Tuesday, November 22, 2011

With the rainy season right around the corner, what on earth do you guys do with your babies? Typically, I love rainy days, but now that I have Cheech, I dread them. I end up feeling so bad for her because we pretty much just wait for the rain to pass us by inside our apartment. She definitely is the type of baby that bores easily and tends to get cabin fever, so this isn't exactly the best strategy. So, what to do? She's super into walks, and if it was as easy as taking her to a mall just so that she can go for a stroll, I would do that... but, believe it or not, the closest mall to us is a 20-minute minimum car drive away (and that's on non-rainy days). Seeing as she's still on three naps a day, 20 minutes in the car eats up LOTS of time. Some of her other favorite activities include trips to the zoo and the park, but those are obviously out. Any suggestions?

Posted by Celia at 10:43 PM
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7 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 23, 2011 at 7:37 AM

    Maybe she would tolerate an Ergo walk with an umbrella? But you can't walk forever -- Last year when Dax was Cheech's age, we found some cafes that were kid-oriented with play areas, we tried to make the library's baby book time in the late morning, we met up with mom groups around town -- but honestly, most errands I did were interesting enough in some way. I wish I had spent more time at the library browsing books for myself before he could crawl/walk. Now I can't even get him to stay in one place if I let him down from the Ergo/stroller. Think of things to entertain YOU and Cheechbaby will find them interesting.

    Maybe count on one nap being out in a stroller or car seat or carrier. That will free you up a lot. Ride the bus or train instead of driving. Go out for coffee and put her in a high chair so she can people watch. Go swimming!

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  2. Ida/FarEastLogbookNovember 23, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    Go out anyway! I always do, rain or shine. I think it's a cultural things though, in the Danish nursery school/pre-school/schools being outside is part of the daily routine. Staying inside because of rain or snow is just not really an option, you just bundle up and head out. On rainy days here in CA I'm without question the only person at the playground, in the park etc, but really, all it takes is some rainboots, a rain jacket and an extra set of clean dry clothes for the little one.
    The added bonus for all your efforts is the JOY of seeing those little kids jumping in puddles. I don't know of any kid that doesn't like water and puddles ;-)

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  3. CeliaNovember 23, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    ugh, cheech HATES most normal activities. taking her to a cafe is a good idea, but i swear to you, things like grocery shopping usually involve me running through the store aisles and piling what i can into my basket before she loses her shit. the library is another great idea that i keep forgetting to do.

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  4. Sid.November 23, 2011 at 11:33 AM

    I second the "get out anyway" comment above.

    Two words: Muddy Buddy(http://tuffo.com/tuffo_muddy_buddy_product.html). I also got a very basic backpack carrier. I'd dress my daughter up in her rainsuit, pop her in the pack, grab an umbrella and head out to a park. Once she can walk, she'll be attracted to puddles like a iron to a magnet. A Muddy Buddy and rain boots are the way to go.

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  5. caitlinNovember 23, 2011 at 12:34 PM

    Definitely get out anyway! We live in Oregon, so if we didn't go out in the rain we'd be stuck indoors for months. I've got 3 under 3, so I put the 2.5 year old twins in their tuffo rainsuits like Sid suggested, then into the Chariot stroller which has a rain cover (I think you can buy those for almost any stroller?) and then put the 5 month old in the Ergo (on my front), then zip my husband's raincoat over us. We go for walks all over town and to the park, where I let the twins out to play and splash around while the baby and I just hang out and watch. We are usually the only people out, and it's such a bummer! I subscribe to the Scandinavian philosophy that there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing!

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  6. AnonymousNovember 23, 2011 at 12:51 PM

    Hahaha, yeah, I was always the mom with the baby who would get so cranky when we'd go places when everyone else's babies were calmly smiling and pawing toys, and often I'd have to leave early. But they outgrow it sooner than you think. Grocery shopping was made worlds easier when I could start handing Dax snacks as he was riding in the shopping cart. Now I totally do the mom thing where I buy a little container of fruit and pop it open before I buy it, if I'm in a pinch.

    It really can be hard to do stuff at that age. Crawling made inside spaces more interesting, and walking made going outside (and jumping in puddles?) more realistic.

    Science/childrens museums are another option. Lots of stuff/kids to stare at. But that's probably another 20+ min. drive.

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  7. DanielaNovember 25, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    Hi! Well, I live in Bergen, Norway. One of the rainiest cities in Europe. It rains all year round, so, we have a saying (or the annoyingly positive Norwegians do at least, I just stole it), "there is no bad weather, just bad clothes". Plus, I have a dog that needs to walk rain, snow, sun whatever you have on the menu that day. So, my advice: get yourself a pair of super cute rain boots and an awesome rain jacket and stroll away with no real purpose. That's what we do, walk just for the sake of walking and having some fresh air. Olivia loves it, she has the best naps while walking out, and really, for me, the hardest part is from the sofa to the door. Once you are out, you are out and it's not so bad (if you are well covered). I listen to music or audiobooks and it helps a lot!

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