Rainy days with two children

[Summermeadowflowers]

We generally go to groups in the mornings but struggling in the afternoon as I can’t do things like soft play, swimming, with two (DS 3 in December and DD 9 weeks.)

I know it isn’t a ‘forever’ problem but the autumn and winter could be tough. Does anyone have any suggestions? (No puddlesuits - indoor only!)

Are you looking for places to go or things to do at home?

Library? Local museum? Some NT properties are set up in a very kid-friendly way now as well if you have one near you.

I appreciate swimming is a no go as I wouldn't go on my own with two either but is there a reason you can't do soft play? I think your DD is an ideal age to tag along as she can't wait be strapped in the sling and snooze whilst you're at soft play! We also did church play groups and library. All with baby in sling mainly for first 6 months!

Sorry meant to say she can be strapped in the sling!

Thanks, I was Googling local museums but toddler friendly ones seen few and far between. I’m not sure DS would be interested in the indoor parts of NT. (definitely out of the house activities!)

I’m not sure I could leave DS unsupervised at soft play, is the problem. For brief moments but he does need an adult with him.

Perhaps a local library, they sometimes have kiddie areas.

Strongly suggest you get waterproofs for you all and get out for walks etc - nature and jumping in puddles is fun and free!

My DD is the same. You'll be surprised how much you can clamber around with the sling 😁 Or we went to smaller ones or more like the gym ones where there's trampolines/bouncy castle etc.

All of the libraries near us have story time/rhyme time sessions - can you go to them? Ours are on different days and different times so in theory you could go to a different library each day. Even if you can't go to a specific session, the library is always a hit with my boy.... and they're good for babies too as they usually have toilets, some have cafes and toys too.

Can't you just carry the baby round soft play? That's what me and friends have done whilst following a toddler. The toddler areas tend not to be as involved so it makes it easier.

This! Put baby in a stretchy wrap and crack on as normal!

Blimey, what soft plays do you all go to!? The ones here involve clambering over things, through holes, wedging yourself between equipment, slides … [shocked] might be a tad dangerous!

Library rhyme times are a bit rubbish here, I’ve tried before but have inevitably been the only one!

Supermarket with the mini child size trolleys to get some shopping. Lidl and M and S have them.

Definitely the library

Does where you live have any of those role play places?

We have a couple near us, where the child can go pretend to be a police person or shop keeper or play house and you can just sit and have a cuppa. Around here they cost about 6/7 pounds for a 90 minute session.

We have one but frustratingly it isn’t open on the days I have DS (he goes to nursery) it does look good though. I’m not sure he’d be massively engaged by the library, as much as it’s like a knife to my heart he just isn’t all that into books (probably more sitting still and listening!)

This is such a good idea, my daughter loves doing this. I do find it a bit stressful trying to stop her crashing in to things though 😂

What about stay and play? Most of the ones near me are in the morning, but there are some in the afternoons too. They're great again because you can just have a drink and they can run around like a loon.

I know it doesn't feel like it because it's such early days but he will get used to activities like softplay where you say 'I can't come in with you but I'll be standing right here'. For me it was actually as much during my second pregnancy as with a newborn but they quickly adjust to the fact you're supervising but not climbing through tunnels and still enjoy themselves. Other indoor ideas:
Supermarket with a fun game of helping you scan/find fruit/etc
Sticker book and a cafe (depends on temperament, DS1 has always bloody loved a cafe but DS2 at the same age is a liability)
Almost any chore which involves travelling on a train or bus, bonus points if its a double decker and you sit at the front upstairs
The library - doesn't have to be rhyme time. Bigger ones often have a sensory are etc - our nearest doesn't but the one in the bigger town does so we normally combine with the bus...

I'd look for a smaller softplay (or maybe think whether you might be a bit of a helicopter parent!) because I know of several that are fine for an almost three year old to play in independently enough that you can hold a baby at the same time.

Other than that, I think playdates and visiting kindly relatives is a good option. Gets you out of the house, change of scenery for everyone, bit of adult company for you, socialisation for the toddler, another pair of hands to hold the baby if needed. If you host, you don't get the change of scenery, but you get all the other benefits.

Shopping centres can also be good, gives the eldest a good walk, they often have an indoor play zone of some type, loads to look at, treat him to a babycino etc.

Ours are all mornings @RedRobyn2021 . We are spoiled for choice for morning activities but then nothing for afternoons.

@TrippinEdBalls it isn’t that he particularly wants me there - it’s more I don’t totally trust him not to shove or push or get into an altercation. He is a lot better but soft play brings out the worst in him to be honest: he goes a bit feral. Plus tiredness exacerbates it and he’s at that funny stage of needing and not needing a nap, so I do need to be there if only to keep a cursory eye!

I am wondering about enrolling him in a preschool for two afternoons but feels a bit mean. However, I do find long wet afternoons the worst!

The library also has colouring, sometimes crafts and trails if he'd be more into that?

I would give swimming a go, I've done it with a baby and a 3 year old and it was fine.

Just going to a cafe for a babycino?

I also would try choosing a smaller or less busy soft play and letting him have some freedom. Mine were fine at that age if it was during the week so no big kids to worry about. What are you concerned about if you don't supervise him?

If you are nervous about it, do you have any friends you could meet there? I find e.g. 4 or 5 kids between two adults feels easier than 2 or 3 kids with one.

Last winter I had a newborn and just turned three year old twins and soft play etc was fine. I also found it fine to be at home in the afternoons if we'd been to a group in the morning - they could just play indoors/ do colouring/ play dough etc.

I don't think museums have to be particularly toddler friendly either, mine were happy just as long as there were buttons to press etc.

Oh yes the bus and train are great time fillers! Especially a double decker.

Where do you live? You wouldn’t be able to go swimming with two under eights here, even if you felt it was safe to do so.

Second baby is harder in some ways because I don’t really know anybody. DS gets very restless at home and plus DH is here so that’s a pain. It’s easier to be out and about when I have both of them - don’t mind so much with DD.

We had a good indoor game for winter afternoons, called catch the dot.

Once it's getting dark, draw the curtains. You stand on the sofa (assuming your baby is somewhere safe!) with a torch. Then you shine the dot of light from the torch around the floor, walls etc and the toddler has to run and stamp on it. You can make it go fast or slow, or wobbly, or put it somewhere funny like the ceiling. Sometimes I'd even give it a little voice - "hello, I'm over here!"

Great for tiring them out when you can't get outside.

South Wales but have taken all three with DH or a grandparent several times in different places when visiting relatives. Maybe I've been lucky but I've never come across anywhere where you can't take two under 8s, it's only more than two that's a problem.

Definitely agree it's easier to be out for at least part of the day!

Cross posted but I get that you're worried about altercations, I think it's helpful to let them deal with minor things and if you pick one where you can mostly see through netting sometimes you can sort out verbally.

Oh this is genius!