How to stimulate / entertain 8.5 month old

[Ouchdownthere]

Am looking for ideas on what more I can do with my 8.5 month old DS.

He isn't yet sitting up and permanently sucks his fingers and thumb, pretty much ignores toys etc. So what can I do to entertain him and maybe encourage more of an interest in the world outside his fingers?

I have tried classes with him but he is quite sensitive and tends to have a bit of a melt down if not had enough sleep and generally isn't that interested in what is happening in the class anyhow.

He seems to be at his happiest if it's just us going at his pace, meeting with small groups in a non structured environment IYSWIM. So, accepting this, anyone got any ideas on what inventive things I can do with him? We generally have roll around on the floor and CBeebies in the morning. After nap if we aren't out its more rolling around and me trying to get him to sit up / show an interest in toys. Definitely out for lunch time and most afternoons but if at home we might read a book or we have a bit of a sing and a dance, and perhaps a bit more CBeebies.

I think I need to find some more creative things to do? Any ideas?

Thanks MN

Give him the Argos book.

Obviously make sure he doesn't eat it but it ripping it to shreds used to keep my ds entertained, and its free

Take him for a walk in the buggy. Change of scene. Fresh air. Job done!

Love it bonkey, if only I could get him to take fingers out of mouth!

The great thing about kids that age is that you don't really have to entertain or stimulate them -- conserve your energy for when they're toddlers!

I played music constantly for my DS at that age -- not just children's music, my music, anything I liked. Also the radio. I figured that way even if he wasn't visually stimulated so much, he was at least absorbing music... he used to sway back and forth and really liked it.

they are still a bit young for toys. My DS loved banging tupperware around.

Mostly I just got on with whatever I wanted or needed to do and DS was happy to come along and watch. Oh god I miss that age!

Really dreaming? Is it not obligatory for me to be permanently entertaining in him some developmentally fun activity? Is him watching me tidy / cook really enough? Blimey, I think I do tend to over think these things sometimes.

dreaming has a point!
:)

Noooooo, god no, don't set yourself up to be permanent entertainer -- kids need to learn how to entertain themselves as well. They will learn loads that way!

If you are lucky enough to have a child who is happy to amuse himself, go with it, enjoy your time. I definitely used to clean the house and chill out while DS sat in his bouncy chair or inflatable ring and watched me or banged stuff together.

They are so little, I mean they are still figuring out how gravity works, I think it's great to just let them absorb things. I'm not saying ignore them all day but definitely don't feel you have to constantly stimulate them!

DS is 2.2 now, even though he has a lazy mum he can still say the alphabet, say loads of things in French and English, loves to play with books and build things, still loves to listen to music. Sorry not trying to brag but just to say that they will inevitably learn things, there's no rush.

And I'm really not kidding about conserving your energy!

btw love your name Bonkey

thanks :)

Wait till your ds can walk, and run, and give you cheeky chatback. then you will need to be clever.

Personally I would cut out (or down) the cbeebies watching - IMO if you're trying to encourage interactive play then watching TV may not help - that's just my personal view though.

My ds1 at that age iirc loved to explore things I was doing/using - eg get out some kitchen pans/wooden spoons etc and show him the different noises you can make banging on them, fill a jug with water and pour into into different containers, encourage him to touch the water/containers etc.

Or fabric type things that could be waved around/played peekaboo with etc - squares of fabric/flags/lightweight scarves etc work well.

Have a look at the baby centre ideas for play with this age range - though I always found most of their ideas were a bit too advanced for the suggested age so have a look at some of the ideas for younger babies too.

If he prefers small groups maybe ask one or two friends with babies around to your house - he will learn by watching them play with his toys and it may encourage him to want to as well.

A baby gym with things dangling down to catch his attention is probably all that he needs. Maybe some of those foot finder rattles?

They don't really need you to entertain them all the time. He will be just as interested watching you doing the hoovering!

i'm with lindsell - i'd get rid of/cut way back on the cbeebies, actually. Not in a 'no telly for my pfb' kind of way, but there are way more interactive things he could be doing, especially if you are really looking for ways to encourage him to be a bit more active. Music on while he plays on a mat on the floor will give him plenty to see touch and hear...Watching you tidy and cook is great IMO, as you can talk to him about what you are doing, give him pans and bits of laundry to mess about with, and eventually he will be helping you do your chores!
I was with DD constantly at that age - no family around, didn't really have much help with childminding, didn't have friends with kids, and wasn't great at playgroups - so I was always worried that I should be "doing" something more with her. But really, I just read to her lots and lots and lots, and left her to play on the floor with her toys while I got on with my work in the same room. I'm not a naturally chatty person and don't normally talk aloud to myself, so I did make more of a conscious effort to keep talking, even if it was just a sort of moologue about whatever I was doing at the moment.
That worked ok for us.

Great ideas thank you. Am going to get a box of tricks together over the weekend and limit the CBeebies.

I popped him in his bumbo in the kitchen this morning and he was pretty happy watching me potter.

Love the suggestion to get some other babies over so he can see what others do in his environment.

And am going to order a load more books now. Great ideas, thanks again.