Where do you take your toddler when the weather is bad, which is pretty much always

armabelle

Hi all. I am writing to see if anybody on this forum could share some ideas for social activities for my 14 month toddler. We have just arrived in Ireland from Spain so the climate is quite an adjustment, especially for her since she has never really known the cold. She used to play outside a lot over there and she loved that but here she seems miserable whenever we go outside. After asking around a bit a friend recommended an indoor place in Dublin 4 called "Panda play cafe" where I began taking her but as soon as she went there she got sick. Then she got better and I took her again and she got sick again and even worse. Then we all got sick too! However, the place is nice and she seems to enjoy herself but they close up all the doors and windows and have a big industrial heater blowing hot air at all the kids playing and surely this is going to make catching diseases inevitable? What can we do with her that she can enjoy? When the weather is bearable we go to a park but usually there are not many other kids playing unless on weekends and then she is too cold to play or too wrapped in clothes to even walk properly sometimes. She was an early walker (10 months) but now with all the layers she battles.

We are thinking of maybe putting her in a creche. She would have more interaction but I am worried that it will just be like the panda play cafe place where they will keep the kids huddled together in the heat with all windows and doors closed. What are other parents experiences with this?

Anyway, I know it is a tough one but would love to hear what other people think.

Thanks a lot for reading and helping

cyning

When you start socialising with groups of toddlers it's inevitable they will pick up things: especially this time of year but it does get better. Is there any local parent/toddler groups? Once you get to know more people you can have play dates etc.

We have fleece lined rain gear here worn over a pair of leggings with wellies we can go out rain or shine.

Balmed Out

stedeb wrote:

Hi Vodafone I have just been on to the customer care team without satisfactory result for the following.

Rain gear is a must. My fellow gets excited seeing rain and the thought of jumping in puddles.

armabelle

cyning wrote: »

When you start socialising with groups of toddlers it's inevitable they will pick up things: especially this time of year but it does get better. Is there any local parent/toddler groups? Once you get to know more people you can have play dates etc.

We have fleece lined rain gear here worn over a pair of leggings with wellies we can go out rain or shine.

Thanks, where can you buy those?

Also, where can I find out about toddler groups? I will do search and see but if you know any good place to look please tell me

armabelle

Balmed Out wrote: »

Rain gear is a must. My fellow gets excited seeing rain and the thought of jumping in puddles.

where is a good place to get it? I will buy some for her and see if it makes a difference.

cyning

Puddleducks.ie do them (and lidl for next year!!).

For the toddler groups it all depends on your local area: your local health centre should have a list. I'm in Kerry so not sure of the Dublin ones.

It's hard though: the wind is awful here today really really bad so we are stuck inside so it can be hard at this time of year.

armabelle

cyning wrote: »

Puddleducks.ie do them (and lidl for next year!!).

For the toddler groups it all depends on your local area: your local health centre should have a list. I'm in Kerry so not sure of the Dublin ones.

It's hard though: the wind is awful here today really really bad so we are stuck inside so it can be hard at this time of year.

When does it get better?

BabysCoffee

Do you visit your local library with your little one?
Many have parent & toddler groups or baby book clubs.

Wanderer78

Local swimming pool maybe?

cyning

armabelle wrote: »

When does it get better?

You know it's Ireland right

It's the wind that housebound us more than anything: but how about going swimming? Definitely get the waterproofs though. I have them for myself too (sportsdirect). And I bring a bath towel to the park to dry slides etc down!

John Mason

good, warm water proof gear and a pair of wellies. This time of year is perfect for jumping in puddles and running around in parks.

There are loads of different types of play cafes/soft play around Dublin. You should find them on google.

Contact your local Health Centre and they will be able to tell you the names of the local playgroups.

