What can your 5 month old baby 'do'?

[flourybaps]

My 5 month old dd is still very much my 'baby'. She sleeps through about 4 times a week, naps are ok ish in the day and shes not weaned yet.

I'm worried I dont interact with her enough. I had pnd and had trouble bonding with her at first but we seem to be over that now. Its just that I'm not very good at playing with her and I'm not sure if I should be doing more.

She sits in her bouncer and watches me cook, clean shower etc. She plays on her gym, can go in the door bouncer for aboout 10 mins and she watches a baby einstein dvd at some point every day.

She smiles and everyone says she is content, I dont know if she is just quiet though as I think maybe I dont talk to her enough.My dp works long hours so a lot of the time its just me and dd and I suppose it can get a bit quiet in the house. She dosent really laugh much She cant roll over yet and is no where near sitting.

Sorry for the v long post I'd just like to know how much interaction you have with your babies. Any tips would be appreciated.

My baby is 6 months, she doesnt sit and she doesnt roll over.But it will all come in time. I had this panic too and asked others and some babies take much longer than others.
Sounds like you spend more time with your baby than you think floury.
There are some sites if you google for baby games.
Put the radio and waltz, dance or just move around the room to the music, my baby loves that. Babies can't do much for themselves but most find it great fun when you do it for them, so how about when you change her nappy, cycling with her legs, my lo likes it when i mimic YMCA with her arms, and singing it ( rubbish as i am but thats the great thing about babies they don't judge you onyour singing) lol.
Or just something like pat'a'cake with their hands. ok so they clench fists etc but they get the fun element of it.
And i think we all have times when we get bored of the mundane routines of being a mum, its normal. Thats when you think stuff it and have a good ol natter on the phone for far too long

try a sling- that way you're constantly providing stimulation without having to play in a forced fashion. they love it when you fold laundry whilst in the sling, well mine do.

sounds like all you're lacking is confidence, baps. who in their right minds is wholly entertained by a baby who can't talk or walk? it IS bloody boring- doesn't mean it's not amazing at times and doesn't mean you don't love them. you'll always get women who harp on about how scintillating motherhood is but really, it's lots of menial shit with the odd moment of hilarity and joy. totally worth it but reeeeeeeeeally repetitive. just be creative and don't feel foolish about making up some random songs etc... you're baby will love you regardless of how perfect you consider yourself.

your baby, not you're baby

Thanks for the tips blinks and the encouragement.

Ps no need to slap self over the spelling I am the queen of lazy spelling!

Flourybaps, you sound like a lovely mum! If it's any consolation, I would love my ds (7.5mths) to be as content and 'quiet' as yours sounds. My ds has always been very unsettled, goes from laughing to screaming in the blink of an eye for no apparent reason, will not sit still for more than than a few seconds, and generally can be really hard work.

I find myself feeling quite down about not being able to make him happy, and staying in the house all day just makes it worse.

So to make yourself feel better...definitely try to get out for walks to keep the endorphins going. Also, for winter days., check out your local cinema as many have mother and baby screenings

Hi FB, just to say I used to worry that my first daughter was under-stimulated one day and then worry that I'd stimulated her too much the next!
There's been lots of good advice so far and I'd also I'd really recommend getting out and about. As well as going for walks etc, I'd look for a music type class to go to such as sing and sign, jo jingles or something like that. My little girl sort of enjoyed them to start (although if I was being very honest, she did fall alseep quite a bit, or sit and do nothing). As she got older she really loved going. Plus my best new baby pal was someone I met when our babies were about your baby's age at one of those classes.

Hey, we all know how you feel. I know everyone says it but there's no manual here, just try and relax into it especially when there is no one there. I'm very silly with my 5 month old when there is no one around, then when we're out and about I'll quickly pull a funny face and she smiles at me. You're doing fine just relax xxx