Entertaining 9 month old - Ideas thread? :)

[lunavix]

Was wondering if we could share ideas and inspirations because I know I for one need them!

Ds used to love - door bouncer, stacking cups, his walker, peek a blocks toys, anything that banged....

Now he likes - sitting on my lap, and watching the tweenies. And that's it...

And once we've watched tweenies twice in one day I'm beginning to think that's enough tv for a baby. We go for walks but after 20-odd minutes he's had enough. We go to a baby group twice a week which is great but there's no tumbletots or anything near by.

Any ideas???

Hi lunavix!
Ds is 9 months and also loves telly..! Is your ds a good crawler? I can't remember - sorry... My ds is only just getting the hang of it and loves crawling towards towers we've made - cups or bricks - to knock them over. He also loves sitting facing me and playing games like "where's Mummy's nose?" -which he's getting quite good at! Needed quite a bit of training though! We're also working on making animal noises (have to admit it's mainly me at the moment). So, "what does a lion say?" and then I roar... He just laughs - but really likes sitting and listening..!! Clapping's another favourite.

Other than that his favourite thing is eating, but that's not very helpful..!

Are you sure he's not a bit poorly? my ds had a couple of days like that last week - but he did end up having a temp and that explained it.
at the mo he loves his moving toys - a horse that clips clop past and he chases it - and musical instruments. plus he loves a string of ladies beads - especially on a wooden floor!

Never too early to introduce him to ' Touch & Feel' or picture books if he enjoys sitting on your lap.

dot and Tracey - he's been like it a few weeks! Was actually going to put it on our thread but was wondering if anyone else had any ideas too :c)

He's just started teething, which I know could be the reason, but he's become so clingy, and I pick him up he cries, put him down he cries, do anything and he cries.... it's just disheartening to see him so frustrated :c(

ourdarling - yes he absolutely loves them, but only a small attention span bless him!

why don't you try giving him a little bit of calpol - maybe a quarter or the normal dose and see if he brightens up. It may be that his teeth are moving around and taking the edge off him. At least you'll know if he doesn't brighten up that he wasn't in discomfort.

ooh I completely forgot about calpol!

We've been using teetha.. apart from the fact he hates us trying to get it in his mouth, it's a godsend!

Um, I wouldn't entertain a 9mo much personally. Ours had to fit in with what we were doing so the school run, going to the shops, going for walks, meeting friends, going to the park, playing with pots and pans on the floor while I cooked, teletubbies, a box of toys and that's it! Oh, apart from baby Mozart, have you seen them? They're great imo, mesmerising for babies and bearable in the background for adults. I agree, I would check it's not teeth if he's a bit down and not seeming himself.

I've been thinking about getting more Baby Einstein, we only have one the language one which tbh is a bit rubbish but we've heard great things about the rest. He adores his tweenies video though, and I always put it on in the morning so I can make his breakfast and sort the house out and again in the evening to cook dinner and clean, and I'm worred it'll just be too much tv with more to watch.

Baby Mozart is a complete godsend - ds1 loved it at 9 months and ds2 is into it aswell - although these days he usually has to watch whatever ds1 wants on..!

I've noticed ds2 has definitely grown out of his 'baby' toys - most of his rattles are redundant - and he seems to like bigger toys now. He loves the thing where you have to push the toys down into their little boxes (if you see what I mean). Maybe a mini splurge at ELC is called for to get him some new toys (any excuse..!!).

I caught the end of Fun Song Factory on TV the other day and ds was mesmerised - also he loves the Giggles dvd.

dd3, 9 months, likes best at the moment:

little push-along trolley (with guard to stop her falling out). she just sits in it or gets pushed.

emptying pots of things - eg shape sorters, or tupperware cupboard. any container full of things - especially rustly or rattly things.

duplo lego or primo lego (duplo will last for years) or megablocks - ok she doesn't actually build with it yet but rattles it).

swimming. ball pools. swings at the playground.

going out in buggy or backpack - anywhere, anytime.

she also likes dolls and my little ponies - exposure due to bigger sisters.

I forgot about swings! They have baby seats on some of them don't they?

Ds would love that....

Going out in backpack? You have one of our threads lighter babies don't you

also weebles or the "little people" range are excellent for this age up - garages, farms etc.

lunavix, she's about 18 or 19lb. but feels very light after lugging toddlers around for years.

Fennel - yep, a light baby!

I have found the perfect entertainment for ds - cheerios.

He has a bowl (dry) tips them over his head, then spends the next 30 minutes picking them up one by one and eating them.

Give him a cardboard tube and teach him how to shout in it.

Thats great lunaivx. My DD is 8 months and not moving so frustrated. She would like me to hold her hands in a standing position all day. She would like to walk and has not interest in crawling.

Food is quite an interest I find. Sit her in the high chair with a handful of peas on the tray. Also sit her in front of the plastics cupboard and she empties it while I cook. She loves the swings but its just so cold ATM so can only go there for a while. Loves swimming too.

Bozza - yes, if he's standing or being bounced he's very happy. Chubby monkey's grown out of his door bouncer though That was a sad day...

cupboard foraging is a great idea

DS 10 months loves

Balloons
Galt play ring with balls in it - own mini ball pit!
VTech walker
the PC (can't use it with him around, he takes over
Emptying any cuboard or drawer
Taking things out of & putting things into a bag (eg one of those thick paper ones with little rope handles you get gifts in, cos they stand up on their own)
Kipper stacking boxes
Ripping toilet tissue
Next catalogue

I did find for a while when ds was getting mobile he lost interest in all his toys, now he's getting back into them again.

My DD (11 months) loves:

Emptying cupboards
Pulling all books of book shelf
Disco dancing (I love this too, keeps me fit)
Playing with Electric toothbrush
Emptying cupboards again.
Throwing shallots at Daddy
Emptying CD rack
Any other general emptying
Getting free run of a bowl of bubbly water - v. messy but highly amusing.
Looking at 'open the flap' books (she's only got one but doesn't seem to get bored)
Playing with pots and pans
Talking to herself in mirror.

Most of these require no input from me, I work full time and spend 3 hours with her a day, much filled up with dressing, feeding at start of day. Feeding, undressing bathing at end of day. At weekends I do play with her but also have to do all housework etc.

Do you just leave him to it and see what he gets up to? They usually find something to interest them eg fiddling with radiator knob for 20 minutes.

I don't think you need to entertain him all the time

She doesn't get any telly I'm afraid. The jingle jangle tunes and childlike presenters irritate me. I do watch nature programmes myself in early evening sometimes and she sometimes wanders over for a look at that and to bang the TV screen.