LegacyUser

It's hard Op.Mine is a very active 19 month old and really, the winter has been hellish.We are outdoorsy ourselves too and it's tough.
The one thing I've noticed is that she'll improve a bit as she gets steadier on her feet.Wellies andngood raingear, hat and gloves are essential.(also spare clothes for any trips or falls!!).
We are in North county dublin so we hit the beach when possible, just for general running and splashing in puddles.Take advantage of any break in the weather to get out.Once it's not torrential rain, off you go.We have a tricycle too, that she sits in and I can push, so even a few rounds of our housing estate will kill a bit of time.Kids don't always need to be in play areas.Any nearby playground is good, but it can be hard after rain when equipment is all wet.
I'm not sure what part of Dublin you're in but near us is Malahide Castle , Newbridge house, Ardgillan castle among others.Do you drive?There's a play centre on the M50 near the airport exit and I know there are olaygrounds etc scattered around the city.This is a good site for ideas....http://dublinfox.com/
I'm afraid it doesn't really get better.When in Ireland you have to assume you should always have a coat or jacket and it may rain at any time.It may get warmer between April and September for a few weeks but never as warm as Spain and the rain can come anytime.It's just a feature of life here-you take every opportunity to get out once it's not pouring rain, and that's about it really :-)

iguana

This might not be everyone's cup of tea but I have a Smyths, Toy'r'us, Tk Maxx, Heatons and another shopping centre all very near where I live and we often just go hang out in them. We don't have tantrums about me not buying toys because we go often enough that my son just sees it as a fun place to be and not necessarily a place where he will be bought anything. If I see a cool looking book in TK Maxx, we'll probably pick that up as they have a fantastic selection of unusual kids books but that's it. In shopping centres he likes to sit in the cars that you put money in though he knows I don't put money in them. The only thing he expects to get money for is the charity collectors that have the big spiral that the coins swirl around on. I save all my small change for those and he would spend a good 15 minutes racing coins down it.

My son gets to hang out and have a little independence, but he is also learning about having consideration for others and tidying things back up if he takes something off the shelf for a closer look because I use it as an opportunity to show him how his actions can impact on the people around him. I've been starting to teach him about the cost of things recently and how the numbers on the stickers on the toys aren't just random numbers put there for his fun. So he's starting to learn about concepts like value, expense and money management. We also shop a lot in charity shops so I've been teaching him about things not only being cheaper secondhand but also better for the environment, which is a great concept to learn about from a young age. My son is 3, so obviously some of this is a bit much for a toddler less than half his age but it's nice to be able to socialise in the real world as opposed to just play centres and toddler groups, which we also attend lots of. I also use the opportunity to do my own shopping and get him to help me out by finding certain items on the shelves for me. We also have good warm waterproofs and we go to the park with a big towel, walks with the dogs, he rides his bike, etc. But during the worst of this storm system a lot of the outdoors stuff hasn't been possible. But as rotten as our weather is usually, it has been exceptionally bad for the last 3 months, so hopefully you'll experience much more opportunities to go outside soon.

Couchkitten

Here are some things I do on my days off -
swimming - check out your nearest public pool
The library - a lot of th.em do toddler reading time too.
natural history museum in town, merrion sq playground if it's dry enough or play area in the national gallery closeby if not.
Check out baby and tot workshops in the national gallery.
Check out toddler days in Dublin Zoo.
Don't worry about her getting sick, she'll get used to the germs from play cafe after a while. Yes a crèche is exactly the same.

Definitely check out Parent and toddler groups. I find I spend a lot of time in winter visiting others with kids the same age. You will make friends there and find out more things to do in your local area.

pwurple

For light rain or a dry day where it's cold, it's all about clothes. Layers of light clothes and a light rain jacket work best for running around I find. The snowsuits or all over plastic ones did not suit mine.. too sweaty altogether.

There are days when it's too stormy for that though, and on those days when we get cabin fever, we hit the museums. art galleries, science museum,libraries, butter museum, titanic museum. We go to the university and run around the ogham stones. Children even that age seem to love sculpture and art.



After that it's playdates.

Moonbeam

We organise meetups on the southside mostly Families Go Global there are a lot of expat and some local mammies there.
I find we do a lot of indoor activities in this weather and trips to play centres. I can't wait for it to get less wet so I can run the legs of them again!

Millem

OP I love panda play. It is by far the best play cafe soutside. You could try others, "funky monkey" (I found it dreadful), "meerkat cafe", "fraggles" and there is one in Stillorgan but can't remember the name.

I haven't managed to go yet but there is meant to be a fab toddler time in library in ballyroan and Pembroke library ballsbridge/donnybrook. I went to Terenure one but it is too small.

