u/Agile-Comfortable-40

As I rambled on about my kid, a friend asked me what my hobbies are. I suddenly realised I’ve lost them all!

How do you fit having hobbies in to your life?

Or how do you make sure life isn’t all about the toddler in the house and that you don’t lose things you love to do?

And what kind of hobbies are you managing to do?

I’m hoping to take some inspiration and do something I enjoy, but the brain can’t quite compute what or how yet!

Was with another adoptive parent couple who are both women, Mummy and Maman. Their kid is 19 months old and often uses the word Mummy for either of them. She does know which is which because when you ask where’s Mummy or where’s Maman she can point to the right person.

Is this a thing they should be correcting each time eg ‘mummy is on the sofa, I’m Maman’ type thing?

We couldn’t come to a consensus on how important this is among all the other things they are teaching!

We have been weaning from milk to water in overnight bottles for our adopted 19 month old.
Next step was only straw cups at night in her cot. Last night she didn’t want to drink anything which I gather is good because it means her body is adjusting to no nutrition overnight.

Last bit is cutting teats and showing her they are broken, getting her to put them in the bin. She understands both concepts of broken and bin.

I’m so scared! Does anyone else think ‘oh s*it’ what if she cries a load tonight when there’s no bottle and how many nights will this be rough for?

Any words of encouragement, courage or wisdom would be appreciated!

Extra context: adopted three months ago so that’s why we’re weaning ‘late’ and the process we chose ended up being this one after loads of confusing conflicting advice! Overall the idea is she gets to sleep through the night eventually, gaining sleep skills and also less exhausted parents.

My 18 month old likes putting things in her mouth. Not unusual at all, but I do wonder if giving her a teether like the matchstick monkey would be helpful. She already has most teeth (7 too and 7 bottom) so it’s only really for those last teeth coming through, and for her to chew on during the day.

She’s got one of those big sets of ‘keys’ that she used when she had. I teeth, but each piece is too big for her to chew on now, and she doesn’t find it satisfying.

Also when do they stop chewing things?!

My 18 month old ends up cosleeping with us on a double bed in her room some nights.

It’s a really good mattress on a hardwood frame but the frame isn’t the safest - she could bump her head and if she wanted to could launch herself off the bottom.

I want to keep the double mattress but get a floor bed frame so it’s safe for her and she can end up sleeping on it by herself once she’s able to come out of the cot.

Does anyone have any UK based recommendations for double floor beds that can be used with a full adult mattress?

We adopted a toddler, ran through all our clothes and then lived in non iron gym clothes for a few weeks.

There is absolutely no time to iron and no way I’m spending my already negative reserve of energy on that. What are you all wearing these days?

Is there a brand of clothing in the UK that’s non iron, smart casual?

My little one is 19 months old and has had no interaction with other children her age for her whole life.

She’s been with us for two months and it’s really obvious that she needs some time with other kids (eg from interactions at the park and rhyme times we’ve been to). I want to give her a couple of sessions at nursery so she can learn in a structured high quality setting and learn how to play with other children.

Other adopters tell me Childrens’ social workers don’t like nursery for adopted kids. She has been with us two months and is very attached to both of us.

Social workers worry about attachment but his social worker hasn’t been to see him much and I think all they would be basing a ‘no’ on is time. Social workers don’t seem to spend enough time to see the attachment we have already.

Does anyone have any experience in this area?

Nursery would also help me to adjust to parenthood better. I am burning out after two months of toddlerhood and could really use a few hours a week for myself. Just a session or two.