Do you take your toddler out every day?

[Twirl]

Advice needed please....my dd (2.4) wants to go out every day and goes up the wall if we have to spend half a day at home. Is this normal? She goes to nursery 2 days a week and we go to a few other activities/classes/have playdates on the other days but she doesn't want to stay in at home at all. I have a new baby at home too so going out all the time isn't an option. What are your toddlers like and what do you do with them at home to stop them being bored?

When ds2 was born (in winter and it kept snowing so took hours to get out of the house) I used to go to the shopping centre just about every day so ds1 could look at the toys in the toyshop etc and I didn't get cabin fever or have to freeze the baby outside.

It's not easy though, as ds1 at 2 1/2 had to be strapped in the buggy if I had to feed baby, otherwise he'd walk off out of sight. Much easier to go to friends houses - low effort for mum and includes adult company, or get friends with kids to come round for tea, or get someone else to take your older child out for a bit.

Oh I think with a new baby who is feeding a lot and not sleeping (usually) things are a lot different. I think ds would just have to put up with being home more, though given the insistent way he goes on about going out - I'd probably try and get someone lese to take him out as often as I could just so I could stay sane.

With a new baby I didn't go out as much though I still did most days - just at a more leisurely pace

i agree with lazycow, when i had dd one of our parents or dh would come over & take ds to the park 2/3 times a week, he loved the treat with his granparents, it tired him out and gave me some much needed peace and quiet to feed the baby.
otherwise i am the same as everyone else, ds 2.6 has to get out and have a run everyday or we'd both go mad. i vary it between the park and a lovely local public farm which i love as much as him. in termtime its easier when playgroups are on as well

My 2yo DTS are at nursery 3 days a week and on the other days, we tend to go out in the morning to park, shopping or library (music group one morning during term time) and then spend afternoon in garden or indoors if wet. If we don't go out, I make sure they spend time in the garden, weather permitting.

I bought this book from Aldi called 501 TV free activities for kids. There are a few things in there for children their age but I find that they prefer to just do their own thing as long as I'm around to witness their efforts

I used to be in the park at 8 o'clock in the morning with my 2 yearold and the new baby. He was desperate to be reassured that new baby wasn't going to restrict his activities. It was exhausting, but understandable. I couldn't have coped but for the fact that my community midwife and HV made a list of all the local mums with babies and toddlers, and put us in touch with each other, and we used to meet up in the park, then ajourn for coffee/lunch at someone's house. The toddlers were tired out and slept in the afternoon. It is so much easier when you've got some physical and moral support.

Haha very familiar. I have a 2.11 yo (where are we going today mummy) and a 1 yo. A few suggestions: we have invested in season tickets to a couple of local attractions, both very toddler friendly and we go ALL the time to both of them, pricey up front but an easy option for going out and good baby changing etc for the little one. The park all the time (with buggy board or double buggy). Indoor play places in the winter, some of them have baby chairs now and baby gyms, and my dd began to be a bit more independent playing at these places when I couldn't go on all the equipment with her because of the baby. Local toddler groups? Just for a hour of play they are quite useful and baby friendly. We go to storytime at the library, it doesn't matter that its only half an hour, dd is happy because we have been out. If we are in town I take her to play with all the toys in Early learning Centre! I do prefer to be out, because then the house doesn't get messy again, but I do sometimes crave some more settled time at home...but dh is the same, so i figure dd just takes after him. She occasionally plays independently at home, but I can't rely on it.

We tend to go out in the mornings, in the hope of exhausting him so he'll have a nap when we return. I don't think I could cope staying in the house all day, everything gets chaotic, but really hard when you've got a newborn I would think.
He's usually happy to 'pootle' in the afternoons, tho, but I have to suggest activities & structure it a bit. When I have the energy, we'll make cookies together or paint outside etc. I can see that things must change a lot with another baby (I'm due in Dec when ds will be 3). Perhaps the issue is really what to do in the house (because you've got to be there some of the day) to keep her happy whilst also dealing with the baby. Making it sound exciting might be half the trick, building up being at home as being a good thing coz she's maybe come to see it as boring for whatever reason??

