Winter weather + lockdown + baby + toddler

[StegosaurusRoar]

Anyone else with a young baby and a toddler trying to navigate the dual horror of lockdown and terrible weather? Fancy a bit of camaraderie / commiseration / sharing ideas?

How do you entertain a 2 year-old and look after a baby in the present circumstances?

We're going to the playground as much as we feasibly can for as long as we can manage (although I'm getting freezing breastfeeding outside and struggling a bit with doing anything physical due to c-section).

The rest of the day we're rotating through painting / play dough / drawing / books / jigsaws and far far too much TV

My poor 2 year-old wants to play with other kids and I'm exhausted! Anyone else going through this? I'm trying to stay positive!

Im the same Op. we've been doing a lot of baking as it's the one thing DS absolutely loves that doesn't involve other kids, a pool, soft play or the tv. It's very messy thought but he "helps" with the cleanup 😂

I don't have a baby but I think I would struggle juggling their differing needs without the usual help. Could you feasibly send your toddler to childcare a couple of days a week?

Also I have done a fair bit of just leaving him to it, he doesn't mind and I join in his games when he asks.

Argh I feel for you! I'm really really really pleased my 3 year old can interact with other kids at nursery given playdates are a no no. Does your toddler go to nursery? Our 3 non-nursery days are so exhausting. But I do have a 5 year old to homeschool too. See if you can exhaust pinterest?

Also agree, big advocate for letting them play by themselves! Play doh, magnetic tiles and kinetic sand are always things he gets absorbed into and I get a break. Get on amazon!

Try and let your toddler entertain themselves more - eg get all the Tupperware out and dump on the floor - loads of fun if you are two, ditto a cardboard box. Get them to "help" with laundry etc. Don't think they need to be entertained 24/7. Then when there's a break in the weather its waterproofs and wellies time

Yep me too! Ds is 2.5yrs, dd is 4 days old. Breastfeeding, cluster feeds, non nursery days, hormones, the lot. I feel so guilty on ds. I'm recovering from a section and can't do the things he wants me to. I feel like he just sees me holding dd.
Plus, the TV is mins numbingly boring, especially when you get to the stage of timing breastfeeds in bing episodes. Ready to murder that fucking bunny!
DH is tired too, but trying his best. It's difficult not to get pissed off when he makes a shitty comment or takes fucking forever doing something I need help with at that exact time.
Lockdown just makes everything shitter because no one can come over and we can't go anywhere.

Oof, dreaded day 4! Well done @TheGracefulwhale , and congratulations!

Not exactly the same age gap as you but home schooling a four year old in Reception plus looking after a one year old. I usually work part time but can’t now while schools are shut. My eldest has suspected ASD, and is hugely clingy. He can’t do independent play for more than a couple of minutes and follows me everywhere, even when I go to the toilet! Life feels like an endless rotation of mind numbing kids TV, homeschooling, playing and stopping the one year old from falling down the stairs.

Kinetic sand, Duplo, magic paint books, wipe clean maze books, den making, water play, car races are all being done (over and over!)

Thank you for all the replies, some great ideas! I might invest in some magnetic tiles and kinetic sand.

I feel for everyone trying to home school at the moment as it must be hard. @Bringallthebiscuits that sounds really tough but sounds like you're doing a great job.

@TheGracefulwhale oh day 4! I'm a bit ahead of you as DS is 7 weeks. It gets so much easier, hang on in there. I completely understand the feelings of frustration and mum guilt for toddler but already these have improved massively for me.

Not a toddler but a preschooler. DC1 is nearly 4, nursery still open THANK GOD and he goes 3 days a week. Baby is 4 months old and generally calm and good natured but suffering with reflux and not napping well 😭 Luckily DH does a lot and we're in a support bubble with my mum who occasionally comes to see us and is an extra pair of hands.

So my only advice really is CHILDCARE for the older one and make a support bubble with someone helpful who will enjoy playing with your oldest or taking them out to burn off some energy!

@StegosaurusRoar thank you, i needed to know the guilt improves.. Ds didn't want to go to bed tonight, he's usually so keen for bed but I think he knows the baby is up with us and is jealous

Does your oldest have a scooter? As long as they're not too fast and you can keep up with baby in pram/sling, it might work to take them out with scooter if you can time it right so baby will nap.

Do you have a plant spray? Put water in in and give it to the 2 year old with a cloth. Mine love to "clean" the windows or kitchen cupboards. If you have any coffee filters they also enjoy colouring them with felt ones then spraying them so all the colours run!

*ones = pens!

Similar situation here OP. 14mo and 3yr3mo boys..no nursery... no childcare bubble and I'm trying to wfh too! DP is out at work 4 days a week so but thabj gosh I have him around on Fridays, its my only day to get any work properly done!

We are in a city too so we are avoiding all.playgrounds as they are just so busy and the risk feels too high.

Things that have helped me are:

Sback time st 10am and 3pm. Seem to keep then both a bit happier and they eat.more at proper mealtimes too

No treats or sugar! Controversial but neither of my boys can handle sugar, they just go fucking crazy. Plus the 3yo will refuse everything else if he knows we have something in the house so it's easier to just have nothing.

Going for a walk even if it is for 10 mins. The fresh air seems to help them.

Ds2 was a little older during the first lockdown compared to your baby2 but he basically lived in the sling and I learnt to bf him in it too. This freed me up a lot.

Do you have a Juno jack's breastfeeding hoodie? If not, get one. They are warm and fleece lined and enable you to bf outside in winter without freezing your tits off. If you also learn to bf in a sling then you can stay toasty when out with your toddler.

I used to wear my maternity coat over us even really cold, either open it with the tie around.

Great suggestions, thank you! Unfortunately there's no option of child care or a support bubble for us right now but thankfully DH is WFH and is fantastic at helping out where he can around work hours.

Breastfeeding in the sling sounds like a game changer. I've been too scared to try because of the c-section incision but maybe the time has come to try.

I am in a similar situation with a toddler and baby, there is a thread in Chat called Trapped toddler parents of the fabled Winter 2020/2021 where a number of the posters have babies as well as toddlers that I have found really useful! Apologies I don't know how to link it!

@StegosaurusRoar

I know everyone is different, but youngest was in the sling by 3 days old, and I was tandem carrying with my eldest on my back and youngest on my front in well under a month, after sections. Ok not reccomended I guess, but it was fine and I followed my body

There's no reason unless you are still in any pain (in which case see your Dr!) or there are complications why you shouldn't be able to carry baby in a sling by 7w.

Glow sticks were a hit here, with both baby and toddler. Then I let the toddler take them in the bath with the lights off.

@FizzingWhizzbee123

Glow sticks were a hit here, with both baby and toddler. Then I let the toddler take them in the bath with the lights off.

Yes that is fun - somis shaving foam! In the bath for minimum mess!!

Thank you @Lostthetastefordahlias, I hadn't seen that thread, I'll come and take a look!

Thanks @Babyboomtastic, I've been using the sling loads but wasn't sure about feeding in the sling because then the baby will be lower and over the incision? Massively impressed you could carry two at once!

Ah yeah glow sticks, that does sound fun!

Baby wasn't over the incision with it, I did put her slightly lower but mostly I just hoiked my boob higher. It meant latch was a bit ropey but it did the job!