Winter with toddler: go insane at home or contract plagues in public

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We stay home. There are some great kid yoga/ movement videos we do. We do lots of canning of fruits and generally practice a season of mindfulness. I have kids ages 1 - 10 and we enjoy the slow season with books and projects around the home (teach the older kids to sew/ knit and the younger ones learn basic home management skills).

Sounds like Little House On The Prairie.

NP. The simple life sounds wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Hard to say. This week before Xmas break, the kids have only gone to school and we’ve avoided indoor type activities with them otherwise since the flu is so rampant and we don’t want to spoil our holiday plans.

But during break we’ll be seeing relatives and going out for some meals together etc. May take them to a movie. I really never bring my kids to any indoor communal play spaces any time of year (except for birthday parties) because I’m personally so grossed out by them.

Well take other calculated risks, like eating out, traveling, play dates, after school activities etc. but I am too repulsed by a sky zone type place to take my kids there in a non flu season.

[Anonymous]

Yikes. Just take your kids outside. Get some perspective. We live in a climate that isn’t crazy cold and in a time period where we don’t need to worry about “plagues.”

[Anonymous]

So glad to see many responses saying go outside. We live in DC. It's not that cold - you just need the right clothes. Also not everything has to be an "activity" or entertainment. Little kids are perfectly happy just running around and it's good for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hard to say. This week before Xmas break, the kids have only gone to school and we’ve avoided indoor type activities with them otherwise since the flu is so rampant and we don’t want to spoil our holiday plans.

But during break we’ll be seeing relatives and going out for some meals together etc. May take them to a movie. I really never bring my kids to any indoor communal play spaces any time of year (except for birthday parties) because I’m personally so grossed out by them.

Well take other calculated risks, like eating out, traveling, play dates, after school activities etc. but I am too repulsed by a sky zone type place to take my kids there in a non flu season.

A playdate is a calculated risk?


You sound interesting.

[Anonymous]

I choose the risk of exposure over being bored at home most of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to say. This week before Xmas break, the kids have only gone to school and we’ve avoided indoor type activities with them otherwise since the flu is so rampant and we don’t want to spoil our holiday plans.

But during break we’ll be seeing relatives and going out for some meals together etc. May take them to a movie. I really never bring my kids to any indoor communal play spaces any time of year (except for birthday parties) because I’m personally so grossed out by them.

Well take other calculated risks, like eating out, traveling, play dates, after school activities etc. but I am too repulsed by a sky zone type place to take my kids there in a non flu season.

A playdate is a calculated risk?


You sound interesting.

It is before holiday break and with a rampant flu outbreak!

One of my kids did end up coming down a cold on Christmas Eve

[Anonymous]

If they’re in daycare, the ship has sailed. Go out and have fun. Though I draw the line on ball pit type of places. Those are always gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to say. This week before Xmas break, the kids have only gone to school and we’ve avoided indoor type activities with them otherwise since the flu is so rampant and we don’t want to spoil our holiday plans.

But during break we’ll be seeing relatives and going out for some meals together etc. May take them to a movie. I really never bring my kids to any indoor communal play spaces any time of year (except for birthday parties) because I’m personally so grossed out by them.

Well take other calculated risks, like eating out, traveling, play dates, after school activities etc. but I am too repulsed by a sky zone type place to take my kids there in a non flu season.

A playdate is a calculated risk?


You sound interesting.

It is before holiday break and with a rampant flu outbreak!

One of my kids did end up coming down a cold on Christmas Eve

They went to school you ding dong

[Anonymous]

Go outside!

Avoid the play areas at the mall at all costs. That's where people take sick kids.

[Anonymous]

We go for walks from 10-11 and 4-5 every day when we are home. It's good for everyone. Do I get looks- yep! Do I care- nope. My kids are sufficiently dressed.
My 15mo old is in a wool sleeper underneath pyret snow suit lined with fleece and wind resistant plus hat mittens and a blanket wrapped around her middle. I put barrier cream on her exposed skin. She has lined winter boots on. It's honestly too much most likely but with the wind I err more cautious.
My son would wear aT-shirt in 40 degree weather but I make him wear a jacket gloves and hat.

It's okay to be outside. I walked outside barefoot this afternoon to check the label on our playground equipment. It was 30 seconds. Nothing bad happened.

Barring really cold weather or dangerous wind chills it's actually easier to be outside and safer than in heat stroke weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which do you choose? DD goes to daycare so we are already getting sick constantly. When we're well it's tempting to go out and do things instead of being cooped up at home, but everywhere with little kids is a germ factory this time of year and I don't really want HFM or the flu on top of the three rounds of covid and 2 rounds of norovirus we've gotten in the last 6 months...

I was going to say live your life because I had a child before Covid, a child during covid, and a child after covid…but you’ve had lots of illness this winter. Whatever you choose with a 2 year old will be fine. Hopefully your child will have a more robust immune system next year and you can do more next winter.

[Anonymous]

Well, I just took my kids to an indoor play place, so I guess I know which side I’m on…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they’re in daycare, the ship has sailed. Go out and have fun. Though I draw the line on ball pit type of places. Those are always gross.

This! If your kid is in daycare, they are already getting maximum germ exposure, so I'd recommend just living life. You might be pleasantly surprised and find that your family's immunity is actually in good shape after all those illnesses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to say. This week before Xmas break, the kids have only gone to school and we’ve avoided indoor type activities with them otherwise since the flu is so rampant and we don’t want to spoil our holiday plans.

But during break we’ll be seeing relatives and going out for some meals together etc. May take them to a movie. I really never bring my kids to any indoor communal play spaces any time of year (except for birthday parties) because I’m personally so grossed out by them.

Well take other calculated risks, like eating out, traveling, play dates, after school activities etc. but I am too repulsed by a sky zone type place to take my kids there in a non flu season.

A playdate is a calculated risk?


You sound interesting.

It is before holiday break and with a rampant flu outbreak!

One of my kids did end up coming down a cold on Christmas Eve

They went to school you ding dong

So? They don’t need additional exposure to an additional group of kids if you’re trying to be be careful. my daughter ended up getting strep throat from going out to dinner over Xmas weekend. Live your life, but illness is everywhere right now.