Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder what you all do with your 6 month olds all day....

37 replies

WilmaWonders · 14/01/2013 16:21

Apart from feeding/naps etc? I play with her as much as I can but I have things to do and so I worry she's bored....I don't bring her anywhere except the supermarket etc....she can't sit up unless in a high chair etc.

Should I be bringing her out places yet? I don't want to go to groups.

OP posts:
flossy101 · 14/01/2013 16:28

Mine is 6 months. Is there any reason you don't want to do groups? I do a group most days and go swimming once a week. I wasn't sure about the groups at first, but I really enjoy going now, we mostly go to groups at the local Surestart centres plus they do a couple at our library too. Because we go to the groups once a day, I don't feel too guilty about letting him play by himself a little whilst I mumsnet get jobs done, because he's had some activity time that day.

Original poster
WilmaWonders · 14/01/2013 16:34

I'm not in the UK. So we don't have Surestart here. I'm not sure about Groups either, what are they all about? Singing songs and clapping along.....I'm really not a children person so I feel a bit out of my depth tbh.

I hear terrible stories on here about all these 'competitive Mum' types at the groups. I think I feel a bit intimidated, I'm not sure!

OP posts:
Jambonfrites · 14/01/2013 16:37

Well I don't have any useful suggestions, just wanted to say I know what you mean. DC3 is 6 months and has become a bit more high maintenance in the past few weeks. She needs entertaining now. I think when she can reliably sit up unsupported it will be easier, and even better when she starts crawling. This sounds awful but often I just want to get on with jobs (bit of housework or cooking) and she starts whinging after a few minutes. I'm not a good baby person. 18 months upwards suits me better...

teacher123 · 14/01/2013 16:40

DS is 8 months. We try to do two 'things' a day. They are not very interesting and generally include:
Walking into town
Going to supermarket/
Soft play
Coffee with friends
Popping to see grandma and grandad
Walk by the river and see the ducks
The occasional baby group
At home he watches a bit of ceebeebies, plays in his jumperoo, plays with me and his toys, 'helps' me do housework.

flossy101 · 14/01/2013 16:41

Most of the mums I've met have been lovely, and it's nice to have a chat with someone with a similar age. If your not keen on groups, what about swimming, walking to cafe for a coffee and a change of scenery, library, our library is always full of kids and is quite noisy so no need to worry about baby being fussy etc.

Original poster
WilmaWonders · 14/01/2013 16:42

You just described my dilemma Jambon Baby is whinging now dammit! I feel I have no imagination and the baby will be under-stimulated.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 14/01/2013 16:43

Go to loads of groups and drop the ones with the horrible mothers at them. One of my best friends her (I also live overseas) is someone who defected with me after the bitchy weirdos at one group tried to push us out. We jumped before we were pushed and she is great.

Apart from that; park; ducks; beach; mall; walk.

BartletForTeamGB · 14/01/2013 16:44

I've never met a competitive mum at any of the groups that I've been to.

Maybe that means I'M the competitive mum!

I've just found it helpful to have some structure to my day. I agree with trying to get out at least once a day. Even wandering around a supermarket is interesting to a baby.

drivingmisspotty · 14/01/2013 16:44

don't believe everything you hear on mumsnet! I tried a few groups. some were a bit cliquey, others were welcoming,some were very activity with baby focused, others were an excuse for coffee ans chat while babies played on floor. if you shop around you might find something you like. But groups aren't compulsory.

I also like trying to teach baby tricks-clapping, waving, hi five. dancing around and singing ro music I like with baby in arms. and you can still do jobs and they might likw to watch - play peekaboo bejind the laundry as you sort it, chat to them while you're ironing.

what did you like pre baby? I loved cycling so got dd a bike seat around 6 months

alternatively just sit back and relax until dc can crawl :-)

or just relax until dc learns to crawl and

Original poster
WilmaWonders · 14/01/2013 16:44

Swimming sounds fun flossy thanks, I might try that! The guilt of being at home too much is killing me!

OP posts:
HappyJustToBe · 14/01/2013 16:46

You don't need too much imagination as pretty much everything is new and exciting at that age. I went to groups to meet other people with similar age DC and then we gravitated more to meeting for coffee or lunch. To be honest it was easier to be out of the house but I am really not a baby person so it was a case of just getting through the day.

nickelbabe · 14/01/2013 16:46

you will start to see him sitting up of his own accord soon.

have you got one of those bouncy chairs that they are strapped into?
my DD spent hours in hers before she could sit up unsupported.

if you can prop him up, maybe surround him with cushions, then that will be good.
is he spending time on his tummy?

you could put a mat on the floor and surround it with things that jangle/make noises etc.
if you have a dining chair, put it by the mat and hang things from it.
that'll keep him occupied when you're busy doing things.
read to him, play pat-a-cake.

don't underestimate the usefulness of groups - they're good to get you out and about too. and he gets to be stimulated without much input - they usually have toys he hasn't seen before, and at that age, just being somewhere new is amazing work for them.

nickelbabe · 14/01/2013 16:47

she, sorry! Blush

i think i read someone else's post before i started posting.

drivingmisspotty · 14/01/2013 16:48

sorry just seen your newer message. sorru flippant abouy crawling! sometimeswhen mine is grizzly I just put in pushchair and walk, fast! not great if you have stuff to do tho...

