5 mo plays for 1-2 mins

[mummywoowo]

on his own. He otherwise has to held/amusaed etc.. Is this normal? .. would love to get something done...

Yes - but try finding alternative things to amuse him. I used to put my two in tehir bouncy chairs and just take them round the house with me. They watched me do the housework whilst I talked to them or sang songs... Again it doesn't work or long but at least you can get on with something. Also let him play on the floor - spread lots of toys around for him to reach out for, or a baby gym, or tie things above his head to kick or reach out to. You can then get on with ironing etc.

I'd say it's normal if my 6mo is anything to go by! Agree with seeline's suggestions. With my ds when he is in the bouncy chair I have tied other toys (his favourite in there is cloth books with scrunchy pages) to the toy bar so he has a variety of things to play with, also he has a door bouncer which he loves and will play happily in for 15mins or so while I'm cooking. He also loves looking at things above his head so I have a brightly coloured streamer type thing on a pole which I can wave above him with one hand while he lies on the floor while I'm in the bath/on the computer etc. He also likes frequent changes of scenery, moving him to a different room/going outside etc usualy helps.

test

15 minutes!! wow! well occasionally i get 5-10 mins in the mornings but no chance by afternoons.. he's too tired.. though refuses to nap, but another story..

I am hoarse with singing!!

I will try him in the door bouncer again though... couldn't get him straight before, he went lopsided and haven't tried since!

anyone any other miracle ideas?

I second the door bouncer !

have you got a sling?

Are you sure you are not 'overstimulating' him? He might be complaining cos he's tired rather than bored. How many naps does he have?

My ds was exactly the same, no miracle cures i'm afraid he just gradually got better - i remember once he actually sat in his bouncy chair for long enough for me to make a sandwhich for lunch & i almost wept with gratitude! oh can he sit unaided (sorry, have forgotten what happens at what stage and ds is only 2!) once he can he might like one of those doughnut things, ds used to really love sitting in that 'reading' books.

Don't be disheartened tho, it used to drive me crazy especially when my friend's babies were so happy just to lie on the floor/in bouncy chairs & gurgle while i was constantly pacing around jiggling ds. It just passes and once he's crawling he'll never look back!!

good luck xxx

Yes it's normal. I just got used to doing everything with one hand while I walked around with ds talking to him.

He never wanted to sit still, I just paced around and jiggled him about a lot! I read to him and sang to him, kept the scenery changing. I found he did better if we spent no more than 20 minutes in a room so I'd spend my days moving round the house and putting him in different positions with different objects around him. He would tolerate being laid on his play mat with a few household objects like a wooden spoon and some tupperware etc for maybe 10 minutes in the kitchen while I cooked (or went on mumsnet .) He always required a lot of physical contact and interaction though.

I found once he could crawl he was happier to amuse himself because he could finally explore and go where he wanted to go instead of just sitting still and not being able to touch everything.

He still needs a lot of interaction (age 2) but in a good way usually! He's very chatty and very good at playing by himself as long as I keep saying 'oh wow' and applauding every now and then! I find if I talk to him a lot and give a running commentary on what he or I are doing then he's pretty chilled out.

meandjoe i wish i had known you when our ds's were little! i really felt like i was the only one with a more demanding baby, ds is now so lovely & fun and i wonder if all those cuddles in the first months have made him more secure?? Who knows, maybe i am just trying to make myself feel better!

An Ergo carrier with dd on my back when she was tired/needed to sleep was my saviour from 5-9 months. I could get on with things and she had her need to be constantly held met. I can honestly say it changed my life.