~*~ Toddler Check-in ~*~

adoxyinherear

Happy Sunday, ladies! How was your week? Any challenges? Funny stories? New stuff?

Do you have any "toddler hacks" - akin to the "life hacks" that are so popular on social media - to share with everyone? Something ingenious that works for you to get around some of the usual toddler dramas, or just the day-to-day keeping our little people happy and busy?

FmrAFBrat

Our week has been pretty good...although the snow and cold is back. No new challenges other than I wish it would jump to spring
& we could play outside. We've worked on sensory issues by playing with play doh (he used to gag when he held it) and we made pizza last night he. He enjoyed playing in the sauce and cheese. He's been a little more verbal with his needs and sometimes if I don't understand he will grab me and take me wherever he wants to go. No real new words this week.

My "toddler hack" so to vary up what we do each day with him to keep him entertained. We've water pained, played with Play Doh, made pizza, and gone out to the mall this week. The mall was good because my stroller puts the boys to sleep after an hour or so. I can't wait for spring for that reason alone. I really like to give him at least an hour each night one on one with me while the baby cat naps or plays in the play yard.

adoxyinherear

@esd, really hope everyone stays healthy! @FmrAFBrat, it sounds like you are really making some progress. Your patience and strength is really an inspiration! 

@Bumgellica216, we have a cabinet just for Elinor with measuring cups and little strainers and egg cartons. It's worked out pretty well for us, too! Though lately she likes to toss everything out and climb in...

It's been a hard week. DD cried and cried at every drop off this week, as I guess the novelty of her child care program has worn off. One morning we actually stopped the car in front of our provider's house and she immediately burst into tears. I know it's typical behavior, and I even stayed with her for a bit on Friday and she calmed right down (only to lose it again when I had to leave), but it is SO HARD. I think DH and I really going to have to re-evaluate when the new baby comes what we're going to do about child care... I'd like to keep her in the program for a few months, at least, so I can have some one-on-one time with the new LO, but after that I am seriously considering offering to care for a few of the children from my mom's group and just staying home again. It would require a lot of research and some getting outside my comfort level, but even if I just took on two children I could probably make as much, if not more, than I do teaching.

As for funny, DD has started to roar when we ask her what sound the dinosaur makes (we have this Bob Shea book, all of his books are great, though: https://www.amazon.com/Dinosaur-vs-Bedtime-Book/dp/1423137884). It's ADORABLE. She's not been picking up too many new words lately as she's just started walking confidently, and I think that's taking precedence in her development. But I'm so eager for her to start to say more! Or roar more. Either way.

I'm trying to think of a really simple thing we do that makes life with a toddler easier, but I think I'm mostly looking to poach on your good ideas! I rotate DD's toys, which I think makes a HUGE difference. She has three bins of toys, and I rotate them out once a week, so, she'll go several weeks without seeing a whole set of toys and it's really helped to continue her good independent play habits and it makes cleaning up a lot easier, because she doesn't have heaps of stuff to tear out at any one time. This is a nice guide (https://playfullearning.net/childs-play-the-art-of-toy-rotation/), and it's not really complicated. It's helped me weed out some of the toys that DD isn't really getting much out of, too.

ksyknelvr73

Happy Sunday, ladies! How was your week? Any challenges? Funny stories? New stuff?

 

So, I was feeling pretty special thinking we had avoided the "terrible twos" but honestly, I think we are heading into the "terrible threes". DS has just seemed so...defiant lately. I guess that's the word. He's talking back to us a lot and saying things like "Mommy, you're not my friend" when I tell him not to do something or he can't have something. We usually do time-out and tell him it's not nice to say things like that but I'm not sure that it's really working.

 

On a positive note though, DS does seem VERY interested in the new baby - even though he's not here yet so I realize that may change once he is actually here. He loves to talk to my belly and talk to the baby, touch my belly, etc. It's very sweet right now. Yesterday my mom came over for a minute and I was going to show her the baby's room (she and my dad are going to paint it for us, yay!) and DS said "Gigi, this is baby Lucas' room!". He seems so proud.  

Do you have any "toddler hacks" - akin to the "life hacks" that are so popular on social media - to share with everyone? Something ingenious that works for you to get around some of the usual toddler dramas, or just the day-to-day keeping our little people happy and busy?

 

I don't think I have any...or if I do, I can't think of them. DS is generally easy-going and well-behaved (except for his recent talking back that I mentioned above).

KJsbabe

We are hanging in there. This morning went well. DD played at the mall today with three other kids! No crying! She even took turns on the slide! Huge improvement even over last week when she would cry every time some one would look at her.

Tonight, though, was another story... DD had her first real, all out, no consoling, screaming till she's blue in the face, toddler tantrum during dinner. It was bad. And no amount of toddler-eez worked. Ugh... Toddlers can be so much fun...