Sligo1

Millem wrote: »

OP I love panda play. It is by far the best play cafe soutside. You could try others, "funky monkey" (I found it dreadful), "meerkat cafe", "fraggles" and there is one in Stillorgan but can't remember the name.

I haven't managed to go yet but there is meant to be a fab toddler time in library in ballyroan and Pembroke library ballsbridge/donnybrook. I went to Terenure one but it is too small.

Millem what do they do in toddler time in the library's? I'd be afraid L would just pull at all the books!!?? T would be good as he's loved stories from when he was a small baby... L... Not quite so much.... What exactly do they do?

fro9etb8j5qsl2

Sligo they do toddler mornings in my local library and they keep the kids occupied by doing arts and crafts and story time They have a little section away from the main bulk of books.

OP, not sure how true this is but I remember reading somewhere that if you move to a new country with a small child, they are more likely to pick up colds and viruses as the strains in the new country will be different from the ones they already have immunity to.

I love rain gear! No matter what the weather is like, we go for a walk every morning and sometimes again in the evening if the kids are particularly boisterous. We go to play groups 2-3 times a week and occasionally we go to soft play. There are a few things like kids music classes and art and craft classes but they seem to be more expensive.

Digs

Millem wrote: »

OP I love panda play. It is by far the best play cafe soutside. You could try others, "funky monkey" (I found it dreadful), "meerkat cafe", "fraggles" and there is one in Stillorgan but can't remember the name.

I haven't managed to go yet but there is meant to be a fab toddler time in library in ballyroan and Pembroke library ballsbridge/donnybrook. I went to Terenure one but it is too small.

My Mam has brought my daughter to the ballyroan one a few times and she said it's just fantastic. L really enjoys it too. Looking forward to going with them when I'm on maternity leave

Sligo1

Thanks mrspostman! I might check one out so.

Millem

Sligo1 wrote: »

Millem what do they do in toddler time in the library's? I'd be afraid L would just pull at all the books!!?? T would be good as he's loved stories from when he was a small baby... L... Not quite so much.... What exactly do they do?

Sorry Sligo I thought I had replied yesterday
Terenure have a kids only part of library that has its own entrance. The only books there are kids book. They have the little desks lined up with crayons, colouring pages,wooden blocks, peg jigsaws etc. The kids just do what they want. The librarian didn't read stories or anything.

The Pembroke one apparently reads stories but the ballyroan one is meant to the best. I don't really know where ballyroan is but I think it's near Terenure as my neighbour used to go.

It follows the primary school holidays so not in during their breaks. I am going to check with my neighbour as I think primary school go back on 1st April whereas secondary are still off so might try it out then

xband

To be fair the weather here isn't that extreme other than it rains. You need to just get rain gear much like you need to deal with extreme heat for several months in Spain.

I lived in the US and you couldn't do anything for months as it was way too cold or it was way too hot and humid in mid summer.

I know having lived in Madrid there were months when we basically spent all of our time indoors as it was way too hot to do anything and aspects of the summer would have been too cold for toddlers too.

Ireland gets way too wet and windy to head out with toddlers in winter but most of the year, if you have proper rain gear, it's fairly conducive to outdoor activity.

There are definitely a few areas of Spain which have idyllic weather all year around but, this is an island in the North Atlantic.

There's really very little you can do to avoid getting wet.

Toddlers playing together spreads bugs too. Also kind of fact of life rather than climate. There are some pretty contagious cold / flu type things going and until immunity builds you tend to pick them up.

It's probably as much to do with close contact and lack of ability to use tissues as it does with the climate.

How Strange

Ballyfermot library has a lovely child section which has a soft play area so check out the libraries near you for similar facilities. I agree about the rain and general Irish weather. Decent waterproofs and wellies and go to the park. There's very few days in Ireland where the weather is so awful that you can't get out for even half an hour.

The local swimming pool is another good option. Going to a cafe and having a baby cino; even better if you can walk there and back.

I personally avoid play centres. i just don't like them.

Ruby31

Millem wrote: »

OP I love panda play. It is by far the best play cafe soutside. You could try others, "funky monkey" (I found it dreadful), "meerkat cafe", "fraggles" and there is one in Stillorgan but can't remember the name.