Actually, don't think I really answered your question there. Things I do with ds at home: playdough, easel with crayons/those easy painters from elc, story cds, train set, indoor picnic with teddies, vet's kit (from Sainsbury's) used on the cat etc, 'postman pat' e.g. wrapping stuff & delivering it to mummy, housework i.e. he helps me with hanging out clothes, uses handheld vac, does dishes.

Twirl quite normal..I try to get out with ds[2.10yrs] and dd[8nths] most days even if it is just to local shops for milk as it helps air the cobwebs. Cant stay in 2 days on the run as my kids get very very restless.

small children are like puppies - they need to be taken out for a run at least twice a day or they start destroying your house. It is hard while they are under 5, but my boys are 15 and 17 now and i would love to have those days back again. The years go so fast, I wish I had slowed down and just enjoyed them and sod the housework.

Agree. Impossible for me to stay in the house all day. I am going out at least in the morning, sometimes also in the afternoon.
When DS2 was little, well, he just had to get on with it really.... He has been following us to the park, toddlers groups, shopping, seeing friends etc... I think it is part toddler life (ds1 is nearly 3yo and ds2 is 15 months old)

Sorry probably haven't really answer your question either.
Things to do at home, when baby is happy to be on his own for a bit :

• baking 9always a winner0
• involving ds1 in any daily activity (loading the washing machine, dryer, sorting out clothes, swipping the floor etc...)
• jigsaws
• some crafts (play dough, paint)
• the TV
• cars, train set
• the garden whether permiting with a sand pit -Going out.. Unfortunatly, I really wouldn't be able to do without.

My 3rd spent her whole life either in a supermarket trolley, carseat, or at the side of swimming pool/rugby pitch/gymnasium, or going to and from school. She is the most pleasant well ajusted 8 yearold I know. she just never got the chance or choice to get bored. I used to shove her in with the eldest having his guitar lesson when she was tiny. she sat happily jogging in her bouncy chair for the entire lesson while i got the vegetables done for dinner. The eldest (nearly 18) being the first, needed constant entertainment and still does.

Yep, same as everyone else I think. Ds (2.7) goes mad and so do I, if cooped up all day. At the moment since there are no classes on we spend a LOT of time at the park. His nearly 1 year old sister is not too impressed at being stuck in the buggy though so I have to get her out and let her crawl about even though she gets really mucky. Normally we go to a music class on one of the two days he isn't at nursery (roll on September when that class starts again). I go out at least once a day, usually twice. Second time round is sometimes just to the playpark in our cul de sac or to post a letter or to the local supermarket with dd in the buggy and ds on his scooter. Scootering really knackers him out He has an hour of telly at lunchtime as he doesn't sleep and I need time out. That is the only time he'll sit still....

My son (22 months) is home all the time. I have a 6-month old as well so going out is a big hassle. I feel so guilty most of the time but there really isn't anywhere to go round here. Even the park is a long drive and paid parking! My friends are single career girls with neat apartments so babies are a no-no. I am happy locked indoors but I do think he should meet other kids.The last time we went to the park, he ran amok. I had to abandon baby in the buggy to run after him. I decided then, no more. Any suggestions???

oh tigermama - I feel so sorry for you. You must be climbing the walls. Have you asked your HV if there are any mum's groups, or just other people in the same boat nearby? My life would have been so much harder when my first 2 were little (2 yrs apart) but for mums I met at ante natal clinic or baby clinic. HV got everyone to write their contact details on slips of paper and introduced us to one another. We didn't know each other before children, but we mucked in and helped and supported one another. I am afraid that very often pre-children friends might as well be from another planet. Not their fault, but your life is so different now. It does pass, though. It is just tough when you are in the thick of it. I used to walk my boys until they were worn out. Sounds cruel, but it was the only way to get them to have a nap and preserve my sanity - then I had more patience to play with them.

Have just thought of something else - a local mum and toddler group would be ideal. Usually details can be obtained from your local library or council offices or education authority. They are mostly inexpensive and a good way of meeting other mums, and are usually "escape- proof". my two were usually bent on self destruction or determined to abscond at the first opportunity. Ds 2 had to be dressed in bright red all the time so I could spot him and run after him.

