AIBU to ask you to help me entertain 10 month old DS today?

[hellisotherpeopleandhorlicks]

I'm at my wit's end already and it's not even lunchtime.
His teeth are coming through so he hasn't been sleeping well so despite his morning nap he's really grumpy and nothing is holding his attention for very long. He just wants to climb all over me and cry.

So far we've been out for a walk but had to cut it short as it's torrential rain with rain-whipping wind that was just smacking me in the face the whole time. We've played in the play pen with toys. We've watched half an hour of baby nursery rhymes on youtube and baby club (combined not each! And that's longer than he usually gets!).

We've watched the cars out of the window, danced around the kitchen, rolled about our bed (which he loves) and played in the cot for a bit while I was doing chores. We've practised walking and cruising around the playpen.

He doesn't want his books today, he just shoves them in his mouth and cries.

He's currently in his bouncer while I do some housework in the kitchen but is already starting to grumble.

This afternoon I'll give him a bath and do some water play but I'm out of ideas for the rest of the time if the weather carries on like this and I'm shattered for being up all night for the last week, and also have a cold.

The only thing that he'll sit and stay calm for is nursery rhymes on TV but he's had more screen time than he should have done already today.

HELP!

[Flev]

Grab a cardboard box or a basket, then rummage round your house for random items that are safe for him to play with. Look for different colours, textures etc - then give him the "treasure box" to explore.

Examples of things I used - wooden spoon, brand new washing up sponge, metal measuring cup, clean face flannel, plastic tub with lid and some dry pasta inside, stick from the garden... If you've not done this before it should help for a little while as it's a novelty.

[CloudyVanilla]

It sounds like he might benefit from being a bit more independently mobile. I let my 9 month old loose in the hall in front of the kitchen while I am cooking/cleaning, he can cruise along the banister as it's all childproofed/stair gated and I put down a variety of toys that he can either chew, pick up or bash.

If he's tired and grumpy it will either work really well or not at all :)

[Ohalrightthen]

URGH this is the absolute worst, the grizzly teething.

I would say, cut yourself a HUGE amount of slack. If the TV makes the baby happy, go with that. We've been snuggling up with 11m DD in front of various David Attenborough docs, or gardeners world, or bake off or strictly, instead of baby TV, because it feels better to us to be engaging with her while it's on and we can't stand baby bum etc!

[chickenninja]

Honestly if he settles for tv I'd just let him watch it today. It's not everyday and if you've got a cold too there's no point traipsing round in the rain.

I don't envy you at all, it's such a hard age. Get yourself some tea and biscuits

[CloudyVanilla]

Oooh yes mine have all loved fishing stuff out of fabric baskets or boxes - make sure it's stuff that doesn't look like toys at all though or they're not interested

[hellisotherpeopleandhorlicks]

Thank you, I've put together a new box of treasures and his currently investigating that grumpily
I can't really let him loose in our kitchen/living room and hall as the hall and kitchen have hard tiled floors and the living room has a really hard wooden floor - unless I'm being too precious first born! He's trying to pull up and cruise and walk but he's quite unsteady and swings around and face plants the floor so Im worried about him doing himself some damage!

I've found some bubble wrap so I'm hoping that will give me ten minutes (supervised obviously) and I'm going to put him in his high chair while I cook as he likes watching until he realises that it's food and he would quite like some thanks.

He's normally really good at playing on his own so I let him get on with it as I figure it's good for his development (along with other activities we do together) but today he's just teething and grizzly and doesn't know what he wants! He also got up a lot lot earlier than usual (thanks teeth) so is very tired

[Ohalrightthen]

@CloudyVanilla

Oooh yes mine have all loved fishing stuff out of fabric baskets or boxes - make sure it's stuff that doesn't look like toys at all though or they're not interested

I feel this on a soul-deep level. Spent a fortune on special sensory toys, DD only wanted to play with the egg boxes in the recycling.

[hellisotherpeopleandhorlicks]

@ohalrighthen I hate baby bum and all the lobotomised characters with a passion the dreary rain rain go away with lifeless gazes does, however, sum up my day today perfectly

Days like this always make me feel like a terrible mother as none of my friends seem to let their babies have any screen time at all

I might put him in the carrier and put away the washing later as he likes touching all the fabrics usually (who knows if he will go for it today)

He can crawl but since he's discovered standing and stepping he's less interested!

[LittleMissLockdown]

Are you me... I too have a grizzly, grumpy 10 month old who just wants to climb all over me and whine!

Nothing at all is keeping his attention and It's absolutely pissing it down here so I'm reluctant to chuck him back in the pushchair for a walk, especially as he hates the rain cover.

If the tv distracts him then honestly I'd just chuck him in front of it. If it would work on mine he would have probably spent most of the day watching it today.

[CloudyVanilla]

😅 It's so true they are all like it! OP sit him in front of the tv if it's one day he will be alright :) if he's feeling poorly with his teeth he won't want to play as normal. Hope he speeds through this!

[hellisotherpeopleandhorlicks]

@littlemisslockdown you have my sympathies ! It's rough isn't it? The day seems verrrry long

No babygroups or anything are open in my area yet either so we don't have much to do to break up the monotony which is especially hard on days like this

[hellisotherpeopleandhorlicks]

Even the TV didn't work so he's in the carrier and I'm hoping chores will entertain him or the rain stops!

[LittleMissLockdown]

you have my sympathies ! It's rough isn't it? The day seems verrrry long

Thanks lovely and yes very long indeed!! We braved the crap weather for a walk, during which he whinged the whole time and hed now refusing to nap. I on the other hand am wondering how it's not even 3pm yet and how much caffine is considered too much...

[Danni91]

Your friends do let the kids have screen time, trust me

Even my 8 month old is plonked in the jumparoo when her brothers eating snacks in the highchair.

Fuck it, i gotta clean sometime!

Its a nice dream to be there 100% for your child every minute of the day but unless you have a cleaner and a chef and a errand running slave, it just dont happen.

Calpol, highchair, tele. Let him zone out for half hour! It wont turn him into a square eyed addict but it will buy you half hour of peace

[mummyoneboy19]

Don’t worry about screen time - my child is watching frozen for the second time today 🤷‍♀️

Gotta do what you gotta do!