I haven't managed to go yet but there is meant to be a fab toddler time in library in ballyroan and Pembroke library ballsbridge/donnybrook. I went to Terenure one but it is too small.

My child loves Funky Monkeys!

It's Leisureplex in Stillorgan and they have toddler mornings from 9am-1pm Mon-Fri for €5.

My child used to love Meerkat in Monkstown but has out-grown in now. Lovely owners there.

Trojan gymnastics club on the Ballyogan Road have toddler sessions 9.30am-12pm for €5, 3 mornings a week if memory serves - check out their website.

I found Fraggles terrible although my child loved it.

Panda play cafe is pretty good. Very good value considering you can stay from 10am-4pm! I've seen some parents working away on their laptops while the kids play which is dead handy.

Millem

Ruby31 wrote: »

My child loves Funky Monkeys!

It's Leisureplex in Stillorgan and they have toddler mornings from 9am-1pm Mon-Fri for €5.

My child used to love Meerkat in Monkstown but has out-grown in now. Lovely owners there.

Trojan gymnastics club on the Ballyogan Road have toddler sessions 9.30am-12pm for €5, 3 mornings a week if memory serves - check out their website.

I found Fraggles terrible although my child loved it.

Panda play cafe is pretty good. Very good value considering you can stay from 10am-4pm! I've seen some parents working away on their laptops while the kids play which is dead handy.

The Stillorgan one I was talking about is "cafe enchancia "http://www.enchancia.ie/CafeEnchancia.html

I found all the toys in funky monkeys are either broken or have no batteries. The children are so much older and were very rough with the smaller ones. I will never go again!! I wouldn't mind I was thinking of getting him a monthly pass during the summer no chance now. I don't like the way I can't see him at all times. I went during Christmas hols so older children were off.

sillysocks

I just find Funky Monkeys is so manic it takes the good out of it, just way too hectic there!

I loved fraggles but it's actually closed down now.

Sligo1

My little ones love panda play cafe. I also want to try enchancia in stillorgan. They adore funky monkeys... Absolutely love the place. But I have to say I find it too busy with the older kids. I can't sit down and leave my 2 to their own devices there as they would get hurt with the older kids. So I have to follow them around. If I have the 2 kids I wouldn't go without my husband as he'd have to follow one and if have to follow the other. It's not very relaxing and we couldn't sit down there and leave them to their own devices. Whereas in panda, I can chill out with a hot drink and leave the kids to it.

OP if you around that area there is a lovely little playground in Booterstown. My 2 love it there. It's a small well looked after playground and it's really geared towards the younger children as opposed to the older ones. So you would see a lot of children under 5 there and it's never manic busy. My 2 kids are 22 months and just gone 3.

armabelle

Millem wrote: »

OP I love panda play. It is by far the best play cafe soutside. You could try others, "funky monkey" (I found it dreadful), "meerkat cafe", "fraggles" and there is one in Stillorgan but can't remember the name.

I haven't managed to go yet but there is meant to be a fab toddler time in library in ballyroan and Pembroke library ballsbridge/donnybrook. I went to Terenure one but it is too small.

Yes we loved PP too but there must be something wrong with the ventilation or something because both times she went she got sick within a 3 week period. Second time was really bad...we are all taking antibiotics now

armabelle

Sligo1 wrote: »

My little ones love panda play cafe. I also want to try enchancia in stillorgan. They adore funky monkeys... Absolutely love the place. But I have to say I find it too busy with the older kids. I can't sit down and leave my 2 to their own devices there as they would get hurt with the older kids. So I have to follow them around. If I have the 2 kids I wouldn't go without my husband as he'd have to follow one and if have to follow the other. It's not very relaxing and we couldn't sit down there and leave them to their own devices. Whereas in panda, I can chill out with a hot drink and leave the kids to it.

OP if you around that area there is a lovely little playground in Booterstown. My 2 love it there. It's a small well looked after playground and it's really geared towards the younger children as opposed to the older ones. So you would see a lot of children under 5 there and it's never manic busy. My 2 kids are 22 months and just gone 3.

