Tell me what you do with your 10m old!

[Tweetinat]

DS is approaching 10m old and I'm really at a loss of what to do with him during the days. I was made redundant when pregnant and so far have no job to return to... On the one hand I love that I can stay with DS and be here for him, on the other I'm tearing my hair out with boredom and knowing what to do with him now that he's more active.

He has two 1.5ish naps per day (morning around 9) and afternoon (around 1.30) and I really struggle with him at night if these are missed, so going to afternoon or morning groups is difficult.

I do baby signing with him on a Monday at 11 and meet up with friends two days a week, but the other days I just despair. He doesn't seem to want to 'play' but he isn't happy if I just leave him on the playmat with his toys either; he just whines and crys and tries to crawl up to me and climb my legs. I'm finding it very frustrating and just don't know what to do with him!

So, looking for inspiration to help me enjoy this time I have with him rather than counting down the minutes to his next nap...

TIA :)

Hi, my DS is 9 months and I know what you mean - is a tricky age to keep them amused it seems. Lucky you with those naps though! I would love it if DS napped like that.. although I can see how it makes groups tricky. Have you tried the park? DS loves the baby swings and trying out other things (bouncing animal type things) with close supervision. Does he like riding in a shopping trolley? DS LOVES this...! What about going out for lunch with him? Bit expensive but great if you can find somewhere nice with highchairs. Going on any kind of trip in the pushchair is popular with DS too. Does he like reading books? I find ones with moving holograms and touchy bits are popular. A trip to the library always takes up some time. Slow meals where he picks at finger food for an eternity. What about singing/rhyming games/playing peekaboo/playing with cars on the floor? I'm sure you have tried all this but worth a mention! I'm sure others have some good (better) ideas - I could do with some too

Also treasure baskets (more popular than other toys I find), plus galleries, anywhere with people/trees/animals to look at... I think they get bored at home. I've started to realise that DS is pretty portable as he just loves new places/people. The bus is a favourite!

I know how you feel, I had to find something to do every day when my DS was that age.

Will he not nap later if you go out at a usual nap time? He might change his routine if you started attending something regularly. I tried to find as many mum and toddler groups as I could and to hell with the sleep because I preferred tiredness to boredom.

How about going swimming? My ds loves the pool.
What toys have you got? Does he enjoy a door bouncer? An activity centre (one of those sit in circular things)?
Is he crawling? How about a pop-up tent and a tunnel for playing hide and seek in?
Baby Einstein DVDs?
CBeebies?

Yes, I well remember this tricky phase. I used to put them into the baby rocker a lot and just take them round with me from room to room. Watching me seemed to keep them amused for some time. All the best!

Ooo, I just remembered that I bookmarked a thread ages ago started by someone wondering what to do with their 10month old! It's here.

Thanks for all the suggestions! To answer some of the questions:

Yes, he is crawling and now won't tolerate the door bouncer or jumperoo even though I couldn't prise him out of them between 6-8m lol. He hates being strapped in anything, so supermarkets and pram journeys are a bit stressful because he sits there looking very glum and after a while begins to claw at the harness trying to get out :(

We do go Swimming but that's a weekend thing with Daddy at a lovely warm pool. It's a great idea though and I may brave the local freezing one though if it'll occupy an hour or two.

He will sleep later if we're busy, but we live about 20mins drive away from anything, so if he falls asleep in the car on the way back I'm doomed as I can't transfer him to the cot and he won't then take a proper nap. It's bloody annoying actually as it's long enough for him to fall asleep but not long enough for him to get a decent nap out of it.

Once or twice a week the afternoon nap goes to pot as we're out visiting friends, but I always seem to pay for it - bedtime ends up being late and the next morning is always early. And then I'm seriously pissed off and the day hasn't even started!

Love the tunnel idea actually as he likes exploring under tables and chairs so I think he'd get a kick out of that, and will try a treasure chest for him. It's funny though cos whilst he loves playing with the recycling bin bottles and tins, as soon as I give him his own he just ignores them!

Haven't seen Baby Einstien CDs but will go off and have a peek now, along with the other thread which I'm grateful for you surfacing :)

Thank you!