I don't know if I'd call this a life hack, but I got a new diaper bag a few weeks ago. I got a small backpack (vera bradly knock off) and it's made trips to the store much easier. It frees up my hands so I can carry DD and whatever else I need with out having to worry about the bag. It's also smaller than some of my other bags so I can't over pack unnecessarily.      

GoMommy

Hey ladies!  I'm new to this page, but I have toddler!  Hope its ok if I jump in! (sorry i'm a little late to the check in)
He will be 3 next month!  Which blows my mind!  He has been pretty spicy this week.
Our week went ok.  We starting doing playdates again, its been a while.  It was good for him to be with other kids again and good for me to get out.  Challenges pretty much normal toddler stuff.. Tantrums, but over all it was a good week.  Today we are snowed in, so we are going to make some peppermint oil play doh (helps calm him down).  And I need to clean. 
As for Hacks... I think the best thing we did was get him a little trampoline.  We say go jump and he burns that pent up energy!! 

adoxyinherear

@KJsbabe, that's awesome about your DD playing with some other little people! And I just bought a little backpack, too, because lugging around the shoulder diaper bag is getting SO old. I'm glad to hear it's working for you.

adoxyinherear

shell041783 said:

Hi ladies! With Monday off of work, I am just getting to this today.

We are doing well. DD continues to make me laugh every day. One fave one from yesterday was after we went grocery shopping, DD was on the floor "helping" me unpack the bags. She was taking things out, and discovered a container of yogurt- which she loves. She looked at it and her eyes got really big and she started backing away from me. When I said, hey, where are you going with that? She shrieked and ran away with the yogurt. I cracked up and then put her in the high chair to feed it to her, since she had worked for it!

This isn't necessarily a life hack, since it doesn't really save time in the long run, but I always make sure to re-pack the diaper bag as soon as we get home. I add diapers, change out sippy cups, bibs, refill snacks, whatever, so when we are ready to leave the next time I know it is ready to go.

That's actually a really good idea! We're always having to check it when we need to run out the door.

Also, the story about the yogurt is hilariously cute.

bmv1980

I've been absent from TB for a while and thought I'd try to come back! I miss you ladies! I figure I'll hop in here sine I'm mobile and can't figure out how to post a new discussion

So...my LO runs the show around here.

Shell...she also likes to takes things and run! It's hilarious because they know that their precious treasure is going to be taken away from them, but they sure can put up a fight for it!

Rusalka- I hope DC drop off gets easier. G is finally getting used to being away and we've been at it for months. It's heartbreaking, really. And hopefully you are able to manage staying home. Since I work in child care, in a center setting, I have considered doing the same thing. Unfortunately at the moment, I am also working to provide the medical benefits for my family. My company offers a much better plan than DH's. GL!

This week has been good. I'm super late for this check in....but we went to the zoo and the kids all had a blast.

I have no toddler hacks...like I mentioned, my toddler keeps us all in line. I bet she's got some "grown up hacks" lol.

Junebug060609

How was your week? Any challenges? Funny stories? New stuff?

This past week has been both challenging and good.  A big mix of both.  

Challenging: DS was officially dx'd with autism on the 16th.  I knew it was probably coming and in some ways it is a blessing.  The dx opens doors for him to get more help, which he needs badly.  Most weeks he has a day, or portion of a day, where it is blantantly obvious how different he is...in addition to how behind he is, and I struggle with that sometimes.  OK, often.

He's come out with some new words in the last week or so.  Banana, Lightning (as in McQueen) and he said "That's not a dinosaur" (dat na dina-sa).  Unlike most kids, he doesn't repeat things ad nauseum when he learns them so I've not heard them since...but he did it!  He's also been super into coming up to sit with me when he gets tired and has been bringing me random things to share with me (toys, etc).  Sharing things with another person is a big deal for an autistic kid, so it makes my day.  Also, he wanted a drink and after grabbing at a sippy that was dirty in the sink and being told no and that I'd get him a new one...he went over and grabbed the sippy magnet I have on the fridge.  We're working on getting him to bring that to me to show me he wants a drink, so him thinking to grab it was a really big deal.  

Do you have any "toddler hacks" - akin to the "life hacks" that are so popular on social media - to share with everyone? Something ingenious that works for you to get around some of the usual toddler dramas, or just the day-to-day keeping our little people happy and busy?

Biggest help for me is planning ahead.  I tend to stage stuff the day before.  Doing things where he gets to feel like a big boy is big with him now.   Letting him try brushing his own teeth before I do, letting him climb the step stool to wash his hands, letting him walk while holding my hand vs riding in a cart/stroller.

adoxyinherear

Junebug060609, I am so glad your son is going to get the help he needs. It sounds like you are already doing an amazing job. Lots of hugs.