Going completely insane with toddler at home

[cloudbutter]

I have avoided admitting this, but I'm going completely nuts. 18 month old who is very active. Started walking at 9 months. GP and health visitor have both commented on how he's a handful. He's obsessed with climbing. He's generally very good natured but isn't interested in any arts and crafts or anything that involves concentrating for more than 5 seconds. He just wants to climb. If I do in the kitchen he screams because he wants me to pull the chair out so he can climb on the table. In the playroom he just wants to stand on top of his bigger toys. Tries to climb up the clothes horse. Has learnt to climb out of the bath. I broke down in tears when I took my eyes off him for 30 seconds and found him standing in the toilet when I was running his bath. I have ordered a small climbing frame and take him out for a daily walk but I am going slightly crazy. How can I calm him down a bit whilst soft play/park etc is off limits? I just want to cry every day when he wakes up from his nap.

You probably need to play a lot with physical games, making dens out of pillows for him to jump on, safe throwing of small forftt items, rolling round the floor, dancing to youtube videos, jumping, whatever you can think of, Its not about calming him down, more burning off energy

I've tried putting cushions on the floor. Put up a big teepee tent. I put music on and run around with him but he's just obsessed with climbing. I think I just need a break but obviously with self isolating that's not going to happen. I think I cry once a day at the moment.

Sorry to hear this, do you have anyone to talk to , facetime or skype? Are you alone with him? Any other mothers you know?

18 months has to be one of the most challenging ages to be cooped up. I'm so sorry. I have vivid memories of how tough that stage was. Its lucky they're also at peak cuteness at that age (imo).

You're going to have to approach it like a scientist I think. Read up on what is happening with him developmentally, test out little activities that might capture his attention or keep him in one place. Keep experimenting. See what works.

If nothing else it might change your perspective slightly so that you dont lose it. (Its ok to lose it)

FWIW I have a quiet, mostly lovely 7yo cooped up and I'm definitely on the wine at 4pm which isn't ever something I've done before. Once he is in bed, I cant do much but lie around trying to keep my strength up. It is really hard being isolated with children. It's ok to cry and hate it. Xx you will get used to it and it won't always feel this bad.

At this age mine LOVED messing about in the sink with cups, spoons, whisks etc. A squirt of washing up liquid is even more fun.
May be worth a go if you have a step stool type thing?

Can you rearrange a room to make it safe to climb in?

You can buy soft play stuff for the house! As in giant spongy shapes to climb on and build with. Might be helpful if he's a climber 😅

I have one of those plus a 6 and a 4 year old. All wanting to do different things at different times, but I can’t really do anything with the older ones as I’m supervising the tsunami toddler at all times. It’s tough, you have my sympathies.

I can completely sympathise and my son is almost 3. Trying to work and care for him is nigh on impossible. I'm tearing my hair out already. DS is very active and not interested in crafts or even sitting to watch a film. I'm going to be a wreck by the time this is all over.

OP I really feel for you, I said earlier to my husband to imagine if DS had been at that age during this as he was exactly the same (hes 13 now and glued to his xbox ) I feel for you. Cut yourself some slack, if hes climbing stuff, make sure hes safe, you've got a job on your hands. Try a Lego bath?, pop a load of Lego in with some water or lights off and glow sticks in the bath, might buy you an hour or so?. Chin up x

I looked at soft play toys. There are loads on Facebook marketplace as I don't have much money but obviously can't be picked up at the moment. Frustrating but not worth the risk. I've got loads of people to talk to but not much help as two suggested I just used the park regardless 🙄 I would gladly be stuck at home with him as a newborn as he was an absolute delight! He's so lovely and I'm glad he's not crying all the time or being difficult. He's just frustrated and it makes me sad because he's so used to going out every day. Just a change of routine for us all.

I'm also trying to work in a key worker role from home. But it involves laptop use and he's obsessed so work is just not being done. Which can't happen really but what else am I supposed to do?

Do you have room for a small trampoline in the garden would he enjoy that, sure you could get one from Amazon.
Or a small slide up the stairs and back down x

My 18 month old is exactly the same and I'm losing my mind 😩

He has the attention span of a goldfish so I can't do any activities with him and he just wants to climb everything in sight. I can't take my eyes off him for a second or he's standing on the dining room table or the toilet. I'm worried he's going to fall and hurt himself and I really don't want a trip to A&E right now!

I'd kill for a teenager glued to his Xbox! 😂

Can you afford one of these?

www.etsy.com/uk/search?q=toddler+climbing+frame&ref=pagination&as_prefix=toddler+clim&page=2

Hi, OP, my 23month old is exactly the same. I have nothing to suggest but just wanted you to know you're not alone!

Mine is also a massive, high needs, cling and hasn't slept more than 4 hours straight since birth.

He will be an only child.

Just eanted to say I totally sympathise. My boy is 18 months and obsessed with climbing. Ive ordered some stuff off amazon to try and keep him entertained from a list of activities I found chicklink.com/activities-for-18-24-month-olds/. Might be some help. Ive also been taking him to the park for our daily exercise and letting him wander about (keeping him away from others). The more hills etc the better as seems to burn off energy. My mantra at the moment is this will end and wine!

My DS is 14 months and also walked at 9 months and climbed ever since! At 12 months he mastered the ladders of his sister's bunk bed in about 40 seconds flat.
Every morning I have to run in before him and take the ladders off her bed whether she's still in it or not.
I've thought about the little tikes slide in the living room but our house is small and he'd probably climb up the slide and jump off the steps.

Is the dad around? Can you do shifts with him? Often both parents have a different way of playing and it can stimulate and mix things up for him.

Mine is 22 months and won't sit still. I pushed the table against the wall and brought the slide indoors. I don't care what it looks like no one is coming to visit anyway and it definitely burns a bit of energy off

I also have a slide in my living room right now...glad I'm not the only one! 😂

Have you got a garden? My DD is 14mo and we've been spending hours a day in the garden. She's bundled up in her puddlesuit and wellies, I'm wrapped up too and clutching a cup of tea, and she will just maraud around the place for ages. I can even get some work done if I take my laptop out. We got a slide that wasn't expensive and a sand and water table and it keeps her entertained for ages.

Even just taking normal toys outside and letting him just run about and do what he likes is a change of scenery.

My 2 year old is exactly the same and since it's just the two of us I have no choice but to take my eye off him occasionally, also trying to WFH. It's a nightmare. He's constantly carrying his chair round the house to reach light switches, jump on my bed, turn the taps on.

Dreading getting CV because even best case scenario and it's mild I'm going to really struggle with him.

Op, I’ve had three ds and they were all exactly like your dc. Actually my youngest, almost 3 year old is still a total monkey and this lockdown is ...em... challenging... my other kids are 8 and 5 but still have huge amounts of energy.
Do you have a garden, our trampoline has been worth it’s weight in gold? Also I swear by filling up the bath for a good hour of splashing. Cushion all over the ground and let him jump all over then from couch.
I feel your pain, one of my friends sends me pictures and stories of her two year old happily painting etc for hours. Here with my youngest , 5 mins...

It is bloody hard with toddlers/pre-schoolers. I’ve got a 1 and 3 yo and going demented. Things that I’ve tried to wear them out are:

• music on for dancing
• moving like animals (eg jumping like bunnies, stomping like elephants
• a bean bag for jumping on/off- obvs not as good as softplay but it does ok.
• stamping on bubblewrap

He’s probably doing to be too young for online exercises like yoga sadly. They’ve been brilliant for my older one.