Muddy walks and puddles ?

[jenjenhappy]

Hi is there a secret to walking outdoors with a toddler.

I see others with toddlers quite close to them just puttering along clean, walking PAST puddles not through them

Within 20 minutes my toddler (20 months ) is carrying 4 sticks in one hand , hand full of mud in the other. Sitting in each puddle or running through and splashing his hand in the water for a while .

All ok wearing a full waterproof puddle suit but my whole outfit including coat need chucking in the wash and toddlers too.

How do others stay so clean

• pottering along

Fyi I have tried reins

I think you either have to accept that it will happen or be firm and swerve them away from puddles every time they go near them. My daughter is a bit older now - 3 and a half - but she’s understood for a while that if she doesn’t have her wellies on (which she does most of the time) she can’t go in the puddles.

My 3 were just the same - puddles are for jumping in if you have wellies and waterproofs on. Its the Law!!!! And really, whats more lovely than seeing a toddler having fun like that? Really letting go and enjoying the muddy water splashing up over their face?

I'm no help, Dd the same. Last night she lay down in the puddle. Still drying those wellies.

Yes he has his wellies on and all dressed for the occasion , I just feel so dirty after such a short walk and as you can imagine his nails are black from all the mud. First problems I know but I just keep seeing all these clean toddlers staying close to their parents not picking up sticks or anything 😂

Fab replies ☺️ getting in the bath shortly

The secret is to get your wellies on and join in

I think we just have to embrace it! Seeing my DC jumping in the puddles and the delight on their faces brings me a bit of joy in during these times - there's not an awful lot else we can do with them outside other than walks at the moment...I'd get in the puddles with them and join in.

I don't think there is a secret to it, some just don't like getting dirty and jumping in puddles lol.

My eldest was one of these kids, infact i only ever brought him one pair of wellies that he outgrew before he'd worn as he had no interest in puddles and mud.

My 19 month old however is the same as you describe, if we go out at all for the last few months i make sure she is wearing her puddle suit and wellies and more than once she's tripped and ended up in the puddle, soaked from head to toe haha. I embrace it cause it's lovely to see a child having fun.
The only things i do is to always make sure i have multiple spare clothes with me and to avoid her getting too messy too quickly i hold her hand and splash in the puddles with her so i can move her on quickly by making a game (lets find the next puddle) and she doesnt have chance to put her hands in it.

I also have to wash all her clothes and mine on a regular basis, you're not alone :)

I do but then I'm getting in the car dirty and rank 🤣

@Nobodyknowsme101 nice to know I'm not on my own just made me laugh walking back to car with little one black nails, 4 sticks n hand and mud pie in the other meanwhile another toddler is standing and just looking at the puddle mum is dressed stylish and I'm muddy 🤣 yes I will embrace

I don't have kids but your child sounds like he's having more fun and learning more than those clean children!

My friend sent a video of one of his DS doing a puddle slide through the mud.... and then him doing it too He’s 46 and was having a great time. Kids thought it was brilliant. Embrace it!

No advice as mine isn't all that keen on puddles, but I'm genuinely jealous! I wish mine would embrace rainy walks and the muddy outdoors life. I love seeing toddlers having that much fun, and it looks really good for them. Could you just get a spare puddle suit and accept that if it's not actually wet inside then it's fine for him to wear it again for another muddy walk without washing it every time?

Dd loves puddles.
I can still remember her heading into a puddle, while I shouted not to do it.
She landed on her arse, wearing pink legging, white trainers and a pink coat.
I muttered, Jesus Christ under my breath. All the way home she was shouting (oh Mummy Jesus Christ I'm all wet)

well, mine were like yours.

Don;t worry about other toddlers being clean, I always thought that the more mess they had got into the more fun they had had.

I especially loved splashing in puddles with wellies. One day he splashed so much th einside of his wellies were soaked, had a great time.
Pat yourself on the back for giving them wonderful experiences.

(nowadays I walk the dog. I have a pair of jeans for walking the dog, I change into them, they get muddy, I change out when I get home, and chuck them on the radiator, at the end of the week the muddy ones go in the wash. You may need toddler walk jeans...)

You need a good set of waterproof trousers, wellies and a waterproof coat, plus a large container.
Once back at the car, remove waterproof trousers, wellies and jacket and dump it all in the container. This can then be hosed down or put in the washing machine once home...or just dried and worn again. Same goes for the child, strip the waterproof layer off before putting child in the car which then saves the car needing cleaning.

Isn't it amazing the way toddlers get so much out of their environment? Oh to be little again and thinking a puddle is a place to play, mud is for making a pie and sticks are wands that do magic. Beautiful!

He sounds like he is making full use of his world, and you are letting him. I'm not sure there is a greater gift.

DD was once jumping up and down in a puddle, slipped and landed in it. She looked like the mud monster from Room on the Broom when I got home I just yelled at DH to run a bath and not to ask why..... I really wish I'd got a photo of her like that now!

Haha. You've clearly not seen me and my son. He finds it utterly impossible to walk past a puddle and not jump in - with wellies or without. We live by the sea and he's particularly fond of jumping in the mud during low tide and it is messy. I've given up trying to remain clean. It is actually more fun when you join in. Mud is quite easy get off in the wash, although I can appreciate it's a bit of a faff if you have to drive and you're trying to keep your car clean too.

I see others with toddlers quite close to them just puttering along clean, walking PAST puddles not through them

Eh? Who knew that was a thing that happened - mine would be straight in there, the deeper and dirtier, the better! At 3.5 she still loves a jump in a puddle, but she does ask me first if she's allowed and is (a bit) more cooperative about moving on once in the puddle .

Imagine taking such great pleasure in such simple things. Embrace it 💖

We just accept that going for a walk is going to be a muddy experience! Clean clothes to change into in the boot of the car before you drive home? Get your own waterproof trousers to peel off before you get in the car!

I brought myself an adult puddle suit for this reason, not stylish at all by keeps me warm and clean. My ds just can't resist a puddle so we jump in them together. We walk everywhere but when we've done muddy trips out with grandparents in their car previously very quick to strip down to a clean layer. Although ds still always seems to need new trousers.

I would say that your DC is getting far more out of the walk than the children who stay clean! I know it's hard to do when mud just makes you cringe but he is learning so much from it I think you have to put your feelings aside and the l let him go for it!

It's way more fun running, jumping getting & muddy!

Buy yourself some waterproof over trousers, get your wellies on & join in. Take the trousers & boots off before you get in your car. Sorted!