My DD is 3 now, and she’s a lot easier in lots of ways, so if the weather is foul it’s not the end of the world if we don’t go out. But I’ve tried to get out every day right from the start, I’d just find being at home all day too boring and lonely! Before I had DD I just hadn’t realised how terribly isolating it can be. Even now DD is chatty and cheerful, it’s a long day to play with the same toys over and over!
@youareasyoungasyoufeel are you in an area that still has Children’s centres? These have been an absolutel godsend to me. They usually have stay and play one morning (or sometimes afternoon) and one bounce and rhyme in the local library one morning. If you have a car/decent public transport you might be able to get to a different one most days! Stay and Play is brilliant - they put on different activities every week, so there’s enough variety to save your sanity, and although you’re predminantly playing with your kid you do gradually get to know the other mums there (more so than in any toddler activity I’ve ever paid for). Bounce and rhyme is also great because it’s in your local library. They usually put toys out first so you can arrive early, and most libraries out out some colouring afterwards, or you can read etc so I stay after the session.
With both of these types of activities, you don’t pay anything, and you don’t have to commit in advance, so they are soooooo flexible and wonderful!
If you don’t mind spending some money, they are plenty of franchises out there that do toddler activities. However, the sessions are much shorter (typically 30mins) and I find that people tend to arrive on time and leave straight away, so you don’t get to know other mums. Nor does you child get the same benefits of social development. We still do these because they usually have specific skills in mind - DD loves cycle tots (they potter around on balance bikes, £8 per 45 min session but they set up different tracks each week and do activities)
My best weeks are when I’ve thought of a routine in advance. So I know what each day’s outing is (preferably two!) and I’ve got a few activities up my sleeve to change things up a bit from the same old toys.