Just for fun: I just messaged someone about a Woom 2 that had been posted 18 minutes earlier. I was not the first.
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My kid has trouble pushing down the pump on our soap dispensers at home. She’s so close to being able to wash her hands without me, but I have to pump her soap every time. Anyone have a liquid soap dispenser they like? I got the Method brand of foaming soap, because she loves foaming soap, but she is too weak (or perhaps uncoordinated) to really use it.
I don’t really want to introduce bar soap right now.
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It’s an expensive option, but you could get one of those sensor soap dispensers where they just have to put their hands underneath instead of having to push on a pump
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We have this one and it works great!
I love having it in the kitchen too when my hands are covered in food.
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Anyone have a good magic trick starter kits? For a 5-6 yo.
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Does anyone have a weighted blanket rec? For a 28ish lb 2.5 year old. Prefer machine washable.
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I do not have a specific rec, but we found the throw size better (came from oldest niece) We also did not mesh with the weighted stuffie but gave that to youngest niece.
Let me know if you find a washable one, because the throw has a washable cover but overall our experience of weighted blankets is they are made by evil people who don’t believe in washing. (Good business idea too!)
Also good job Bernito on outweighing B2! I will tell B2 that is his new target.
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His solution to potty training has been to stop pooping, so I won’t speculate what % is poop 
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My kids both have these and use them every night. Amazon.com: Mr. Sandman 5 lbs Weighted Blanket for Twin Size Bed, Perfect for 40-60lb Cozy Cotton Heavy Blanket with Premium Glass Beads - 36" x 48" Cute Cat : Home & Kitchen I wash them but hang dry.
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What are your favorite outdoor activities for the summer? What’s a set up that gets you guys regularly outside?
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Bike, scooter, water play with sprinklers/ inflatable pool/ water cannons /etc, trampoline, ninja warrior set
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Easy outside in small backyard:
- Eating setup just outside the kitchen/patio door. 2 lounge chairs, 2 kids chairs, coffee table. Most of our summer dinners are outside. Then inevitably the kids run off to…
- Gravel pit with a few trowels, a sit-on excavator toy, and a few trucks. Stomp rockets and water toys like squirters are endless cheap fun.
So it’s less “time to go play outside” and more specific suggestions like “who wants to help me water the garden?” or “let’s excavate all your cars and do a car wash” or “I wonder if our strawberries are ripe” (I don’t actually care what they choose, but it gets them thinking about what’s out back.)
Leaving the house:
- Keeping bike or scooter close to the front door so they always see it and ask to go out. We tend to switch between bike and scooter every few weeks since there’s not a lot of room by the front door. It’s clutter but happy clutter!
- Having a dog that needs twice daily walks
- Playground meetups with friends after school - for summer we paused 2 scheduled activities so we could say yes to playground meetups more often.
- Integrate into commute if possible - eg playground stop if we’re early, stop somewhere on the way home.
- Keep bandaids and change of clothes stocked in the vehicle at all times.
Bigger adventure/exercise where adult movement is the priority:
- Bike together. Meowlet is old enough that maybe a trail-a-bike could work.
- Doing enough PT that I am healthy enough to jog/run alongside whenever my kids want to ride or scoot.
As babies/young toddlers I could just pack or carry them on my adventures. For preschool age I’m finding that we have to do separate outings or at least separate sections of outings.
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Backyard/front yard
Go outside myself especially if I bring a book - I will be followed. Painting is also a big draw.
Bike (drive) to a splash pad or more impressive playground
Local beach (even if it’s too cold to swim)
Pack up dinner for an evening picnic
Phrasing it as my need “we need to go to the park to get mummy’s grumpies out”
Visibly bring cookies and allow to bring toys/books
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Love this, stealing
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Oh yes, this. The book is just bait, will not be read.
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Yep. Currently on the porch and not even pretending I can go inside to do something on my own.
I pulled out a Nat Geo experiment set that was a Christmas gift, Kiddo decided he just wanted to do his own thing so now he has baking soda, citric acid crystals, a little food coloring, and water, plus I remembered a travel size shaving cream and mouth wash that we’ve had for years and never used. He’s mixing a green shaving cream concoction but I must be nearby to hear any and all thoughts.
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Gardening is what gets me outside the most regularly, and kid likes to follow me for that/destroy plants sometimes. I think about letting her make her own little chaos garden patch, but she wouldn’t be contained. Maybe Meowlet would find some gardening experiments interesting.
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My hammock.
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Splash mat has a lot of use for us on shady summer afternoons.
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