What to do when housebound because of weather? 3 yo and 10 week old

[Greenstone]

Help. Small house and big storm forecast today. If there is a tiny window of dry weather I will grab it and do a quick trip out, but otherwise it's me, 3 yo and a refluxy high maintenance 10 week old. I think colouring play doh etc and even tv will only last so long. Please send ideas for coping until dh gets home!

throw a big sheet or blanket over the kitchen/dining table (if you have one) and make a den

3 year old can have picnic lunch in there

Good one

Anyone got any more ideas for when baby won't be put down?

Have you got a sling?

How about baking biscuits / decorating biscuits / eating biscuits?

Put 3 year old in the bath with a can of shaving foam.

DS1 was refluxy and hated being put down so I just had him in the sling a lot and got on with stuff. He was my first though so I didn't have other DC to entertain!

When DS2 arrived (a winter baby too) I did den making for DS1 - I'd set it up as give him popcorn and let him watch a film in there. I have him a torch and let him just mess about in there. I've always got a cake mix in, so he can have a go at making cakes then just let him loose with decorating them (rather messy though!)

Have you tried raising the baby's cot/Moses basket at the head end so they're not lying totally flat? It really helped DS1.

My 3yo will amuse himself for hours. I know, no help. ?

Total x-post with Pottering there! Great minds think alike, eh :)

Pop baby in sling. Then can bake cakes/ sort house etc with baby.

Get in bath with both of them.

Go out somewhere that has indoor area so only travel there is cold/ wet. Library, swimming pool, museums, shopping centre.

Supermarkets can pass ages. Give eldest a list with drawings of what to get so they can help find. Go to supermarket cafe or nearby.

Can you invite friends over or visit friends or family?

I've been doing superhero school with DS. He has to practice jumping over pillow and run around the sofa. I put various toys and when I call the name he has to run to it.

I was once trapped in by snow for 6 weeks with a 3yo and an 11 month old. Survival is key! We did baking, Disney films, loooooong baths, reading books, I made lucky dip toy bags too with their forgotten toys. Good luck!

My just gone three year old has recently got into jigsaws in a big way. Otherwise untapped talent! Maybe worth digging out the games and jigsaws to see if they are into them now? I thought he just wasnt the type but he was just too young before.
Mine will also play with a train track all afternoon, especially if I am willing to sit there and watch or even just stand in the room and watch!

Forecasters are advising against any unnecessary travel today hence my dilemma.
Yes I'll use the sling a bit, dd has recently had surgery though so I'm trying to be a but careful about not constricting her wound.

Prove - we've just done about 40 mins of jigsaws which was great. Tbh when the baby is asleep it's fine but she's such hard work and needs constant feeding which dd1 gets bored with.

Thanks everyone for suggestions, really appreciate them.

wrap up and go out in the garden and let the wind blow you about. Put on wellies and go out and get wet puddle stomping.

I find that 10 minutes outside, even in foul weather, worked wonders for letting off steam. Then we come in lots of fun stripping off wet clothes, then warm bath with bubbles? Mug of hot chocolate? etc.

How's it going?

saucepans, bowls, jugs, wooden spoons, lentils, rice, dried pasta, cereal etc. all over on the kitchen floor. (try to) forget about how much mess she is making and just sweep it all into the bin at the end.

My 3yo also loves just listening to music and will often drop off during the game of "lets just see how still we can be while lying on the carpet"

How are you doing?

My 3 year old is climbing in and out of the toy storage boxes and the baby is laughing at him

I think I'll stick them in the bath when they get bored and then put Frozen on while I cook dinner.

Hope your managing okay (bedtime soonish!)

You're

Made the mistake of venturing out for milk - idiot, it was clearly unsafe and baby screamed the whole way! She's in sling now so am savouring peace and cup of tea. Coconut macaroons in oven, frozen soundtrack now on while 3 year old potters and plays a bit. House a shit pit obviously but will do a limited tidy with sling on.
Yes to joint bath and bed relatively soon!