Please help me find the invisible duck before I go mad...

[ICBINEG]

Every night for the last two weeks my DD (19mo) has been raging because I can't see an apparently invisible duck.

She stands next to the head board of the bed (shown here ) and makes all manner of quacking noises and signs duck. I should explain that she doesn't do much talking, only animal noises and signing so far .

If I say "is there a duck?"

She points to the main cross over point in the centre.

If I say "where is the duck?"

She covers her eyes - which usually means hiding, or peekaboo, or the object I am talking about is partially obscured.

If I say "is the duck hiding?" She signs hiding again and looks all expectant.

I have not yet found anything to say after this point that does not result in a screaming fit of rage. Including silence.

If I deviate from the above script in any way she has a screaming fit of rage.

I am starting to feel like I am trapped in a 80's text adventure, the only outcome of which is a screaming toddler...

Please help me find the duck!

[QueenStromba]

This is the duck I can see.

[CheeseStrawWars]

Does she mean sleeping? Eyes shut = hiding? Cos the duck doesn't have eyes, it's just the shape of the head? And you don't eat when you're sleeping.

[ICBINEG]

possibly but probably not - sleeping is a different sign and sound effect combination....

[TomDudgeon]

And people do signing because it helps with the frustrations of communicating

[Tee2072]

What time do I need to be here for tonight's attempt?!?!

[NorksAreMessy]

is it nearly duck bed time?

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

That round up is probably the best thing I have ever seen. Well done MrsReiver

[RubyGates]

I NEEEEEED TO KNOW!
Sorry but I just need to know where the duck is

[FanFuckingTastic]

Perhaps she's getting annoyed because she's meaning it's not a real duck, why on earth would you feed it. It's just a pretend duck mummy!

[ICBINEG]

Okay guys...big news here! The mystery is solved!

The duck is not hiding.....

the duck is....

upside down!

Okay so hiding was also true but I think it is the upside down thing that DD has been attempting to communicate for two weeks.

My suspicions were aroused when she signed 'hiding' for an upside down bath duck in the water....and were confirmed when in response to her signing that the duck was 'hiding' tonight I said "is the duck upside down?" and got a huge beaming grin and nod.

So In the end I don't think anyone quite found the same duck as DD. I think the main cross over is the tip of the ducks tail. The visible region of the oval shape is the ducks tail and back (the bit I thought looked like a fish body) an of course the rest (obscured by pillow/mattress) is under water....

It certainly explained why the duck was definitely hungry (coz going upside down is how ducks eat ya know) and why we couldn't fed it (we have a strict duck led weaning policy apparently).

I wish I had posted sooner! A resolution within 24 hours! Not bad MN....not bad at all.

On the down side, after brushing her teeth she pointed at the curtains and signed 'hiding'....so far there has been nothing more...no animal associated with this and no screaming with rage either....but I do fear what the future will bring.

[RubyGates]

[GrimmaTheNome]

Ducks are a dabbling - up tails all! Has she heard that poem?

[Tee2072]

Duck led weaning .

I think this needs to go into Classics!

[cakesonatrain]

Ah, brilliant [hiding ducky emoticon]

[AudrinaAdare]

This is the best thread I have read in ages. Duck-round up is awesome yes I have bookmarked it and I especially like the little feet on one of the pictures

[NorksAreMessy]

Duck led weaning is brilliant
This thread is brilliant
Mumsnetters superimposing duck shapes onto pictures of beds is brilliant
And I rather think that icbinegDD is rather wonderful as well

Thank you

[AudrinaAdare]

Second that Classics nomination, Tee.

[ICBINEG]

DH has admitted that about two months ago they sang "all the little ducks go upside down" at the end of soft play....no doubt this has triggered the whole palaver.

I am one part "oh that's so cute, what a memory she has" and 9 parts "and you are just remembering this now DH? Now, after two weeks of yelling?!?!?"

[MrsReiver]

I'm gutted none of us spotted the upside down duck but very impressed with DD's imagination!

Duck Round Up is my desktop wallpaper!

[ICBINEG]

Oh I should add a massive massive to all who hunted ducks and made the suggestions that got us to what I can only hope is the end of this little toddler episode!

Hooray for invisible duck hunters!

[MrsReiver]

Thank you for all the kind comments

[Beehatch]

Ahhh I love a happy ending

"all the little tails go wiggle, wiggle waggle..."

[ICBINEG]

MrsR Please do feel free to add the actual duck to the list. I feel a gold ribboned finale round up would seal the deal on this wonderful thread (I would do it myself but I lack any artistic skills and apparently the imagination to find invisible ducks altogether).

[ICBINEG]

Makes me wonder if DH slept with the milkwoman so to speak....

[MrsReiver]

I'm on the mobile app at the mo but I'll get on it in the morning.