Whereabout in Booterstown? Would love to take her. Thanks for the advice

armabelle

Ruby31 wrote: »

My child loves Funky Monkeys!

It's Leisureplex in Stillorgan and they have toddler mornings from 9am-1pm Mon-Fri for €5.

My child used to love Meerkat in Monkstown but has out-grown in now. Lovely owners there.

Trojan gymnastics club on the Ballyogan Road have toddler sessions 9.30am-12pm for €5, 3 mornings a week if memory serves - check out their website.

I found Fraggles terrible although my child loved it.

Panda play cafe is pretty good. Very good value considering you can stay from 10am-4pm! I've seen some parents working away on their laptops while the kids play which is dead handy.

good tips, thanks!

Millem

Sligo1 wrote: »

My little ones love panda play cafe. I also want to try enchancia in stillorgan. They adore funky monkeys... Absolutely love the place. But I have to say I find it too busy with the older kids. I can't sit down and leave my 2 to their own devices there as they would get hurt with the older kids. So I have to follow them around. If I have the 2 kids I wouldn't go without my husband as he'd have to follow one and if have to follow the other. It's not very relaxing and we couldn't sit down there and leave them to their own devices. Whereas in panda, I can chill out with a hot drink and leave the kids to it.

OP if you around that area there is a lovely little playground in Booterstown. My 2 love it there. It's a small well looked after playground and it's really geared towards the younger children as opposed to the older ones. So you would see a lot of children under 5 there and it's never manic busy. My 2 kids are 22 months and just gone 3.

Sligo1 the day we went to funky monkey we were meant to go to enchancia but it was closed over Christmas hols the funky monkey does a great trade the least they can do is put batteries in toys! They have the bottom part of little tikes lawnmower...no handle :eek: also I found it very grubby. Because it's all over place, parents didn't supervise kids. One boy went down slide on a scuttlebug and landed on another child????? Don't get me started on all the steps going up to it or the stupid lift :mad: Panda so much cleaner and safer, it is such a shame Terenure one closed Terenure always had batteries in toys.

We go to the playground in bushy park a fair bit. My neighbour said there is a brill playground in rathfarnham castle but haven't been yet.
I can't wait for summer as I am going to bring my lad swimming to cheeverstown during the week as it will be open to the public week days

Ruby31

Ah yes I forgot about Enchancia in Stillorgan. The owner is so nice. The only thing is you're supposed to book apparently? I brought my son there once and was asked if we'd booked. We hadn't, but she let us in! Not sure what the rules are really.

Regarding Funky Monkeys, it's so annoying when parents don't watch their kids. It's not up to the staff to supervise and there are signs to that effect. It is the only place my sons been attacked (slightly dramatic lol!) because kids know they can't be seen in the little tent-like shops to the right-hand side so they corner & attack! My son still loves the place though. I have to drag him out kicking and screaming.

Sligo1

armabelle wrote: »

Whereabout in Booterstown? Would love to take her. Thanks for the advice

It's a little playground in Booterstown Park. You can actually see it from the road. It right next to the Dart Station. There's a carpark at the dart station but it's €4 for 24 hours... So expensive if you're only going to the playground for an hour. But if you go at the right times you can usually get car parking (there's only a few parks) across the road (busy road). A lot of the time I just pay the €4 and go the next morning again within the 24 hour period.

Millem we've been to the rathfarnham playground. It's very good. Very big big tho! L loved the sandpit and T loved running around there. Again, we had to go as a family tho as I couldn't have watched the 2 of them myself. Panda and tie Booterstown playground are realistically the only places I can go and let them off by myself as I can see the 2 of them at all times there. Otherwise they are fine together in shopping centres or a walk around the park etc. they usually stay beside me then.

pwurple

Just found this yesterday (bucketting rain again!) so I thought I'd post it.

Saturday and sunday in leisureworld bishopstown (cork city) they have loads of things to play with in the pool. Bouncy castle in the pool, water slide, toys in the baby pool. The changing facilities are good for babies there. The family rooms have wall mounted baby seats.

http://bishopstown.leisureworldcork.com/index.cfm/page/family-fun

uck51js9zml2yt

Try http://www.cuidiu.ie/branches_webpages for local parent/child groups and http://www.meetup.com/ who also may have a Spanish group.

