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New baby due - what supplies do I need for my toddler?

8 replies

Namechangeisgood · 04/11/2021 13:39

Second baby due any day now. I want to get some craft/games to tactically dish out to my daughter (almost three) to keep her occupied and happy while I'm feeding/in a heap from sleep deprivation. Any good recommendations?

I was thinking:

Sticker books
Water painting thingy books
Some new (from eBay) plastic animals
A baby doll

I need cheap (or easily available second hand) and requiring minimal input from an adult (so nothing messy!).

Suggestions gratefully received!

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TinyTeachr · 04/11/2021 13:44

Do you have a nice basket to keep all of the above in to keep it nice for feeding time?

Your ideas are all good so far. What about a few lift-the-flap books? Or Busy books? My DD loved those when she was 3. We also just got packs of Baker Ross stickers that were themed so she could make pictures on paper. Does your DD like colouring books?

satci · 04/11/2021 13:44

Lots of plain paper and cheap stickers worked for mine. I found sticker books relied on me too much. Jigsaws can be bought cheaply. Bubbles? Hold them back until you're desperate.

TheLastLonelyBakedBean · 04/11/2021 13:45

I gave mine a kids tablet

Also loads of handy snacks like fruit pouches, yoghurt pouches, bananas, crisps, biscuits, cheese strings, things that didn't take much parental input because Sod's law every time I'd be sat with a sleeping baby on me they would get be hungry.

Lots of books, jigsaw puzzles, we got train track and small world toys as well. But nothing loud and light up! Those toys are a great distraction for kids but also guaranteed to wake a baby!

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Namechangeisgood · 04/11/2021 13:50

Ooh stickers and plain paper is a good idea. To be honest, stickers mostly end up on the carpet/sofa/her hair anyway so it doesn't make an enormous difference.

She love "writing" and colouring so I'll get her some glittery pens and a couple of new colouring books.

Snacks wouldn't have even occurred to me - thanks @TheLastLonelyBakedBean and we're SO tempted to get her a tablet but I don't trust my own willpower with it Blush

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TheLastLonelyBakedBean · 04/11/2021 13:59

I just gave in to the screens. We had a nice little set up going for when the baby was having a feeding marathon. Toddler on the tablet, me watching a boxset, surrounded by snacks and drinks. Whole days hours spent like that. Of course now I have a pre teen who can only talk about gaming and is a console addict, so I guess that came back to bite me a bit...

Namechangeisgood · 04/11/2021 14:12

@TheLastLonelyBakedBean oh gosh that does sound dreamy. You may have sold me on the tablet. I mean, we're basically just on constant Disney Plus as it is - I'm so pregnant I can hardly move, and my house looks like end-of-the-day nursery.

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TheLastLonelyBakedBean · 04/11/2021 18:11

I mean you can just do it the other way around and watch a tablet yourself and Tv for your child. But I discovered that they will watch a tablet much more quietly than a TV and sometimes even wear headphones. It saved my sanity!

lancslass17 · 04/11/2021 19:47

Mines a Ds but when we had covid and he was fine I ordered a sand pit in a box from amazon he still plays with it now and without much input from us

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