Home alone with a 4 month old..

[pinkposey]

Hi all

I'm British, but currently living in DR Congo, don't have a car, and live in a house where access to anywhere other than our own house and garden is limited, there isn't really anywhere to go outside. My husband has just gone on a 10 day overseas business trip, and its only noon on my first day alone with my son. A day seems like a long time, let alone a week. I won't be getting out much or talking to anyone apart from my boy over the next week.

Does anyone have any good ideas for things to stop me from going a bit mad? Especially for mini activities with my son.

Thanks!!

omg ten days... I do admire you! Its a tricky age as they don't really do much yet.

Have you been round your house and explained how everything works and where you got everything from?

peek a boo using a massive sheet fluttered over them.

read newspaper out loud and discuss your view of current affairs. Ditto adult novel / poems. Doesn't matter about the content as long as you use a bright cheery voice and make eye contact every so often.

Tickle his feet / nose with various fabrics, soft toys.

looking in the mirror together was always my trump card when things got desparate.

Watching this thread for inspiration, currently a lp with a four-month-old and the days are LONG!

We have play gym, plenty of baths, books and a bit of time with the electronic babysitter while I do chores.

DS is almost 4 mo. We do lots of physical play, he climbs on me, practises rolling, attempts to crawl on our bed (supervised obv), bounces on my stomach, practises standing etc (he's strong and loves all this, tries to do it all the time). he also loves being supported upright so he can stamp in the bath :)

For you- I find Radio 4 can offer some decent intellectual stimulation but means I can get on and do other stuff (not just sit and watch TV), World Service maybe?

How about doing his footprints, you could do impressions in salt dough?

Another thing I do is put on CD and either dance with him or we shake rattles and stuff along with the music (mostly me showing him how and he attempts to copy).

I would find things for YOU to do and then he can join in (watch from his bouncy chair). I learned this trick with DD2- they don't really need much focus at this age.

Is there really nowhere to go? Personally I would go for a walk as long as I wasn't in danger!

Am watching with interest as I am in exactly the same situation, 4 mo DS, home alone, no car, DH is working 14 hour days atm, we moved here a month ago and our stuff hasn't arrived on the boat yet, and it is too hot to go outside and I have been told you can't take babies under 6mo into strong sun because can't put suncream on them.

We swim at 3.30pm when the pool is in shade ( shared pool in the complex where I am). When inside he does rolling/crawling practice, baths with me, climbs on me, I jump him about in my arms, read the one book we have to him ( Hungry Caterpillar), erm, constantly pick him up and comfort him as he screams with frustration as he can't crawl yet, sometimes pen him in on his back with cushions so he can play with his toys on his back and not roll, sing, dance about, look out the window and BF a lot. And go a bit mad. He naps for about 4 hours total in 2-3 sessions, which is great and allows me to do exciting things like housework.

It is driving me a bit mad tbh. Sympathies. The afternoons are the worst.