How to Prep for Winter with a Toddler
Pacifiers are a great way to prevent the toddler meltdowns when you are stuck indoors during the winter. Toddlers are movers and shakers and it can be so hard to keep track of the silly pacifier! The Ingy Bingy Band is here to fix that problem! No more frustration when the infant pacifier keeps falling out because the buttery soft wristband helps keep your baby’s paci right where they need it whenever they need it!
The temperatures are dropping in the midwest and i cant help but get nervous for winter! Getting outside has always been the cure for breaking up sibling fights, excessive crying, and “I’m bored.” Some will say that there’s no bad weather, only bad clothes, but with 3 small kids who won’t always keep the proper clothes on, it’s pretty difficult for us to get outside during winter. Not to mention the constant sickness that plagues us every winter and keeps us from leaving the house!
So, what’s a family to do when you are stuck inside constantly?! Here’s a few ideas to keep you from going crazy indoors this winter and not relying on screens constantly:
- Climbing toys: Climbing toys are an invenstment, but they are some of the best purchases we’ve made! We build forts and obstacle cources all winter long to help get the sillies out. All the energy can be SO hard to get out. The Sam’s Club brand of the nugget couch has been a fan favorite for us! It always goes on sale for black Friday too!
- Games: If your toddlers are old enough you might want to grab a few board games for the winter. Not all toddlers are ready for this type of focused activity, but my 2 year old loves candy land and connect four! You don’t have to spend a lot of money on these either. Thrift stores almost always have board games in great condition!
- Audio Players: This is a great way to entertain kids without screens. Audio players like the Tonie Box and Yoto player help kids imaginations grow, keep them engaged, and keep their bodies moving!
- Dress up: We have a full toy box full of dress up clothes! This is another great thrift store purchase! Firefighter, princess, or superhero costumes keep my kids entertained for hours!
When the meltdowns start coming in hot and just won’t stop what should you do? I panic some days and turn to screens. It helps in the short term, but then when we turn them off the behavior goes back to bad. Don’t get me wrong, we have plenty of screen time in our house, but we try to limit it as much as we can.
Here’s some tips for managing toddler meltdowns:
- Calm down corner: A calm down corner can be a great alternative to timeouts. Making a cozy corner with fidget toys, a soft blanket, and pillow can help little bodies regulate their emotions by taking a break from all the action!
- Pacifier: Using a pacifier is unbelievably simple and a great way to calm down your younger toddler. The only frustrating part about using a pacifier is when the infant pacifier keeps falling out. Toddlers are movers and shakers and it can be so hard to keep track of the silly pacifier! The Ingy Bingy Band is here to fix that problem! It’s a pacifier wristband that velcros around baby’s wrist to help them self-soothe from as early as 4 months. No more frustration when the infant pacifier keeps falling out because the buttery soft wristband helps keep your baby’s paci right where they need it whenever they need it!
Any pacifier on the market attaches to this sanity saving pacifier bracelet. This pacifier wristband is great for keeping your toddler happy on a walk, in the car, or at the dinner table. You never have to worry about your newborn pacifier falling on the ground or getting lost because your baby will always be attached to it! It will also save parents mountains of frustration and money looking for and replacing lost pacifiers!
3. Books: Kids love to be read to. Sometimes when the tantrums are getting out of hand, I realize I need to take a step back from the house chores and just focus on my kids. Letting them pick out their favorite books gives them some control and helps them calm down with some good snuggling!
4. Deep Breaths: It’s important to teach our children how to regulate their emotions even at small ages. I always take deep breaths with my child before I implement any of the above activities!