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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Tell me what toddlers like!

83 replies

chesirecat99 · 04/08/2021 20:03

We have a (just) 2 YO guest coming to dinner at the weekend. I anticipate that he will be overtired and over-excited after a day of sightseeing and I believe he has just mastered the art of the tantrum

It's been several decades since my DC were babies and I have forgotten everything I ever knew about toddlers. I have absolutely nothing to entertain him before/while we eat other than pencils and paper my walls and he doesn't like TV Although we do have a xylophone and piano but the neighbours may not thank me if I let him loose on those...

I was thinking of investing in a couple of small toys or a game and a book but what will hold a toddler's attention for a couple of hours, won't annoy the neighbours nor result in my home being destroyed?

I'm sure his DM will bring toys but I am banking on something new keeping him happy for longer. And I am quite looking forward to having a little visitor to spoil

AIBU to ask for your best toddler taming toys? Bonus points if it something that the adults might enjoy playing with too.

OP posts:

KingdomScrolls · 04/08/2021 20:31

Trains

amicissimma · 04/08/2021 20:33

Whatever someone else is trying to use.

LadyCatStark · 04/08/2021 20:37

Washing up bowl of warm soapy water, various cloths and sponges, plastic cups and spoons etc; job done (get the parents to bring a change of clothes!).

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 04/08/2021 20:37

Balloons, bubbles, I got a unicorn thing from amazon that shoots out balls from its mouth when you squeeze them which they liked better than all the other birthday toys. Otherwise you could look on Facebook marketplace for an expensive activity toy that's really cheap secondhand. Like a scuttlebug if you have hard floors and the space inside or a scooter for the garden. You will be able to pick up for £5 - £10

Quietcrown · 04/08/2021 20:38

Can't go wrong with bubbles and lift the flap books.

PrancerandDancer · 04/08/2021 20:42

I would make a treasure basket from random stuff from around your house... Spoons, sponges, pasta in tupperware. Maybe a tray with water and containers if you have somewhere they can splash about?
Save you buying stuff that may or may not be a hit?

Littleone638 · 04/08/2021 20:43

Sticker books and bubbles in our house!

BlackeyedSusan · 04/08/2021 20:44

Car, bus,lorry, digger or plane and some people

Blocks to knock over

If warm enough/ suitable floor, DD liked to pour squash from play jugs to cups and dishes whilst strapped in a high chair. Add a couple of coloured scoops and spoons. Ideally give one or two things first then give something else extra to extend play.

Chubby chalks in garden if you don't mind.

Paper: get different colours and cut into different shapes to draw on. ( Alternatively book four of Harry potter and a red wax crayon or my mum's recipe book which I so kindly decorated)

The egg box was popular here too.

irresistibleoverwhelm · 04/08/2021 20:46

Bubbles, balloons, and a couple of those CBeebies magazines that come with stickers and some plastic toy tat on the front!

ItsDinah · 04/08/2021 20:48

Your handbag and its contents. Throwing things into the waste paper basket. Bubbles,balloons and wind up toys may or may not capture their attention for long but they are useful in keeping the adults occupied.

CorpusCallosum · 04/08/2021 20:50

Stickers and a Water Wow

mynameiscalypso · 04/08/2021 20:54

Dear Zoo is always a popular book. DS (nearly 2) also would happily move in with you if you had a toy car or two about your person. He particularly likes the ones where you press down and the car propels itself (ours are Brio).

rhowton · 04/08/2021 21:00

Whinging ?

ElizaDoolots · 04/08/2021 21:00

Good luck OP, I have a just turned two year old and there is very little that keeps her attention for very long.
Try one of those little bubble popper fidget toys, that usually buys us 5 or 10 minutes. Other things that DD likes are colouring, stickers (the Melissa and Doug reusable sticker books are good), play dough, counting bears and emptying things from one container into another (water, rice, pasta, whatever).
Also snacks, have lots of snacks ready.

ElizaDoolots · 04/08/2021 21:01

If all else fails, play baby shark. DD will listen to baby shark on a loop for hours.

TakeMe2Insanity · 04/08/2021 21:02

Forget finding things to entertain him, hide anything at low reach that is delicate, precious etc. His parents will thank you more.

speakout · 04/08/2021 21:07

If your guests are spending the days sightseeing then how long will the 2 yo be in your home?
If back late afternoon and tired then not much time or energy to do much would suggest.
A meal, bath and a story book before bed will suffice?

Fortyfivepotholes · 04/08/2021 21:09

If I were bringing a two year old to your house, a set of colouring pencils, a book for them to scribble in, some bubbles and (for example) loads of Tupperware, pans, bowls etc. with wooden spoons to “play” with would be fab.

TerribleTango · 04/08/2021 21:11

Lift the flap books, anything they can bang on to get it to play tunes. The Gruffalo lift the flap books, "there's a dragon in my book" the VTech Playtime bus and any digger and fire engine toys are popular at my house

Wowcherarestalkingme · 04/08/2021 21:13

Trains, cars, wooden spoons, lift the flap books and anything he can ‘sort’. So a few bowls and some dried pasta etc and he will be away.

clickychicky · 04/08/2021 21:14

@TakeMe2Insanity

Forget finding things to entertain him, hide anything at low reach that is delicate, precious etc. His parents will thank you more.

This is true

ForkedIt · 04/08/2021 21:15

My two year old very much enjoyed finding ‘treasure’ in a childless friends house recently.
So I wouldn’t bother with anything aimed at children and just remove anything breakable / important.

Footballschmootball · 04/08/2021 21:15

Anything with little figures to put in and out of . My 2 year old LOVES the playmobil 123 bus which comes with 4 little people. Keeps her happy for ages!!

Babyghirl · 04/08/2021 21:16

@chesirecat99
An ipad cause that's all I c kids playing nw YouTube, kids childhoods aren't what they use to be.

Original poster

chesirecat99 · 04/08/2021 21:17

@LividLaVidaLoca

Light switches, high windows, smashable crockery, the hoover cord, the glass pan lids, door hinges and the nicely-stacked Tupperware drawer are all the big attractions in this house

Quite... I have a thousand dangerous or valuable things that would entertain a toddler... a fire escape onto the fourth floor roof, poisonous plants, dangly blind cables, child height cupboards with medicines and poisons, a robovac, antiques, art and china... but I am aiming for both the child and my home staying undamaged

My strategy is to have 2 or 3 things to bring out one by one, every time he gets bored.

I'm thinking Alexa might provide a temporary distraction but something non-messy (I have spent too many years picking play doh off the carpet and soft furnishings) and unlikely to cause too much damage when thrown would be good.

Unfortunately, we are expecting rain and thunderstorms so there is no chance to go outside. I shall have to toddler proof the sitting room, both the things that can break him and the things that he can break.

It would be a lot easier if he watched TV... I am sure it will be lovely though and thanks everyone for all the good ideas!

OP posts:

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