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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask you what your parenting saviours were?

77 replies

NUFAN · 20/04/2021 14:06

When your little ones were small? My 6mo has the attention span of a fish, he is interested in something for 30 seconds then he is bored of it and it is hard work!

What things were your saviours when you had young kids? What kept them happy or kept you sane?

He’s an allergy baby and I’m hoping it’s not dairy because chocolate is definitely my crux, the thing is use to get through!

What did you find was good for you or for baby? Having a tough day today!

OP posts:

Askingforfriend · 20/04/2021 16:09

When my eldest was little and I wanted to get something done (for instance, I enjoy sewing or if I needed to make a call), I would put him in the highchair next to me and on my other side I'd have a tub of interesting non-toy stuff. e.g. spatulas, tv remote, an old cell phone, keys, a pan lid. I'd give him something, he'd investigate it for a minute or two then toss it and I'd give him something new. I could get a good twenty minutes of solid work that way.

ASatisfyingThump · 20/04/2021 16:11

Another vote for a playpen, I loved my baby cage! We got a brightly coloured one that had toys attached to the inside, DS2 while away many a happy hour in there, he used to scream if we took him out before he was ready

FilthyforFirth · 20/04/2021 16:11

Yes to that @NUFAN. DS is my 2nd baby and my first was so easy so I feel unprepared for a high needs baby.

I am signed up for every class going and they start in the next few weeks so I am pinning my hopes on that. Are there any opening up near you? I started swimming last week which wasnt a total disaster (he enjoyed the pool but getting him dressed and home was horrific)

BettysCardigan · 20/04/2021 16:15

A box of household stuff - years ago on here they were called wanky baskets (or wnaky baskets) you can probably search for old threads.

Basically, get a plastic box and fill it with stuff with different textures and colours etc. Household stuff - plastic measuring spoons, tumble dryer balls, a remote control with no batteries was a big favourite. Fabrics that feel nice and can be chewed. Wooden pegs. Plastic cups to bang together, wooden spoon for chewing and to bang stuff.

It's called heuristic play if you want to be wanky about it. Basically go to Poundland and fill a plastic box with household items.

It'll entrace them for hours.

FilthyforFirth · 20/04/2021 16:15

Ah thanks @MRex. I used one for my first but I couldnt remember when I put him in it. I am off to investigate..

Bluntpencil · 20/04/2021 16:26

Don’t let your baby get hungry

Thatisnotwhatisaid · 20/04/2021 17:09

Agreed with jumperoo. We have the skip hop one and I’ve now used it with two babies, it’s great. CBeebies when they reach toddler age, just totally necessary sometimes when you have housework to get on with. Baby Björn bouncer up until about 9/10 months. Shnuggle baby bath, a decent playmat and safety foam for the hearth . Board books (especially that’s not my ones) and wooden toys. Oh and Sophie the giraffe!

Chicchicchicchiclana · 20/04/2021 18:44

Understanding that small babies (even up to 6 months) want to go back to sleep for a longish nap just 2 hours after waking up for the day. Get them up, feed, change and wash them. By the time that's all done it could be time for a serious nap! Thank you Gina Ford (only piece of advice from her I followed tbh).

Waveafterwaveslowlydrifting · 20/04/2021 18:47

Rose and rebellion slings in baby size and toddler size, dribble bibs, gro clock, blackout blinds.

Foghead · 20/04/2021 18:50

Coming off dairy.
Strapping baby into bouncer in the morning to watch tv while I quickly cleaned up or prepped food for dinner and lunch.
Out every day after breakfast. I feel bad for mums with little ones right now. As well as parks and lakes, I took the baby to playgroups, library, museums and swimming.

RolloverRollover · 20/04/2021 18:56

Used to put them in the (dry) baby bath in whatever room I was in and chuck a load of toys in.

Lndnmummy · 20/04/2021 18:56

It’s so so hard. I completely understand. A playpen is actually a very good idea. You can pop him on playpen on front of the tv for a few minutes at the time so he is safe while you go off and do you what you need to do, put the kettle on, quick shower, put wash on, whatever. He is safe in there and you can have your hands free.

Lndnmummy · 20/04/2021 18:57

And yes without baby groups, cafes, libraries etc it must have been a very very challenging time.

Lndnmummy · 20/04/2021 19:00

My first son was like this and it was exhausting. Being out and baby groups saved my sanity. I can’t imagine what it would be like having him in lockdown.

