AIBU or is lockdown with 20 month old hell?

[Anewmum2018]

Bear with me... I just need reassurance.... people with toddlers are finding this hell right? It’s not just me being a crappy mum?
No parks, playgroups, soft play. I LITERALLY am out of my mind with boredom and feel so guilty that I’m not enjoying my kid more! Is this normal?

[UnspeakableBode]

Ah he pressed post! But trying to work form home with him and not being able to take him anywhere it is so difficult.

[beachbreeze]

Yes. My youngest is just over three and I was telling my boyfriend the other day how much harder this would've been a year or so ago. He's still really demanding but used to cry all the time and was difficult to understand what he wanted.

[WillYouDoTheFandango]

YABU. There are hundreds of things you could be doing. Salt dough handprints, tie dying T-shirt’s, crafting a life size model of the Eiffel Tower out of recycled and “found” items.
#blessed #makingmemories.

only joking. Toddlers are hard enough without being locked in a house with them 24 hours a day. Mines 7 and I can at least shove him on an iPad for an hour.

[mylittlepony1]

I'm in the same boat! 3 year old that doesn't nap anymore! Positives are that we've cracked potty training! Negatives - the amount of screen! Got to get out of the house each day otherwise I'd go mad! Nursery opens up next week! Phew!

[RedFoz]

Totally agree! The daily walk is my only excitement. All my non-mum friends have spotless houses and lots of time for hobbies.

[LisaSimpsonsbff]

We're both working full-time from home so we haven't really been bored - frazzled, tired and guilty, but not bored - but DS (22 months) certainly is now. There's only so many walks we can go on (though that has got a bit better now we can drive for them - we were all so bored of our housing estate) and I can't set up another craft/art activity that takes longer to set up than he spends playing with without losing my mind.

We actually have seen some benefits, too, but that's because we both work so it's nice to have extra time with him. If I was normally a SAHM then I can imagine that this time would feel even more like all cons no pros because you're used to having the time with them and all the groups, playgrounds etc.

[Xiphisternum]

Joining in the struggle. I have a 19 month old and I'm pregnant and exhausted and WFH.
He did so well for the first bit but has completely reached the end of his tether now and I just don't know what to do/where to go that's a new and safe place to take him. My chilled happy little guy has changed so much. I had to pull him out of childcare that he had just settled into due to me being vulnerable so feel incredibly guilty he's missing that because I'm pregnant. I think he's sick of seeing my face and now just hates being anywhere that's not outside. But I have to work. He was really just beginning to explore the world. Feel so sad for him and he'd done so well but really feel I'm letting him down now.
Dreading an autumn lockdown when it will be this + newborn. He's had his life upended enough. Urrrrrggghhhhh.

[Aprilbaby2020]

My DD is 15 months - it’s such hard work. Tantrums in full swing due to lack of ability to communicate effectively but knowing full well what she wants! Can’t walk yet and seems very frustrated by this which causes more upset - theres only so many walks I can go on with her in her harness - it kills my back and she hates the pram! No attention span...... bless them. Makes me feel awful saying this but I guess we are only human!

[WhatALearningCurve]

Single mum of a 15 month old. I'll be honest and say my son has watched a disgusting amount of tv during lockdown. I really struggled at the start and couldn't leave the house for 5 weeks because of anxiety, I'm a LOT better now and we go out for a walk in the morning then he naps but afternoons are always a write off. This weeks been slightly better because I've met up with people for the first time but I do worry I'm turning my son into a zombie. I know at some point (in my head I'm thinking August) he'll be back at nursery and it'll all be back to normal but till then I'm balancing making sure he's not a total zombie, WFH and a uni degree I started in February (great timing).

He's started to sleep through though so I'm using that to tell myself I've not totally melted his brain?

[BadAlice]

21 month old here.

Good parts:
He now loves nature documentaries and his vocabulary and understanding (to do with animals anyway) are insane.
Potty training.
Quite happy to walk for an hour or so if I promise him horses/a cat/cows.
Local nature reserve is endlessly exciting for DS.
He loves the beach too.
Husband is furloughed so we can share.
I get to go to work three days per week!

Bad parts:
He’s learned to scream and it is ear piercing!
Wee everywhere for a few weeks.
Constant mess from being at home.
I feel like we do the same walks over and over.
Parks closed.
No baby groups.
No going for lunch or a coffee just to get out of the house.
No time to myself without DH!

I’d say it’s been a mixed bag...

