late afternoon / early evening ideas needed for 6-month old

[BumblebeeQueen]

I'm looking for ideas of what to do with my 6-month old ds in the time before we begin our bedtime routine at around 6.30pm, which consists of bath - boob - bed

Dh comes home earlish most days, around 4.30pm, so they usually have half an hour or so of playing, but around 5ish ds starts getting a bit grumpy and not interested in doing anything for very long. So I need ideas on what to do, something that will keep him interested but not get him so excited that he doesn't want to go to bed afterwards!

Any ideas would be much appreciated!

PS Have been reading MN since I was pregnant, have found the threads full of invaluable advice, but never posted before myself!

Massage? Storytime? Longer bath? Bring bedtime forward? FWICR, DS still had a short nap at 5ish when he was 6 months, but since he was a rubbish sleeper generally, that nmay not be the norm.

Once you are doing tea about 5ish (if bed is 7ish) I let DD play quietly with a toy in her highchair after tea for 10mins or so (I get a quick breather before bedtime!)Then bath (if you do every night, I don't) We have a bit of family time on our bed - she is up there now with DP as he was late home so I am just having 10mins to myself!. Nappy off and a few toys or a ball is popular. Sometimes for 30mins or so. We might sing a song or read a book. Then clean nappy, brush teeth and pjs. Then kiss Daddy and into Nursery where I put her into sleeping bag and feed her.

Our times vary depending on what time she napped in the pm as somedays she skips it now and is tired earlier.

It's so easy to forget what you did, and it's only 18 months agi, blimey how time flies! Nappy free this end too, on a warm day outside on the grass or just go ff and lie in the park. Also did a bit of Baby Einstein at that time if I or DS were frazzled though know lots will disapprove of that. Could recommend ones our DS kujed if it interested you. At this time of year I think going for a quick stroll in the buggy can break that graveyard hour up a bit, even if it's only 20 mins for a pint of milk or sometimes we used to go and watch buses in a nearby square with all the commuters coming home. Playing with newspaper, and crackly paper like the stuff flowers come in always went down a treat, scrunch it up, hdie under it, crawl/roll around on it etc. Think I bought a coupl eof cheap cheer leader pompons from party shop which were often quite fun if you're inventive, they'r wigs, one minute, monsters on the floor the next etc. Have you heard of a treasure basket too/ Google it for ideas, but it's basically a basket full of thigns they can't play with all the time, it's meant to be supervised, but is about different textures etc, so an old leather purse, a piece of ribbon, some rope, a fur cone, a cork, shiny things, hard things, soft things, basically household objects that can't kill them but that are interesting, and not made of the stuff all their toys and books are.

5pm tea. Found 5.30-6pm difficult to fill in, some play/tidying up toys/kitchen. Have resorted to "sing and sign" DVD at 5.30pm though on a few occasions . At 6pm would go to the guest bedroom where we would do rolling on the bed, 9.5month old now says "roll roll roll" when we do it. In that room lots of magazines and a big mirror, rip up paper and roll and stare at herself. Then read lots of books. 6.30pm DH arrives home to give bath. Seems to work for us.

The 10 minutes with a toy in highchair does sometime mean baby tv or dvd. She LOVES IT! I hate it! But keeps me sane!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the responses!

We do the Treasure Basket thing earlier, usually after his morning nap when he's in a really good mood.

Just starting with weaning (BLW), so still at the exploring stage, no real "meals" as yet, still mainly milk (and especially in the evenings).

Quite like the idea of nappy off time and maybe getting into a reading a story routine (not necessarily at the same time ) Problem is that so far he's only been interested in eating the books we've read together...

He hasn't had any exposure to TV yet, so would like to save that for desperate times that may lie ahead

blimey you're very organised

in my house 6 month old does sitting about and playing with stuff

or gawping at ds

or we go out for some fresh air for 20 minutes

or we just sit about and chat/sing

or i leave her alone to get on with stuff

Yeah, books are good. DS1 used to love books where he could participate. Touchy books like the 'That's not my....(car, dinosaur etc etc)' series.

And I know it's not at all PC to suggest it but the bedtime hour from 6 on Cbeebies is very good and calming- 1/2hr or 15 minutes of telly such as'In the night garden' can't hurt.(hopefully!). DS1 and I usually have a nice cuddle watching it.

My 5.5 month old saw In the Nightgarden for the first time the other day and seemed very keen until Iggle Piggle came on (just had to look that up) and screamed [shocked]

He has a nap at 5ish for 1/2 an hour otherwise he gets really grouchy and can't keep going until 7.

I generally read a book (I hold them and talk at the pictures and so he can't eat them) before we get to nappy off and kicking time.

Or even

ive found pushing dinner time back a bit helpful. my lo is 11 mths, eats at 5.30 now instead of 5, we run a bath about 6.30, before breastfeed and bed. he LOVES his time after tea, cos me and dp and him all just hang out and play, and don't do anything other, its all focused on him! (ds not dp that is!)
we always go out twice a day though, so he doesn't have that much time in the house!
he used to get really grumpy after 5 too, but he gets less tired now. yours will maybe do the same?

What you need is an older sibling - would you like to borrow ours?

It's definitely the most difficult time isn't it?? We used to tea at 4:15 and then start bath at 6pm and now it's a teeny tiny snack at 3:45 ish and then tea at 5pm and still bath at 6pm and that works much better. Even if they're not eating properly, meal times still count as an activity!! I sometimes take DD out for a short stroll as she quite likes her buggy and finds a slow amble and possibly a quick go on a baby swing (held rigidly by me!) quite calming. Also - taken to different rooms for a change of scene seems to work wonders. Or watch you unload the dishwasher etc etc. It does suddenly change though. DD is now 8 months and it's not the nightmare that I dread each day any more

I recently got a baby bouncer for my 10 month old DD and it has been very useful for the half hour before her supper when she is tired and grumpy but I need to do stuff in the kitchen. She loves it but it doesn't get her too excited, so maybe worth a try?

Never to early to look at books with them.
Yeah I agree Loopy, naked time was always a hit with mine and still is at 19mths

Sarah I could do to swap some its not my .....books with you. I've got dolly, fairy and snowman and my dd loves those too.