Anyone can't sleep as dont know what to do with their toddler in the morning?

[Lelophants]

Honestly so bored to tears I could cry. I dont know what to do with him anymore. For hours we just walk across rooms watch him play with the same toys. It's so slow. I used to have loads to do and now I dont know anymore. Only so much I can clean with him there. Nothing that involves my laptop. No crafts things have worked so far. Our daily walk is his nap and I don't want to change that as his sleep is my one bit of sanity.

Feel like a rubbish mum.
I've always been such a busy person.

If only 15m look for playgrounds with little houses etc/toddler slides etc where they can cruise/climb. If you have a garden toddler slides are fab, as are things like little tikes rocking horses which are often available second hand for as little as a fiver. Also I used a 3 ring paddling pool as a ball pit which you can do without spending much, and there are lots of cheap folding tunnels which are good for keeping them moving.

@Same4Walls

15 months was a hard stage with slow wobbly walking but as time goes on their stamina gets better.

I would settle for even some slow wobbly walking. It would certainly break the day up so much more if we could spend time going for slow toddler walks and it would be a nice change of pace trying to stop him eating sticks and leaves as apposed to cables, the tv remote and my hairbrush. 😂

Haha, yep, at 15 months I more meant along the lines of a slow walk from the dining room chair to the sofa and back!

Aquadoodle, cardboard boxes, musical instruments, foil blankets, rain maker toy, darken room and play with a torch or disco light. Get a tuff tray- fab for messy play (cereal, cooked pasta, shaving foam)

Oh my god I feel you so much I could cry. Last night I was dreading today because I don't know what to do anymore? Then I feel like a huge bitch and awful mum because I should be enjoying every minute but it's got to the point where I love my work days and would rather be at work.

So I don't have any advice but know you aren't alone and we didn't sign up for this! We should be having fun, not be forced to stay In.

@Sleepyquest I'm right with you. DS is at nursery 8-2 today as I'm about to start work and I'm dreading this afternoon already. Sitting here at my laptop with a coffee is bliss.

Can you spend some more time outside? I know its cold but could you venture to a park in the morning? Getting ready for this and the trip will take up considerable time, even if you only spend ten minutes there.

Make a den out of bedding or large cardboard boxes. Get the toddler involved in the cooking (just give them pans with some water in or some carrots to play with). Daytime baths are good too with lots of toys.

AND! If you so much as hint that it's a hard grind you get "Aw, but you wouldn't have it any other way would you? It's such a lovely age." It is, but not 14 hours a day with no friends, libraries, cafés, or relatives to visit when it's minus 3 degrees.

@hammeringinmyhead

AND! If you so much as hint that it's a hard grind you get "Aw, but you wouldn't have it any other way would you? It's such a lovely age." It is, but not 14 hours a day with no friends, libraries, cafés, or relatives to visit when it's minus 3 degrees.

This resonates so much! I lost my job due to covid so never returned after mat leave the amount of people who've told me how lucky I am to be at home with thr toddler all day is mind-blowing!!

@hammeringinmyhead enjoy! I'm working this afternoon. Never pictured this would be my life a year ago poor little things, my 15 month old seems happy though so it could be worse.

Sympathies, when DS was that age we lived at playgroups/library/soft play as it's hard to entertain them.

We have a triclimb which is excellent as both a climbing frame and making a den or balancing toys on it. We also have a popup playtent and tunnel from IKEA which would have been really good at that age.

Agree about going out more than once.

It's mental right now. I have a dd 3.5yr old and ds1.5yr old. I am trying to work as well and we have no childcare at the moment. Trying to get the kids out twice a day (st and I do a session each).
I let Ds reorganize the tin cupboard he loves it. Downside though it buys me 10mins we now have a selection of mystery soups.
I do an Andy's wild workout (BBC iplayer) or yoga (youtube cosmic kids yoga is good) with both of them.
Balloons are always popular with both of mine.
The spray and wiping game (aka cleaning the windows, mirrors, any shiny surface they can reach).
Sweeping game/mopping game.
Basically I involve them in every little thing. It's no less exhausting but at least everyone is busy.

If it's any help to anyone I killed some time today with my 2 year old by teaching them the trick where you hide a ball/coin under one of three cups and switch them around then guess where it is... also cheered up lunchtime a bit by pretending it was a "fancy restaurant" (literally just said welcome to the fancy restaurant and asked her to pay for her lunch with the cup game coin... but I guess it could be expanded upon!

