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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be worried about getting a newborn and a toddler in a car that is 80ft away from the house?

68 replies

loveigglypiggly · 17/05/2009 09:42

I just don't know how I will get a new born and a 24 month old in the car in the rain when our parking in 80ft away at the bottom of the garden. I want to move but DH thinks I have lost the plot???!! AIBU......and more to the point how would you do if safely???? Bags, babies, rain AH!!!!

OP posts:
misdee · 17/05/2009 09:43

babys dont melt/rust in the rain.

raincoats for toddler, raincoat/big blanket for baby. or put baby in buggy with raincover on if you are that worried

ssd · 17/05/2009 09:46

you'll do it, just get on with it!

purepurple · 17/05/2009 09:47

Don't use the car.
get a buggy and walk

Original poster
loveigglypiggly · 17/05/2009 09:49

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Your meant to understand me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:
ZacharyQuack · 17/05/2009 09:49

I assume the 24mth can walk? If so, as Misdee says, rainwear and just do it.

My car is parked at least 80ft away from the house down a steep path and there's 20mth between my DDs. It was a pain, but doable.

misdee · 17/05/2009 09:50

no, sotrry dont understand

rain isnt deadly

ZacharyQuack · 17/05/2009 09:50

OK, I do understand you, I felt the same when pregnant with DD2. You'll be fine.

foxinsocks · 17/05/2009 09:50

come and live in laaaaaaaarndon where if you don't have off street parking, chances are you'll park a lot further away than that!

tis a pain with the shopping, I have to say (bags, baby and toddler!) but if you can, park outside the front of your house, dump all the bags just inside the front door then go and park and take the kids out.

BigusBumus · 17/05/2009 09:51

I always leave bags buggies etc in the house by the door and just get the kids in first, strapped in the car and unable to get out. Then go back for all the other stuff. (Lock the car if ness).

foxinsocks · 17/05/2009 09:51

I mean a pain if you're parking 100ft away with 20 bags a baby and a toddler but as I said, ways round that

runnyhabbit · 17/05/2009 09:52

Um...the 24mth old walks with coat on/using umbrella, and you carry the newborn?

Or, if 24mth old is sleeping, take newborn first, lock car, take newborn into house, put in moses basket, bouncy chair, then go and get 24mth?

I've done both these

Original poster
loveigglypiggly · 17/05/2009 09:52

Would it be safe to leave newborn in car seat in the house, take toddler down and bags, strap them in, then go and get toddler? Garage is locked.

oooo I want a house with a posh interal garage!

OP posts:
TrinityIsLovingHerLittleRhino · 17/05/2009 09:53

just put kids in the car first, strapped in and safe
then go and get your other stuff
rain is to be ignored, I know how you feel, have felt it myself
but you need to take yourself in hand and be brave]
ignore rain and do two trips, kids then stuff

you'll be fine

oregonianabroad · 17/05/2009 09:53

Toddler goes in car first, not strapped in. have snack or toy at the ready. Strap in baby. strap in toddler.

shootfromthehip · 17/05/2009 09:54

Our car is always parked more than 80 mtrs away as we have to park round the corner from our house. It is not any more work getting them in the car in the rain than it is in the sun.

Moving, IMHO, would be a bit nuts.

Original poster
loveigglypiggly · 17/05/2009 09:54

sorry runnyhabbit, you just answered my question - cross posts

OP posts:
themoon66 · 17/05/2009 09:55

If its only a couple of light bags, your toddler can carry one for you (mine used to insist on helping mummy).

If the car is within the confines of your garden, once parked, you can let the toddler out to run to the back door alone?

If it's your weekly BIG shop with lots of heavy bags, do it on a day your DH is around to help (sundays perhaps).

zanz1bar · 17/05/2009 09:55

Its can feel just like the classic....how to get acroos a river with a tiger/boat/people combo thingy.

Esp difficult in london.
Park car miles away.
Q? take toddler into house, leave unsupervised while get babe, or other way round.
OR get shopping out first, then toddler/babe.
While leaving front door/car door open and unlocked.

I moved house.

tattifer · 17/05/2009 09:56

er, YABU.

You're not a bit post natal are you - anxious to leave the house?

Babie's don't melt, strap em in, shut car door, get bags. It's all on our property.

You may have lost the plot sorry

Original poster
loveigglypiggly · 17/05/2009 09:56

ok i'm nuts (I'm so not showing DH this thread) just totally terrified about baby number 2.

Whilst your here, How do you do the play park?? Toddler running wild all over the place???

Oh and get dressed in the morning - you not the kids?????

OP posts:
CherryChoc · 17/05/2009 09:56

Few suggestions:

Strap newborn into their car seat, leave them in the house while you take toddler out to the car and strap them in. Once they are strapped in safely, come back for the newborn in carseat.

Or,

Get a sling which is very quick to put on and take the baby in and out of like a pouch sling. Keep the baby's car seat in the car. Carry baby in sling to car while holding toddler's hand. Get toddler into seat before transferring baby into theirs.

Or,

Leave both children in the house while you drive round to the front (assuming this would be more practical).

Solution to bags, get a big changing bag you can fit everything in, and some toddler reins with the backpack for him to carry his bits he wants in.

It's doable I'd say it's probably not enough of a reason to move on its own, but if you have other reasons (space? If you rent are you now overpaying?) then could be counted towards total reasons to move. Our next door neighbours moved when they had one baby because these houses are built on a hill and have steep steps in the front garden (to street) and back garden (to parking space/garage).

CherryChoc · 17/05/2009 09:58

I am so slow

violethill · 17/05/2009 09:59

We lived in a house with a similar 'problem' for a while. I invested in a playpen (second hand, think I paid about £15 from NCT sale). Put toddler in playpen, have newborn strapped in car seat ready while you load up the car with bags. That way you're not having to leave the kids unattended in the car. Then come back for kids. Raincoatson toddler and covering baby car seat. A little bit of wet won't hurt anyway, and you can carry the newborn seat facing away from which ever way the rain is coming.
I managed this carrying new born and my other one (14 months, non walker) so you should have no problem with older walking toddler. Reverse the process coming home. Bring kids in, toddler in playpen, leave newborn in seat while you go back for shopping/luggage etc. Everyone safe!

I hate playpens as a rule, but bought mine specifically to deal with the car issue as I couldn't leave a 14 month old and newborn alone together for a split second. And when they got a bit older and baby is in a 'fixed' car seat, I just popped them both in the playpen while sorting out bags etc.

tattifer · 17/05/2009 09:59

baby in sling, follow toddler around but possibly stay off the more adventurous bits of equipment yourself

You - get your husband to choose something for you? Emphasise practical though!

meep · 17/05/2009 10:00

I am currently dealing with 7wo and 22mo with a car sometimes parked that far away. 7wo gets transported everywhere in the carseat and 22mo walks - she finds the rain funny. I have a rain cover for the carseat but have not yet used it - blanket over the top works just as well!

I have an uber-strong right arm from carrying the carseat and a vice like grip with my left hand from holding onto dd1!

I do the shopping at the weekend when dh is here and he lugs it in from the car! Or online shop.

Thinking about it is worse than actually doing it!