pettyprudence · 14/01/2013 16:48

i mostly went to groups, mainly bf ones but any that were more baby rather than toddler groups as the focus was more on mums having a cup of tea and natter Grin the babies dont really care what they are doing.

yes you can get some competative parenting but i think its down to everyones insecurities? i made some lovely friends and we have playdates now or even better evenings out without the children Grin

i wanted to be a stay at home mum but turns out i wasnt good at the staying at home part Grin its boring playing with babies and toddlers all day so groups relieve the tedium.

if you really dont like the idea of groups i took ds to museums from 6 months ish - lots for him to look at and he really liked the accoustics when shouting Grin also swimming and as soon as he could sit up unaided the swings and slide at the park. once crawling we went to softplay centres more. poor boy was exhausted Shock

ThinkAboutItOnBoxingDay · 14/01/2013 16:54

Yes to swimming. Highlight of my 7 mo's week. And it leaves her exhausted so we get a good couple of hours nap to relax afterwards.Wink

I'm just starting to take my DD out to groups and it helps that she really seems to enjoy herself. Took her to a sort of soft play (free local version) and she sat their laughing her head off. Beats me as to why but i can put up with a fair degree of boredom myself to see her so happy and excited.

GordonsAlive · 14/01/2013 16:54

Ds is 6 months and we do a few baby groups each weeks, go shopping etc, but I find my day is broken up anyway and I have to go out for the school run with dd (6).

I let him have wriggle time on a blanket / playmat, he likes to have his feet out as it means he can propel himself around the room, he bounces in his bouncy chair, has an inflatable ring that helps him sit up so he can chew play with his toys and his baby gym, or playstation as we call it Wink

This age can be tough though, so much they want to do, but can't quite manage it without your help = whinging on both parts!!

YeahThatsTheBadger · 14/01/2013 16:55

DS is 6 months old and just entertains himself crawling around. It's not a bad thing for them to be on their own, if they're happy to. DS likes me to build a tower so he can knock it down. (x100!) He likes playing with empty plastic bottles, empty boxes, etc. He likes looking at books and doing 'row, row, row your boat'.
But his favourite thing is to try and eat toys belonging to older DD and DS! And an old, broken mobile phone.
I've never really been to baby groups with mine-I'm just socially shite; useless at making small talk but any I have been to, people have been nice/friendly.
Maybe give a group a go. You don't have to go back if you're not keen.

DoJo · 14/01/2013 17:05

Most of the groups I go to involve a pile of babies and toys in the middle with mums sat around the edges chatting (never noticed any mompetition, think it's dramatically over reported esp at this age) and intervening when necessary to stop injury or incidents or just to play a bit with the little ones. We don't even talk about babies that much, except to catch up on the day-to-day stuff, such as who's stopped sleeping, whether that tooth has finally come through etc, but certainly not to compare them in any negative way. From that we then arrange to meet up at other groups etc just so that we have people to talk to whilst the babies play.

I'd say baby groups are worth a try - I was pretty unenthusiastic about the idea before having my son, but enjoy getting out of the house, having grown up conversation and having a network of friends for things like baby sitting, nursery recommendations, comparing notes on GPs etc which is invaluable esp with your first.

Original poster
WilmaWonders · 14/01/2013 17:08

Thanks for all these great ideas. I'm a bit socially shite too Badger but I'm a bit more encouraged after reading this thread. I need to get over myself and just go to a group and like you all say if I don't like it, don't have to go back!

At home she has a Jumparoo which she loves (but I try not to over-use as I'm worried she won't develop her crawling skills etc!), she also has one of those rubber rings and a seat like a bumbo but with straps to use on the floor. I get down on the floor with her and try to give her quality play and attention. I try to use different toys so she doesn't get bored. At meals she gets different finger foods and I also try to give her purees which she is spitting out at the moment! So I try to make it fun for her.

The cold weather probably has me in a bit of a rut and I feel guilty. She can't sit up unaided yet and can't crawl so if I'm not playing with her she quickly gets bored and whinges. Sad I wish she could crawl.

OP posts:
pingu2209 · 14/01/2013 17:10

Speak to her as you are doing things. Key is language development. Just by saying 'mummy is now going to wash up' etc that will help her.

Taking her to places will help her social development too.

Get some play dates.

Original poster
WilmaWonders · 14/01/2013 17:15

I do Pingu -I'd say the poor thing is sick of listening to me waffling on!

Some people mentioned soft play, is she a bit young? Could she go in the baby section?

OP posts:
nickelbabe · 14/01/2013 17:15

i'm socially shite, too.

I only go to the group i go to because it's attached to my church so i know the leaders.
I sit around the edges trying to either butt into someone's conversation or talk to someone who is also on t heir own ("talk" means "blurt out random crap" usually)
it's easier with the kids, because you can talk about them, and if noone is speaking to you, you can concentrate on the child.

Bonsoir · 14/01/2013 17:18

At 6 months, my DD loved sitting in her bouncy chair watching me do the ironing. I used to put her bouncy chair right in the middle of a large double bed, and the ironing board at its foot. Kept her amused for ages!

And the other thing that made her giggle away was lying on the floor with me at her side and doing "gym" - I would put two legs in the air and she would copy me etc. This is both fun and very educational - they get better and better at mirroring you.

Bonsoir · 14/01/2013 17:18

You can have a long bath together every morning - she will love that!

Swipe left for the next trending thread