RentDayBlues

The libraries in blackrock and dun laoighre are great, dun laoighre is probably better as the kids are is more separate. They all do toddler reading and some do baby book club.

Digs

We brought our 2.5yr old to imaginosity in Sandyford on Saturday and as a treat I thought it was brilliant. The cost was €6 for her which was fine but €8 per adult which we thought was a bit steep.

However it was like a childs make believe dream! She throughly enjoyed interacting with the other children, playing shop, playing doctor etc

We went for the 10am session, it's two hours. We thought it was very well run and not too packed. All toys worked and were in very good condition. Each section had dress up clothes to match the theme which were in good nick too.

While we didn't eat there is a cafe with healthy options and from what I could see the food looks good. We went to the vanilla pod in carrickmines afterwards for brunch, it caters well for buggys/highchairs and the kids menu is good.

Dunnes in the beacon offer two hours free parking so that was an added bonus.

It wouldn't be a weekly occurrance but it was a nice escape from the rainy Saturday morning we had and we will definitely go back. She hasn't stopped chattering about it since.

ETA: great thread by the way, always good to pool information with other parents and hear about places to go I mightn't have come across before!

John Mason

Millem wrote: »

it is such a shame Terenure one closed Terenure always had batteries in toys.

the one in Terenure was crap, hardly any toys and very run down. The one on Anglesea Road is okay but I really like Café O'Play in Drumcondra

scaryfairy

Hi OP, if you are in the South Dublin area, you should have a look at Airfield, too. While it's mostly outdoor, there is the house to visit, which is nice and warm and there is at least one cafe inside + an indoor play area with a shop, kitchen, little hut, whatnot. This is quite cold as one side is open but at least you are protected from the rain and wind.
I think the others mentioned the natural history museum - you can park just opposite the museum and spend a good hour around.
And we just seize every opportunity when it doesn't rain: I schedule our weekends around the weather forecast !
And you have my sympathy when it comes to weather - I used to live on the continent myself. However, spring and summer and autumn are gorgeous here (when there is no rain hehe) and a lot less to worry about (ie no heat, and sun not as strong).
Btw, have you been to the playground in Deerpark? It's lovely, and there a new caffe just opposite the road if the weather turns for the worst

munchkin_utd

...

munchkin_utd

ok, going to go a slight bit leftfield, but we had the same issues at christmas there.
2 kids who arent used to 24hours a day 7 days a week rain.

Anyhow, it really doesnt rain 24hours a day and there are small breaks.
What we did was to check the rain radar (a trick learnt from dodging thunderstorms in Germany) and just time the run and get out in between the breaks in the rain.
http://www.met.ie/latest/rainfall_radar.asp

with rain gear, which is perversely is virtually unobtainable in Irish shops (except from the german discounters), the child can mill about in a wet yard/ playground/ lawn to their heart's content.

Sligo1

scaryfairy wrote: »

Hi OP, if you are in the South Dublin area, you should have a look at Airfield, too. While it's mostly outdoor, there is the house to visit, which is nice and warm and there is at least one cafe inside + an indoor play area with a shop, kitchen, little hut, whatnot. This is quite cold as one side is open but at least you are protected from the rain and wind.
I think the others mentioned the natural history museum - you can park just opposite the museum and spend a good hour around.
And we just seize every opportunity when it doesn't rain: I schedule our weekends around the weather forecast !
And you have my sympathy when it comes to weather - I used to live on the continent myself. However, spring and summer and autumn are gorgeous here (when there is no rain hehe) and a lot less to worry about (ie no heat, and sun not as strong).
Btw, have you been to the playground in Deerpark? It's lovely, and there a new caffe just opposite the road if the weather turns for the worst

Hey! We're at deer park at least 3 times a week! Is that new cafe nice? Do u know if it's child friendly at all? . Thanks

scaryfairy

Sligo1 wrote: »

Hey! We're at deer park at least 3 times a week! Is that new cafe nice? Do u know if it's child friendly at all? . Thanks

I haven't been in yet but I have seen families sitting there and planning to have a cup there myself with the little man...

I think they would be kidding themselves if they tried to discourage families with kids, opposite a busy playground