PegPeople · 20/04/2021 19:13

@Lndnmummy

My first son was like this and it was exhausting. Being out and baby groups saved my sanity. I can’t imagine what it would be like having him in lockdown.

I don't know about anyone else but I spent a shit ton of my days sitting in a park listening to him scream. As bad as it sounds at least the screaming sounded less loud outdoors compared to in the house and at least he wasn't disturbing the neighbours all day.

Although reading that back it's quite depressing really.

InvincibleInvisibility · 20/04/2021 19:13

DS1 was like this and didn't play with toys/objects until he was over 1. His main interest was moving - he crawled and walked very very early.

I struggled a lot but just had to accept he wanted to be with me ALL the time so put him in the sling and tried to carry on as much as possible. Lots of walks and visits to parks. He liked watching cars and boats go past. Im sure he would have liked a jumperoo but we couldn't have one.

He didn't sleep either. (Later diagnosed with ADHD and dyspraxia)

DS2 was a totally different child. Very happy to play with objects and toys from a few months.

Good luck. It gets loads better as they get older.

whattocallhim · 20/04/2021 19:18

Another vote for the jumperoo!

Lndnmummy · 20/04/2021 19:32

@PegPeople completely. I often felt pangs of sadness when ds was little. It was a very hard time. I loved him dearly but life with him in the early days was so so draining and difficult. I used to gaze longingly at the mums in baby groups whose babies just lied there. For ages. My first year with ds was so fraught in comparison and I felt like a rubbish mum most of the time. It took me 6 years to have another child as I just couldn’t face doing it all again. Unless you have a baby like if you just have no idea. OP just do whatever it takes to get through. Whatever you need to do.

littleredberries · 20/04/2021 19:41

Convertible buggy/bike trailer. Get out of the house for several hours. Strap in and go. Occasional stops to feed otherwise baby is happy and there's headspace for you too.

minniep · 20/04/2021 19:43

I'm no help OP as at that age nothing kept mine happy or entertained. I found it very stressful and I tried everything and I honestly don't want to make you feel worse but DC3 was even worse around the age of 1. During the lockdown last year I thought I was going to loose my mind. Now at 2 she loves mischief and plays happily outside sitting in mud.

PegPeople · 20/04/2021 19:45

[quote Lndnmummy]@PegPeople completely. I often felt pangs of sadness when ds was little. It was a very hard time. I loved him dearly but life with him in the early days was so so draining and difficult. I used to gaze longingly at the mums in baby groups whose babies just lied there. For ages. My first year with ds was so fraught in comparison and I felt like a rubbish mum most of the time. It took me 6 years to have another child as I just couldn’t face doing it all again. Unless you have a baby like if you just have no idea. OP just do whatever it takes to get through. Whatever you need to do.[/quote]
It's actually quite nice to see others have had a similar child and experience. Hopefully threads like this reassure other mums that whilst unusual it's not anything you've done or not done that's led to your child being like that. It's just luck of the draw and some poor suckers have to get the bad luck.

Tomatobear · 20/04/2021 20:19

On the off chance you're in Cornwall you can have our jumperoo if you like. My 8 month old is now bored of it but it has been an absolute lifesaver!

nedtherobbot · 20/04/2021 20:22

Sat in front of the washing machine or held on top during the spin cycle.
Henry hover, dh would hold ds on top sat up or laid on his tummy while it was on. Ds also loved 'feeding' Henry either sat propped up on the floor or wedged into the high chair if I needed to do something in the kitchen.
Ice cream, he was very poorly between 6 and 12 months, one of the domestic staff produced it his first stay, that a bf were one of the few things that made him happy.
Baby groups and other people.
Being in the sling, back carry as soon as he was big enough.
He also loved the sound of the shower running so we spent a lot of time in the bathroom.
Singing.

rosegoldivy · 20/04/2021 20:30

Jumparoo in front of the TV with cocomelon on.

There I admit it. I let her watch TV guilt free. And far to much of it. Do I regret it. No. Am I planning on doing it for the twins when they arrive..... Abso fuckin lutly

Caspianberg · 20/04/2021 20:40

Ds was like this. It’s like he hated being a tiny baby who couldn’t move.

He’s only just turning a year old now, so still small, but started walking by 8.5 months. It was like a switched flipped, and he has been so much happier since he can explore and cause chaos himself.

This afternoon I managed to cook dinner for 30 mins easily as he just emptied the contents of the Tupperware cupboard. Something I couldn’t have done without him screaming a few months ago.

So it goes by and they move onto the next stage, hopefully more contented.

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