What of LOs little whimsies and demands do you oblige on a daily basis, and really shouldn't?

[bergentulip]

....(generally around the 2/3yr old mark) that make you wander sometimes what the hell you are doing?

I, for example, am currently letting 3yr old DS1 fall asleep on the floor of our bedroom every night, with a song on a little cd player thingie going round and round on repeat,.. and then half an hour after he has fallen asleep I carry him into his bed. Madness.

There are million other tiny rituals I follow for the sake of peace (within limits), but what does everyone else out there just 'do' for their little ones?

I bought cakes 3 days in a row (I never buy cakes) because DS has been around far too many birthdays and keeps asking for cake when we go anywhere Seemed easier just to buy him some to keep him happy.

Oh, and he is going to bed each night with no nappy on, and i am puttin git on him asleep - was easier than him calling me up to wee every 5 mins (he has a potty there now, so he can wee and not waste nappies not getting it off in time and refusing to rewear.

Flame I need you here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2403/554581

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2403/554581

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2403/554581

Ooh -c omin!

oooooooooh, not fair, now noone's posting on my thread

But, even if I end up talking to myself- Flame, yes, I've done that, although thankfully no longer have to put the nappy on him asleep. Seems have gone through that little fad.

Come on. Surely there are more people out there doing things they know they should just not bother entertaining?? I'm reeee-ally bored, and I am sure there must be some funny stories out there.

Mine is 18 months.

I allow multiple dummies at a time because one, apparently, is not enough.
I stop for a "cuggle" on the way to CM's, which is on the way to work, because it is the cutest new word I have heard!!!
I am considering buying a dolly (against my feminist principles.
I let her play with the phone for 5 seconds peace (she'll ring 999 one day, that'll learn me).
I let her eat in the pushchair even though it's messy and horrible and all that for a quiet life (not fruit shoots or sausage rolls, though, not yet, anyway!)

Oh, and I let her wear the waterproof coat with the mice on a)all day b) when it's hot c)even when people laugh at me/ her. Because it's kind of endearing, really....

This morning, the four of us played Dinosaur Top Trumps. That's me, DS (age 4), Lambie and Jenny The Dog. Now.....you may have guessed that Lambie & JTD are stuffed, and so DS would start off with a card, I would then read out my card, JTD's card, and Lambie's card. Oh, I would also have to pronounce Ds's dinosaurs name and help him distinguish between hundreds and thousands. So so tedious, but his Favourite Game In The Whole World.

I also have sat holding "a tiny brown mouse" that was DD's imaginary friend, when we were at the soft play one day.

I have also spoon fed a six year old when extremely tired and whiney (her, not me).

Have just this second allowed 3 year old ds1 to go to sleep on the floor (of his room) knowing that I will have to put him - and the many and various toys that he must have in bed - back into his bed when I go to sleep.

I like to think of it as picking my battles, but fear that really it is because I am very lazy.

Dd currently only likes one person to go down the stairs at a time.

"Mummy! Joo WAIT!!"

Several aeons later: "Dere y'ar mummy. Joor turn now"

Ridiculous.

Ds is 2.3. I let him watch an episode of Thomas while I'm doing his teeth and getting his PJs on bere bed.
I really should read him a story instead.

I let him choose whichever toy he wants to bring when we go out. He has a quick scoot round saying "I'm bringing, I'm bringing, I'm bringing..." then usually grabs the heaviest most unwieldy thing he can find.

Brocollispears, I have to do the exact same thing! ('have to' being the operative part of that sentence!)

Wait patiently, DS1 tramps down the stairs.... no, wait wait.... okay, I'm at the booo----ttttooommmm......

Wellies in the middle of hot sunny summer days.
In the bath with his t-shirt still on, and then take it off. Of course, it's then all wet and he complains as it goes over his head, but insists I do not take it off him before he's in the water....

• so right, you just have to pick your battles.

I let DS choose which side of the street we walk on.

I let DS climb through those street signs that are outside shops (where the middle bit swings back and forwards in the wind and the frame is metal) and then pretend to be all disapproving 'Oh DS!!' for the benefit of passers by

lol 2point4kids! I also let my dcs do things that make me laugh and then attempt to look all grown up and solemn when people stare.

but...to all of these I would say "why not?"! Why shouldn't they choose which side of the street, or wear their wellies! I think it's great that they have some choices and can experiment with their worlds. ds has his rituals too, and for ages I rocked him to sleep when he was a baby because he found it hard to self settle and because he loved it and so did I. Nothing was broken so nothing needed fixing!
And definitely it is about picking battles, some things are not worth getting het up over

I agree with kitbit.
I allow the DC's to do things that others may not and vice-versa, personally bedtime is a Big Thing for me and they have to Do As They Are Told but I'd let DS play in the garden in his pj's if he wanted to.
He has worn his police dressing up outfit for oooh, 4 days? It needs washing today so he can wear it again later, it goes well with his pale blue nail varnish

PMSL at VS's ds's blue nailvarnish!!!
Agree though, it does make things that are "not negotiable" easier to enforce because ds gets to choose in a lot of other areas. He knows some things just have to be a certain way but he also knows I will let him choose when it's at all possible.

ds is being spiderman for the 3rd day in a row

for dd (22mths) it is the constant wearing of her pink wellies, whatever the weather. With dresses, just a t-shirt or just a nappy

I have the stairs thing too, I let DS choose which cups, plates, cutlery etc he has for each meal, even if it means washing some up quickly, I let him hold the dog lead when we go out for a walk, even though he frequently lets go and puppy runs off, I even let him wear a 'tike' (tie) to nursery so that he can pretend he is going to work like Daddy, despite odd looks from the CM's and other parents. But you're right, there are more important things to fret over.

Glad it is not just me who is constantly bossed around by a 4 year old. Earlier walked down the stairs before him, resulting in no no no mummy I wanted to be first, so walkerd back to the top of the stairs to start agin. really far quicker than dealing with the hyseria of refusing!

Let him watch shrek on my bed while I put DS2 to bed if Daddy is out. Last nightlet him have "5 more mins" before story, got distracted by Andy Murray, went back 10 mins (ish!) later to find him asleep in my bed

I constantly let my DS have my breakfast in the morning. He's eaten with his dad already before I get up, then I go down, finally sit to get some energy, he'll trot over and say 'oh, we share it together', then complains if I have a bite.... I end up hungry and somehow never quite getting round to making more toast/cereal.. and soon enough, it's lunchtime and I feel like I'm about to pass out (this results in me shovelling sugary rubbish in my mouth at stupid times in the day, to try and give me some energy and stop me feeling wobbly....)

Honestly...!? Why don't I just say NO! But, at 7.30 in the morning, I don't have the strength to fight my 3yr old for a piece of manky toast....

My dd (3.10) likes to run round starkers all day if she can get away with it. We also do the 2 dummies thing and playing games with various cuddly toys, and sharing breakfast which is a really difficult one to get out of when you're teaching them how important it is to share - my hubby got a right telling off the other day for not letting her have a bit of his bacon sarnie...!

dd - 3yrs old
seems only to want to drink and eat from yellow dishes. I actually seek out yellow dishes when I'm getting meals ready to avoid the tantrums that arrive when the yellow dishes don't!