Remember this post? Hours and hours (OK, 20 minutes at least) worth of toddlertainment? This is the water toddlertainment summer edition.
I'll remind you again of the time-honored, well known formula:
Toddlers + Water = Hours of entertainment
We all know that a swimming pool is ideal, but sometimes you don't want to go through the whole swimsuit-swim diaper-sunscreen slather routine when it isn't quite hot enough to justify the whole thing. You know they will be shivering and crabby in 14.7 seconds. It's a pain.
And sometimes you just feel lazy.
Ahem.
So, my thrifty easy-peasy solution:- Grab any ole water container. Bucket, basin, large tupperware, tote bin, whatever. (I used a spare plastic tote bin)
- Fill halfway with warm water.
- Throw plastic measuring cups, ladles and various tub toys in. Don't expect any of it to come back into the house so hold off on the collectibles or items of ANY value.
- Spray toddler with sunscreen (yes, I said spray. The spray sunscreen will rock your world).
- Hat and sunglasses optional.
- Let em at it.
We call it our water station. He knows it's available to play in and spends quite a chunk of time sloshing, splashing and drinking the water.
See the spray bottle? Yes, get one for them at the Dollar Store and let them spray away. Bubbalu keeps our fence, porch, deck, lawn, sandbox, siding, garden, chairs, table and screen door appropriately watered at ALL times.
He's helpful like that.
Enjoy your thrifty fun toddler water stations...but remember to supervise at all times...
A
No, I am not here doling out wonderful, unbelievable, too-good-to-be-true advice for all who are awash (*ahem*) in the potty training endeavor.
I want advice. I want stories. I want hope.
Here's the deal. Bubbalu is staying dry and dirty-free all day and afternoons. He's wearing big boy (Lightening McQueen!) underwear and is having very few accidents. And when he does have an accident it is of the wet variety, not the other, less desirable option. Phew.
I have absolutely NO idea how to keep a kid dry during naps and bedtime. Does the pull-up wearing phase stretch onward for a few weeks, months, or YEARS? My guess is that complete potty independence is not in the near future but I am questioning the next step.
Do I grit my teeth, coat his bed in plastic and just let him wet his underwear during naps?
Do I shrug and just put on the pull-ups for the next decade?
What I DID do was put his underwear on UNDER his diaper this afternoon, hoping he would feel when he wets and catch himself. By putting on the diaper over his underwear I was hoping to avoid the mound of bedding laundry as my current dryer takes 3 hours to dry a load (no joke). We're all about living green over here.
Also, I want to know what YOUR household does for the naming of #1 and #2. I'm not too sure I want Bubbalu to yell down aisle 11 in the grocery store, "Mommy! I have to go POOP!"
So there you have it. Give me some hints, tips and advice.
I'm all ears...
A
We loaded up the Tahoe and headed out of town for a long weekend in Seattle.
4 people.
2 adults.
2 children.
1 Tahoe.
3 nights.
4 days.
27 bags.
2 graduations.
2 missed afternoon naps.
3 minor toddler meltdowns.
1 case of intestinal "objections".
1 migraine.
2 Extra-Strength Tylenol.
1 dinner celebration party.
1 Dungeness Crab Fettuccine Dinner.
2 slices of ice cream cake.
0 DVD players in hotel room.
1 Oreo McFlurry.
2 swimming pool playtimes.
1 shaking wet toddler.
8 muffins smuggled from the continental breakfast.
8 muffins eaten for lunch.
4 loads of laundry to be done.
2 exhausted children who are STILL asleep.
We had a wonderful time but are happy to be home once again...
A
