silly problems not tackled in parenting books.

[curlygirl]

Since becoming a mum I have come across little problems thatI wouldn't have even thought about before. Friends with children don't seem to be able to help me, and the books don't mention anything a bit trivial. Can any MNers help? Firstly, how do you stop your baby from pulling socks and shoes off every 2 seconds, I put them on and she takes them off immediately after. I put the cosytoes on and she wriggles out of it. Secondly, what do you do if your out shopping on your own and your bursting for the loo and there is no cubicle big enough to accomodate the buggy. Thirdly, what do you do if your baby is fast asleep in the carseat and you need to stop for something from the shop, wake baby or leave her to sleep while you pop in the shop? I always wake dd up but feel horrible about it.

haha. I always wondrered what those attachement parenting books would say when the baby simply will not settle in the parental bed. "Bond with us God dammit!!"

the loo thing i have solved, i park the buggy right outside the door and i close it just enough so the room can't see me pee and i lean over so i never break eye contact with the child in the buggy. Bit tricky but works for me. Obviously i also try and use the end one lol!!!

Bit harder now i have one in the buggy and one who needs to walk every where!!

I hate it when you need the loo and cant go because the cubicle isnt big enough, why cant they make big ones for mothers and babies?
I always leeve dd in the car, cant be botherd to take her out its too much hastle, if someone takes her, good luck to them, im sure they would bring her back after five mins (joke).

Ha some tricky ones. Shoes and sock issue - if its cold enough to be a problem make them wear tights under trousers! Otherwise buy cheap socks so that you can afford to loose some.

Loo issue - consensus seems to be use the disabled. I have a friend who uses the very last cubicle and parks the buggy sticking out of the door but leaves it open. Myself I have been known to be very athletic to get buggy and me in and the door closed.

Shop q. Take baby and car seat in (assuming you have that kind) and baby shouldn't wake up. TBH with DD (this will probably be severely frowned upon) I usually had DS in the car and would leave them both in together. Use a petrol station shop and park out the front where you are in full view of the car at all times.

My problem is that time-out type punishments work really well except where the child is dragging their heels, refusing to get ready to go out and you're already late. What to do then?

I use the disabled one as I have a double buggy and there is no way I am leaving them outside.

so do i oliveoil

bribery works for me in that situation Bozza lol

Socks n shoes... go for tights. If they aren't walking then shoes aren't essential imo.

and yes - Boys can wear tights... keeps em warm and if they've got trousers on , who cares?

The loo - I tend to find disabled.

Sleeping baby - I have left before (in a locked car) if it is a 2 second run in and out, but I get very nervous so only in cases of dire emergencies.

@ Attachment parenting!!!!

the baby change unit thingy is usually in disabled anyway olive oil or is where ever i go!

Similar toilet problem at supermarket. DS1 wanted to go, so had to abandon trolley and carry ds2 in my arms. But ds1 still needs help with dressing and there was nowhere clean enough or safe enough to put the baby down! Very tricky.

Dragging feet child - beat em (Joking, joking please don't throw things at me!!!)

I normally end up screaming lots and forcing them to get sorted

Tights under trousers, genious idea. Why didn't I think of that

So do I flamebat. But sometimes wish for a failsafe alternative.

Me too

I did bribery the other day, but hated it, so will go back to screaming.

Everyone seems to have it covered.

Curlygirl
Get a RADAR key for the disabled loo, most shopping centre offices sell them, essential if you have more than one child.

Use tights boys&girls, can always put pretty socks over, tho find the leather bootee type of shoes are very hard to get off.

Bozzer
If running late do a 5-1 countdown with a toy/privilege removal at each reaching of 1.

Reduce the opening of the cosytoes with extra buttons.

Ooooh - wondered where you got the keys from!

my solutions. from the lazy approach to parenting.

a leave them barefoot

b leave them wriggled out of cosytoes til they learn it's warmer to stay in

c use disabled loo. or leave cubicle ajar to watch buggy. or have second child - then you can leave double buggy with baby and toddler almost anywhere - it always seems to me a little cute baby is far less likely to be pinced when it comes in a package with snotty grubby loud toddler attached.

d dunno i just go shopping another time on foot but we live very close to shops.

and do they let any old anyone have a RADAR key then?

For £3-5each and your address-yes, invaluble when i nannied 3 under 3.5yo, and got 4 keys in one trip.

oh, Bozza, what i do for my 5 year old (have done it since she's 4) is, if she wont' get ready I put her and her clothes in the back garden and she has to get dressed out there. I don't let her back in til she's dressed. I don't have to do it very often and it's quite effective. far less time consuming than naughty step shenaningans if you're pushed for time.

i have 2 younger ones so tend to be rather unsympathetic to the oldest being slow.

Also in addition to fennel's toilet point. Keep up a continuous conversation with said snotty, grubby toddler.

Fennel - in UK in winter?

Actually I would shut DS in the bathroom or some such but DH tends to undermine such activities.

oh yes Bozza I do that, also with my 4 and 5 year olds now they use separate cubicles in public toilets - we just keep chatting, then you know they haven't wandered off.

Bozza, yes it's more effective when it's cold. we do have a back porch so she doesn't actually get rained on. it speeds her up no end.