What do you do with your DCs whilst at home?

[Newbeginning1]

DS is 17 weeks old and due to finances im going to need to spend more time at home. When we are at home he seems to get grumpy and tired really easily & is sleeping quite a lot and so not really at night which also means im spending most of the day with my ass stuck to the sofa. We do walks to the park etc but i just wondered what everyone else does?

Library's have singing and story times which are free. Local toddler groups run for a couple of hours and cost about a £1 your area may have a sure star centre which will offer free of very cheap classes. As the weather gets wormer paddling pool in the garden is fun.

I made up a little basket with household items and some baby toys that the baby might enjoy exploring can't quite remember now but stuff like a small ball that he could easily hold but too big to put in mouth, wooden spoon, scraps of different material, rattle etc.

Play some music dance around with him, or just lie down beside him and listen too it.

Put a plastic mat down on floor make a big tub of Jelly and let him play in it. He loves that one plus if he eats it's safe.

Rotate toys so he isn't always board playing with the same ones.

Put baby (ds2 is 12 weeks) in a sling and get on with work, housework, paperwork, playing with ds1, while also chatting to him while I do it if he's awake. Go to the park, library, walks, with him in a pram or sling. Hang out in the garden with him on a blanket or in bouncy chair, so he can look at trees/chickens/dogs. Lie him in a shallow bath and let him splash, or when dp is here to take ds1 we sometimes go swimming in a local therapy pool at a special needs school (so v.warm). Generally get on with life and let him join in and come along! I find that they get loads of stimulation from fairly 'normal' activities so don't constantly try to play with him or stimulate him.