Bedridden toddler. Bodyclock and entertainment

[MalmoMum]

Ds is in traction for 4 weeks and having spent the first week in a small hospital room for 20 plus hours a day with ds and seemingly endless runs of 'Choo-Choo' (Thomas), I wondered if anyone had some useful tips to pass on. I think there may have been threads on this before.

So far we have found the following useful: magnadoodle, 3 sections of brio train track and bits of train, a teletubby house, action songs, bubbles, ballons and my thomas addled brain has ground to a halt. We've got a few hours off and it's back to the pit face in 20 mins.

As he is not running about he's not getting tired and he seems to only need 8 hours sleep max a day. I think he's picking up a 25 hour day thing as going to sleep later and later each night (midnight last night). Not helped by all 3 of us in the same room together.

I'm getting cabin fever and need a few sanity pointers to get through 1 more week, let alone 3.

Oh Malcomum, I just want to say you have my sympathy, it sounds awful and you're pregnant too aren't you? Could you and DH take longer shifts on and off? Just to keep sane? Is there a TV? Video? Or is that what you mean by Thomas? (doesn't that theme tune do your head in after the nth time?!) Can you take time off to see a film, take a bath, read a magazine? Sorry, I'm probably not being much use, but I don't know what else to suggest. Any family who can help?

Lots of sympahty - I don't know which hospital you are in but we were in GOSH (only 5 days!!) & the nurses were wonderful in insisting we, the parents, had 'time off' - my initial reaction was, I can't leave my DS, but it was important to get a break ourselves, and of course DS loved different company, is there a 'play specialist' or similar who could help - check ALL the noticeboards in the hospital to see what might be available to help you. If family/friends can visit ensure YOU get a break whilst they entertain your child.

PS - I also sneaked in some half bottles of wine to help me !!!!!!!

There is an alternative to the "Thomas Stories and Songs" type videos (maybe you have it already!) called Thomas and the Magic Railroad. Its one of those films that you get more out of each time you watch it (well, maybe it wears a bit thin after the 20th watching!)

The only other thing I could think of at the moment could be a set of finger puppets (my son has one of those caterpillar wall hangings with a different puppet animal for every letter of the alphabet). You could possibly make a little "theatre" from a box and put on shows with your DH for your son's benefit - or your own if you make them really wild!

Depending how old he is the following may also be useful for the 'confinement' :

• reusable sticker scenes/ books (we bought some which now live permanently in our 'going out bag'
• constantly changing variety of story/picture books (if only to stop you getting bored!) Is there a library you can raid regularly - or perhaps borrow books/tapes/videos from friends?
• can you make mealtimes fun/longer by having a pretend picnic on the bed?
• take in old photo albums of you and dh before ds was born - gives you a laugh (combine with the half bottle of wine mentioned earlier!) and if ds is anything like ours he'll be fascinated by what Mummy & Daddy are doing in the pictures.

BTW - when are you due - I had a feeling it was about the same time as me (i.e. in 2-3 weeks)?

Good luck - thinking of you!

Malmomum, my sympathies!

Off the top of my head:

A neverending supply of scribbling paper (doesn't have to be expensive, cheap wallpaper cut up will do the trick); crayons; felt tips; pencils. (paints might be fun but messy!)

Old magazines, greetings cards, which can be cut up (or torn out if your toddler isn't at the scissors stage) and glue sticks, so he can make his own little collages. Anything will do - tin foil, scraps of fabric etc.

Large beads or (cheaper option) pasta, which can be threaded onto yarn to make very nice jewellery for Mummy!

HTH

Thanks everyone! Made me feel better though I'm shattered and have a corking 2 day headache. Anyhow, the good news is we are home and are allowed to move the traction bed around. Originally they said he not be allowed to be moved (which we did find a bit much as it took 22 hours to stabilised his leg in the first place) so now we can put him back in his bedroom which should help witht the day/night thing. Lucky we live in a flat.

On the bad news, the discharging doctor said he would be in traction for 6 weeks total rather than 4 weeks quoted last week. This new date crosses badly with due date of 2 Aug!