It's never been an issue with us, I only have 1 ds (now 3.10) but we have a dog who we walk religiously 2 or 3 times per day (rain, hail & snow). DS has been out every day since birth (normally more than once) simply because we must walk the dog .

yes I do take him out every afternoon.
Every morning goes to nursery up to 1.30pm and then has 2 hours nap and then out!!!!

Other home stuff - making tents out of duvet covers draped over the furniture; chalking on the patio slabs outside (especially if its just due to rain so you don't have to look at it for weeks...); helping with chores - my dd is quite into 'washing up' the odd plastic bowl sometimes, on a step stool or a chair in front of the sink, also she likes dusting; rolling things down cardboard tubes seems to keep her entertained for a while. Sometimes we just walk round the block on her tricycle (have to put baby in back pack thing or papoose), or up to the post box.

I didn't take them out today and all 3 of us (aged 1.5, 4, and 34) had a meltdown before bathtime. Aaaaaagh.

Tomorrow, we are going to go to the garden centre. They have fantastic "car" trolleys with 2 seats and 2 steering wheels at the front. I get to push them slowly round while looking at stuff.

Twirl - having a 7-wk-old is a good excuse for the 2.5 yr-old to watch lots of tv for a while. It isn't for ever - when the feeding settles down again you can get out more with the baby in the pram.

Yes Twirl, DS (2 yrs 3 months) always seems to go a bit loopy when we stay in but he hasn't twigged that he can ask me to go out yet. Even so, I usually take him out pretty much every day.

Recently, he and then his brother (now 4 months) have had chicken pox so for the last 5 or 6 weeks I have pretty much been banished from parks, friend's houses, everywhere really. We are slowly going insane here. I think it's best all round to go out most days but if you want ideas on what to do in the house here's what we have been doing inside for these last few weeks:

He helps me with washing up, brushing, dusting, putting the washing on etc.
Water play in the kitchen on top of a big pile of dirty washing. Washing his toy cars.
Drawing, glitter glue pens, painting, stickers, playing with bubbles. Making pastry. Playdough. Growing some tomatoes and watering them. C beebies and Nick Jr. More C beebies and Nick Jr! Playing at some of the programmes we see (e.g. he has a toy plane and spends hours flying 'Auntie Mable' and her dog around the house to various places). He is recently obsessed with playing upstairs so we've been doing a lot of that recently. I've realised we do stay downstairs a lot and just the change of scene seems to go down well.

By the way, getting out does slowly get easier. As I've said, DS2 is now 4 months and we can now manage 9 o' clock comfortably.

3 little frogs: I try to dress DS in red/orange at playgroup and a couple of other mums at playgroup also do. Soon they'll all be wearing red and we won't be able to spot 'em!

My favourite activity with son 4 is him having a bath!! He can take it at his leisure and plays happily for ages. There's no mess at the end (well maybe a couple of gallons on the floor but that dries out soon enough in this weather), and we're one job ahead at the end of day!!

I have found a trip to IKEA is fantastic. Geared up for kids with play areas, changing facilities and cheap food and coffee.
I usually meet up with friends there once a weekand let the kids run riot!
Toys stores are usually kidfriendly too- Toysrus/Mtherare etc. Just be ready with a cheap toy to buy them if they whine on about getting 'something' I can usually get away with a 50p bag o marbles.

we go out at least once a day and usually twice, during termtime he goes to 3 playgroups and swimming once a week so thats four activities.

Then there's my 'big things' list:
little monekys
bikeride (mine) to paddling pool and avairy in park
Trip on bus up to tesco

little things list
play with football in garden
walk to local park and run around on grass/ play hide and seek in trees
go to playground in park
go to conservatory and look at birdies!
walk to shops and stop off at coffe palce which has kids toys
walk to library (there's two) and play in childrens section
visit friends with a 3yr old (DS is 17 mo)

Indoors things:
build a den
play wrestling matches
Help mom with washing up (he just gets wet but hey he enjoys it!)
play in his playpen with balls for ballpool in it

The more active he is the better he (and me) sleep!