https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:36:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-getting-in-stimulating-activity-make-potential-meltdowns-worth-it-for-you#post-1595484 Sun, 27 Apr 2014 07:51:15 +0000 Bookish 1595484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: haha well it took us a loooong time to get more laid back about it. I still worry every time that she'll melt down, but I just don't avoid doing stuff because of it, if that makes sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-getting-in-stimulating-activity-make-potential-meltdowns-worth-it-for-you#post-1595237 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 20:59:40 +0000 daniellemybelle 1595237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dandelion: Oh man, not really looking forward to that part of toddlerhood!</p> <p>@looch: The thing is, it's hard to do "shorter bursts" because we don't live close to anything. I try to do 2 hours maximum door to door but we don't always make it.</p> <p>@Foodnerd81: Haha, that apple picking story is hilarious! I agree that I think it's really good for babies to get out &amp; get used to different surroundings. LO usually soaks it all in, and we use the opportunity to meet people/animals, talk about what we see, etc. So I feel like that is beneficial to her... but ultimately I guess I should decide based on how important it is to ME!</p> <p>@Cherrybee: It's such a trade-off. Thankfully her night sleep doesn't seem to be that affected by daytime meltdowns as long as we keep bedtime the same. We can never go out for dinner or anything in the evening which sucks :bummed: </p> <p>@Greentea: I don't really go anywhere most of the time!</p> <p>@googly-eyes: Haha to your comment about the living room - very true! Though LO really enjoys &amp; soaks up different experiences - like we went to the zoo recently &amp; I thought it would go over her head but she was all about it! You're right though - I was just saying to my mom that I'm sure in a couple months she'll have a longer awake time &amp; it won't be as much of an issue.</p> <p>@Bookish: Good for you that you can go with the flow! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-getting-in-stimulating-activity-make-potential-meltdowns-worth-it-for-you#post-1594927 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 16:26:04 +0000 Bookish 1594927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's worth it to us. We love getting out and about, and going to festivals, etc., so we just try and time it right, and if she has a meltdown, well, it happens! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-getting-in-stimulating-activity-make-potential-meltdowns-worth-it-for-you#post-1594920 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 16:10:37 +0000 googly-eyes 1594920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The thing about toddlers, though, is they last longer. And their meltdowns are more easily understood, for things other than sleep. As far as LO was concerned, I didn't feel she needed to do too many things like that. To a person in the first year of life being in the living room is stimulating. That said, I think it is good for parents to do those things for the interaction, and because as time goes on it helps your LO get used to being out and about. It also helps you get used to going out as a threesome an dealing with things like meltdowns in public. So yes, I do think you should leave the house, but no, I wouldn't worry about your LO if you decide to just drop by and leave pre meltdown, or skip some things. I think by 8-9 months (maybe 7?) my daughter has a longer wake time without meltdowns! So you'll end up doin more as time goes on without stressing over it. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-getting-in-stimulating-activity-make-potential-meltdowns-worth-it-for-you#post-1594907 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 16:00:43 +0000 Greentea 1594907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is stressful but otherwise we wouldn't be able to go anywhere? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-getting-in-stimulating-activity-make-potential-meltdowns-worth-it-for-you#post-1594877 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 15:43:07 +0000 Cherrybee 1594877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with Foodnerd - was it worth it for you?! If you had fun it was worth it!</p> <p>It's a full blown disaster if E doesn't get her sleep - it not only creates a meltdown at the time, it also impacts her night sleep. When she was younger, she could only tolerate 1hr awake time max because she was a chronic cat napper and I dedicated my entire 6 month maternity leave to preserving the nap schedule. Honestly - I stayed home day after day after day. Now I'm back at work, I don't have that option and she sleeps terribly at daycare.... but it's not the end of the world I thought it was, to be honest. In retrospect, perhaps a bit of meltdown drama or a few more night wake ups could have been totally worth it for having a life..... :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-getting-in-stimulating-activity-make-potential-meltdowns-worth-it-for-you#post-1594847 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 15:19:14 +0000 Foodnerd81 1594847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thankfully, C is doing much better about that kind of thing now, but when she was younger I could never really decide. For me it pretty much depended on whether it was worth it for ME, not for her. Like, we brought her apple picking when she was a little less than 3 months old, 30-40 minute drive each way, with a baby who hated the car, then cried or fell into a very very light sleep the whole time we picked the apples (aka I walked slowly with her in the carrier while DH quickly threw a bunch of apples into the bag). That time may not have been worth it. But if it's something I enjoy then it's worth dealing with the potential meltdown. I also figure it's good for them to get used to doing different things outside their comfort zone... so I tell myself. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-getting-in-stimulating-activity-make-potential-meltdowns-worth-it-for-you#post-1594834 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 14:58:48 +0000 looch 1594834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you also have to look at the time that they need to "come down" from an activity and factor that into the total time. I am assuming you've tried shorter bursts of activity with the same result? If so, it is probably part of her winding down. Totally normal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-getting-in-stimulating-activity-make-potential-meltdowns-worth-it-for-you#post-1594831 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 14:55:30 +0000 Dandelion 1594831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think stimulation is good. 2 hours might have been a bit much but I love festivals too, so I'd probably make an exception for that too.</p> <p>Toddler meltdowns ARE bad but usually they blame it on something else, like wanting a toy or something and fixating themselves on it to an unreasonable level. I remember once when my brother was 2 screaming on the way home about how much he wanted candy. It was so crazy it was hilarious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-getting-in-stimulating-activity-make-potential-meltdowns-worth-it-for-you#post-1594814 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 14:39:13 +0000 daniellemybelle 1594814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went to a street festival today after LO's morning nap which was 2.5 hrs so I figured she'd have the stamina for it. She seemed to be really doing well with all the stimulation &amp; was happy until she hit her usual naptime &amp; then got cranky. We hurried home but she screamed her head off for most of the 15 min drive.</p> <p>It's hard for me because I think getting out &amp; doing things is important but so far I have yet to go out &amp; come home in her happy window, no matter how hard I try, and so a meltdown is pretty much guaranteed. Still, does 2 hrs of good stimulation outweigh a 15 min meltdown? I kind of feel like it does. DH remarked that it's easier now that she is smaller &amp; less mobile - a toddler meltdown is probably a lot harder to deal with! </p>