I am tearing my hair out too in lockdown, especially as am quite unwell so everything is 10 times the chore.

I'd love to know how people get their little ones involved with making dinner - someone mentioned putting carrots in a pan with bit of water etc. Love this, but where do you give it to them? To play with on the floor? Mine just whinges to be picked up.. we have a counter stool thing but she's a bit of a liability in it so I find actually trying to prepare food and make sure she doesn't get hurt massively stressful..

Thanks everyone for all the little tips it can really help!

@walkwalk - when DS was little he'd sit in his high chair to stir eggs, mix up flour/ egg/ butter/ milk for pancake, knead dough, chop soft stuff like mushrooms or berries (plus eat half of them) etc. Now he just stands on a chair (and eats half of whatever he's chopping), but he's skilled at basic mixing, laying out food etc.

Waving solidarity. DD was 17 months when the first lockdown started, and it is, a bit, easier now. We also have elder siblings which help. But it’s hell.

Long walk for nap and separate long walk where he gets involved finding sticks etc. or you could even just pop him on reins with one headphone in with some music to zone in and out of and wander around a field/park for a bit? My sister used to do that with her ds with a little life backpack and listen to comedy podcasts with one ear, she used to say ‘just popping out to walk the toddler!’
Puddle suits are essential and wellies. Let him roll about on the floor if needs be. 2x baths a day if your water bill can hack it, with toys and bath paints. Are you able to make one room toddler safe with toys and nothing breakable or dangerous like bookcases or sharp edges and just let him Potter with toys whilst you read? Baby gate on the door?

Also have friends who have bought small soft play sets - foam mats for floor, small slide, foam blocks (it’s all online and on Amazon), tiny pop up tent, and they just keep half an eye out in the lounge whilst toddlers rampage on them safely

@Blueeyedgirl21

Also have friends who have bought small soft play sets - foam mats for floor, small slide, foam blocks (it’s all online and on Amazon), tiny pop up tent, and they just keep half an eye out in the lounge whilst toddlers rampage on them safely

Self pitying moan alert:

This is a fab idea but like so many other fab ideas it's expensive and sadly with just one income it's becoming frustrating that everything costs so much money. Before lockdown i had plans to use the library for free books and groups to find out what toys DS loved before buying them and obviously that didn't happen I feel like I've chucked so much money at trying to keep him entertained, something I wasn't expecting to be have to do until he got older.

@Same4Walls it is expensive, depressingly so, I think if I had unlimited cash I’d have a play frame in my house! - they sell on well though. You can get foam mats from Amazon for 20 quid ish and a little slides are often on freecycle or Facebook marketplace.

@Same4Walls - keep an eye on your local Facebook marketplace. Lots of people get rid of stuff by marking it free or £1 to collect. You can get quite a lot of things that are very easy to clean and use but people are clearing out. Second-hand stuff isn't necessarily bad. If you want something specific, just do a "wanted" post, you never know someone might be happy to give it to you. We just left bike, bouncer etc on the doorstep for collection recently, so no contact is necessary.

Also look for cheap but high rated options, e.g. the Little Tikes slide was £20 when we got it and is very well used (slide, camp with blankets over, car racer, etc).

Laughing a bit at those saying ‘just put the telly on’... I’ve had 3 and none of them would sit in front of the TV for longer than a couple of minutes as a toddler.
OP it’s hard. I have a just turned 2 year old but also have 2 early primary aged kids so am trying to home school too. It’s a constant battle to keep the toddler amused for long enough for me to sit and do some work with the older 2.
We go for 2 walks a day. At least.

I just want to run away today. :(

keep an eye on your local Facebook marketplace. Lots of people get rid of stuff by marking it free or £1 to collect. You can get quite a lot of things that are very easy to clean and use but people are clearing out.

That's a great idea but sadly everyone with young children is trying to utalise our local facebook market place and gumtree so the pickings are slim and if anything prices have sky rocketed near us for secondhand stuff as people know they have a captive market who have little other choice.

none of them would sit in front of the TV for longer than a couple of minutes as a toddler.

Mine didnt get that memo either im honestly deeming it a win if DS lasts 5 minutes.

@hammeringinmyhead

I just want to run away today. :(

Sending supportive hugs.

Hope you're ok @hammeringinmyhead
It's so hard. I had a cry this morning too as it was just all going wrong.

I'm having some wine now and have taken the soft play inspiration from this thread and have taken all of the cushions off the sofas and both of are climbing about. I'm hoping I can finish my wine before one of them inevitably injures themselves