[Confrontayshunme]

I took our daughter on an 10 hour flight alone at 20 months, and it. was. Hell. She wouldn't sleep, was grumpy, sitting on my lap, wiggling, throwing playdoh. It was awful, and I tried everything to keep her calm and still.

I remember feeling scarred for weeks even though she slept all the 8 hour flight home.

I can't even imagine lockdown with a young toddler. At least we have a garden and paddling pool for distraction.

[Anewmum2018]

Thanks for the solidarity everyone! The guilt is half the battle sometimes!

[TiggeryBear]

I have a 4yr old & a 23month old. I am at my wits end! Preschool don't have a space available for my 4yr old so no respite until September at the earliest.

[Sexnotgender]

16 month old and also trying to work full time. I’ve just ordered some gin. I’ve cried 3 times today.

[Ilovecats23]

21mo and 8mo here and phew it’s not fun sometimes 😅 I’m definitely with you OP

[ellabella18]

22month old here, definitely in lockdown hell.

Thank you so much for this post.

[funinthesun19]

I have a 20 month old and she is like a little whirlwind

[Insideout99]

I'm WFH with a 18 month old. It's hard. Our free time isn't though. Play time , out in the garden, small walks, etc

[Myfriendanxiety]

I hear you. 3.5 year old and 14 month old and my god do I miss soft play and playgroups.

[Myfriendanxiety]

@penguinsbegin put them in the highchair.

My 14 month old is out in the highchair and will sit and watch teletubbies for 30 minutes before she gets moant.

[ExpectingToFly]

2 year old twins here and I just cant handle it! No activity will keep them entertained. Unless its raiding every kitchen cupboard. Eating cat biscuits. Smearing chocolate all over themselves, getting naked at every opportunity. Throwing mud in the paddling pool. Throwing sand in the paddling pool. Tormenting the cat. Ripping books, drawing all over themselves and the walls.

Honestly thank god they like TV. . They too have watched a disgusting amount but I am so limited as to where I can take them. I cant just go for a walk because they are feral and would die

They love the disney shorts on disney plus. Cocomelon nursery rhyme songs on Netflix. Anything like stick man, room on the broom etc. Any minions films, frozen 2. Dipdap, duggee, just thought I'd throw out a few recommendations.

No nursery until September, their current one cant take them. I just have to keep feeling grateful for the garden etc

Solidarity

[EyeDrops]

I never thought I'd say this, but if pay SO much money to go to soft play right now.

My 4yo is fine, but 16 month DD is such hard work. Very mobile, climbing, opening doors, trying to throw herself off things. No attention span for TV or playing anything 'properly' so the entire day feels like 5 minute blocks of distraction. Sometimes I try sensory play or crafts but she still shoves 9 out of 10 things straight in her mouth (pens, crayons, playdoh, porridge oats etc etc) so we don't get far. Even playing outside its minutes before she tries to eat soil or injure herself some other way.

On the plus side, she's REALLY cute and has an hour or two nap most days. It's really hard though!

[BeatrixPottersAlterEgo]

YANBU. 22 month old here. It's my job to entertain children, and I have a big garden, so we were lucky to have plenty of crafts and resources and stuff to do outside. However over this past few weeks DD bas had some massive developmental leap and she's a very different child from the one who went into lockdown... I can really see her getting to the stage where she needs the company of other children and more variety outside the bubble of home. We went to some lovely groups before lockdown and it's a shame to think that right now is really the peak age where she'd get more out of them.

If I'm honest, I'm starting to worry a little. I can't see parks, baby groups or sofplay etc opening in September. That is going to mean six months of an incredibly limited life for those toddlers who aren't still able to continue at nursery. I know Baby Sensory and the like aren't necessary, and our parents and grandparents raised us with no baby classes, but my parents and grandparents also lived on streets and in cul de sacs where everyone had about four children each who all played out together, not to mention extended family and all the rest. And they could see them when and how they pleased. Then there's all the everyday stuff that is so vital to socialisation and language development in toddlers - observing parent's interactions in shops and cafes, picking up older siblings from school, that sort of thing. All gone for the foreseeable.

[myColoursareblushandbashful]

20 month old here too. Today was particularly bad with tantrums and tears from both of us. Thankfully DH is furloughed as I really needed a break from parenting today.
Last 4 nights she has had screaming fits when she previously slept through. She'll only sleep if DH or I rock her cannot wait for the warmer weather/normal life to resume.