Average day at your house with toddler?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-06-2005
Average day at your house with toddler?
4
Sun, 02-11-2007 - 9:24pm

I'm a new SAHM and I had my baby girl, Relaneve 15 months ago. She has cabin fever bad and she doesn't have any contact with any toddlers. We try to get out alot but I always wonder if I'm meeting all of her social needs. The winter has been harsh which doesn't help.


I've looked into some playgroups in the area and am going to start going this week. I am so hard on myself because lately I've been feeling like a bad mother by not getting her out enough. I'm sure she is bored at home with me.


For the BTDT moms, or current moms with toddlers what did/do you do to have fun with your toddler? What's an average day like?


Thanks!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-20-2005
Sun, 02-11-2007 - 9:45pm

I wouldn't feel like a bad mom or not meeting her needs b/c she isn't around a lot of other toddlers. She is still so little that she really doesn't know any different. You being around her is the important thing. =)

I have a 26 month old and she is busy busy. She is actually going through a little phase where she doesn't want to leave the house. So we play alot. We do puzzles, read books, play with her kitchen, all her toys. I also play with play dough with her. I let her cook which she loves. I put some flour in a tupperware bowl that is hers and put some sugar & cinnamon in an old spice jar and let her go to town dumping, scooping and pouring it into another bowl. She loves this.

I'm involved in a Monday & Thursday playgroup which is great for Sophia and myself. Other than that, some days we may go to the library or go play at the mall, have a playdate. One day each week we go play at her grandparents house.

I too, have found at times that I think I'm not doing enough or should be doing more compared to some other moms I know but as long as Sophia is happy I have found that I must be doing something right. =)

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2006
Mon, 02-12-2007 - 5:04am
I remember it was hard during those months. I was tired a lot, i don't know why. It has gotten better. I took her to playgroups but, mine didn't like other kids, she liked walks in her stroller, and mainly me their and other kids. i think mine was not social at those ages, and mainly wanted me. She got more independent at around age 2 1/2 i saw a big change, but, now that she is 3 she is able to really play without me, which is great cause i have burned out some. Good luck playgroups are good, so it having maybe cousins that are a bit older to play with her for a few hours, while you visit maybe. Mine seemed to play well with like 9 year olds that played with her rather than small children.
hope it helped arie
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2007
Mon, 02-12-2007 - 8:09am
I understand how you feel, my daughter is just about to turn 2, I've been a SAHM since her birth, as of late we are going through the same thing. She, as well as I have some serious cabin fever, I live in MA, and the weather has been brutal to be able to do anything! I feel at times like I'm shafting her b/c there isn't much we can do, we stay home ALOT! She doesn't have much interaction w/ other toddlers, except her cousins, and that is usually only for family things. One thing that I did discover really helps with the cabin fever is I had never done any type of arts & crafts w/ her...so I bought some play dough, water colors, finger paint, and stuff to make macaroni necklaces (just a few ideas) Well, the play dough was a BIG hit, she loves it! The pasta necklaces, she is trying to string the pasta, but also, seems content just sorting the pasta by color (I dyed it). To my surprise, it has helped w/ the cabin fever, because I'm ready to lose it w/ this weather! Also, I checked out our library, they have toddler story time & sing along once a month, you might want to check there too. Playgroups are the best, I wish I could find one in my area, but I live in a very small town, and sadly it is a very upscale town, and I'm considered lower/middle class here, so the few playgroups I have tried didn't go over well, most of the parents have nannies and aren't inerested in that sort of thing, so I feel for you...but try the arts & crafts, and even just going to the library to let her explore the kids section will help, it'll give you both a change of scenery, I also go to the mall, not to shop, but to let her ride the kiddie rides and get an ice cream, and I don't bring her stroller in, I just let her walk & explore...it does work wonders! Especially if your a SAHM, the mall isn't usually crowded on weekdays so you can let her walk freely. Hope these ideas help, and remember, your not alone, I feel your pain! Hang in there, winter will end at some point!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-11-2005
Mon, 02-12-2007 - 9:00am

Hi morhgana!


Don't worry too much about play dates, etc.

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