw ingredients and play with wooden spoons etc
  • saucepans out upside down, wooden spoons. Let him drum
  • fill tray or dish with cooked noodles. Strip him down to nappy. Let him play on kitchen floor.Add bath toys under noodles
  • put paint inside food bag. Seal with tape. Let him squish and 'paint' without mess
  • take nap together in bed
FeckOfffCup · 10/05/2016 09:02

P.s have you tried wellies? DS doesn't like wearing shoes most of the time but he will go to tremendous hilarious lengths to get his wellies on. He would probably sleep in them if I let him Confused

plantsitter · 10/05/2016 09:03

Didn't mean to sound judgmental about playgroups by the way, just if there are any they are great for exactly this type of day. A huge hall to rampage round! Loads of toys to trash! People are being slightly patronising on this thread!

DerelictDaughter · 10/05/2016 09:04

Oh I do feel your pain, I had one like this! (He also would not walk on certain textures at various times in his life, which tbh worried us, but he is 11 now and nothing panned out).

Anyway it's exhausting and friends with babies as the same age used to ask me how I coped. Truth was, I was knackered all the time, physically, from keeping him from hurting himself or breaking stuff.

I never wanted to do it but we had to have a play pen - I just had to cage him every now and again!

Also, get all the tupperware stuff you can and let him mess about with it.

We had to adapt our environment - this meant clearing low shelves, putting rubber corners on things, blocking up the fireplace, making drawers inaccessible. He was just a MONKEY for getting into stuff!!!

Original poster
FutureGadgetsLab · 10/05/2016 09:05

I haven't tried wellies!

There was a playgroup yesterday I took him to, I don't think there's any on today.

OP posts:
Original poster
FutureGadgetsLab · 10/05/2016 09:09

Derelict I have a couple of friends with similar ages boys and they're SO CALM. One sat on his muns knee and quietly ate his dinner, while mine was throwing mash and trying to Houdini out his high chair.

It's just so full on! So far he's happy in his jumperoo... Grin

OP posts:
DerelictDaughter · 10/05/2016 09:18

Grin It is totally full on, that is the only way to describe it. You will have enviable biceps!

Original poster
FutureGadgetsLab · 10/05/2016 09:20

Derelict my DS is huuuuge, I'm surprised o don't look like Arnie. Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
FutureGadgetsLab · 10/05/2016 09:20

I

OP posts:
FeckOfffCup · 10/05/2016 09:26

OP mine is full on too. He's stronger than me. I don't know where he gets his energy from cos I'm a lazy cow really laid back. we go to play groups and the other kids play nicely meanwhile DS is storming around at 100 miles an hour creating havoc Grin

Swipe left for the next trending thread