What are good games/things to do with an 8m baby?

[bearcrumble]

I feel like we do the same things all the time and I'm worried I'm not stimulating him enough.

We go for long walks - in baby carried and pram to local parks, the aquarium and local city farm (although he's usually asleep by the time we get there).

He likes to bounce in his jumperoo.

we go to a music thing once a week and baby gym and rhyme time sometimes.

I read to him and sing songs.

He's not quite there yet with sitting up unaided - he topples over and he can't crawl yet for more than a couple of 'steps' - he commando crawls or rolls to get where he's going.

I kind of think he should be sitting up and playing with things rather than laying on his back. I sit with him between my legs and try to encourage him to sit up but he just wants to stand with me holding him. I think he'd enjoy more things if he could sit for longer unaided...

Dunno. It just feels like we're stuck somehow after months/weeks of rapid developemnt.

I'm not worried that he has any developmental problems.

I guess I'm a little bit bored of the same old thing all the time and I'm looking for a bit of inspiration.

It feels like a betrayal to say I'm bored after wanting him for so long... It's not all the time though, honest.

And I feel guilty for going on my laptop so much during the day.

You sound like a lovely mum - try not to worry to much they all develop at different rates - when he starts crawling properly and starts exploring things you do notwant him to - you will miss the days when you could leave the room and know that they would be in the same place when you got back

My dd is 7 mths and loves banging things - get some safe kitchen utensils or bits of shiney material she loves scarves etc I put together a treasure basket for my DS and am currently doing one for DD too

I know some people are not keen but have you thought a bumbo and tray or an activity table too, I balance DD on my knee and she loves it

It can be boring a bit somedays - it is okay to say it

Bless you I think your a lovely mum too! I found quite a lot of the baby days boring too and so do a lot of my pals. At the time someone said that to me and i thought that was an awful thing to say but i really get it now. When they start interacting properly with you and talking and playing games etc. it becomes so much more enjoyable. I also found that when they start enjoying tv or dvds it's brilliant - even if it's for 1/2 hr or an hour of the day when they can be distracted without you. It doesn't make you a bad mum just a human one who needs stimulation too. They grow up really quickly so hang on in there

I'm totally with you on this one, in fact I could have pretty much written your post word-for-word! It does make you feel guilty doesn't it. My DD is 7mo.

I am planning on putting together a treasure basket for her over the next week or so. In fact when she wakes up I think we will take a walk to the £1 shop to see if we can bag a few items!

I have also just ordered her some new toys off Amazon too, as I think she gets bored with the same old toys.

I actually read something somewhere (can't remember) where a mum was saying that she rotates the toys that are laid out on the play area all the time rather than having all the same stuff, all the time. Makes sense I think!

It sounds like you're doing all the right things already! Getting out and about and being with you is the best thing for her. Just chat as you go about your day and point things out, name them, explain what you are doing.

Things she will like: Bubbles, touch and feel noisy board books, peek-a-boo, pots and pans, bath toys, this little piggy etc.

Thanks for all the responses and the tips - I think when I haven't seen other people for a while as well I start to get bored (the other mums tend to be with their partners over the weekend of course - while mine was working).

We're also at the stage when meals take forever - I am doing a mixture of purees and finger food to keep his interest going so that's about 2 hours out of the day.

We had a nice long walk this afternoon and when we got home I played his nursery rhyme CD and shook and banged things that make noise (good tip Lemonadegirl - he loves banging things too).

Mobly I'll get some more bath toys, that's a good idea. He loves splashing.

I'm bidding on a bubble machine on ebay.

Funnily enough he started crawling for longer periods this afternoon.