what can I do with a 5 month old?

[everybodysang]

I'm at home with lovely 5 month old DD. I go back to work in 9 weeks and I don't want to spend those weeks wondering what on earth to do. It's not that I think she isn't getting enough stimulation or whatever - I'm just going a bit mad!

We do quite a lot out of the house, which is great, but when we are at home I just run out of ideas.

She still naps every couple of hours. She has a jumperoo which she likes and we do 10 minutes in that a couple of times a day. Ditto the baby gym. We read stories, sing songs, play with toys. She's quite happy to be left on her own playing on the baby gym or whatever for a while but then she does want some attention. In the hour before bedtime she has some naked kicking about time and we do baby massage. But there still seem to be massive gaps to be filled. If it's nice I take her into the garden and talk to her about what we can see. What else can I do?

After 9 months of living inside you everything will be interesting/exciting to your LO. Sit her in a baby chair whilst you do the washing/ironing etc -just get on with daily life

Mmm, this works up to a point, and I'm keen for her to be self-sufficient so I do get on with stuff when I can. It's when she's a bit more grizzly or just that I'd like to play with her I get a bit stuck.

Also, there's no way I'm ironing anything, not even to entertain the baby.

lol at the ironing embargo

I have a blanket on the floor with a bund of cushions around with loads of toys in the middle, my 6mo DS loves rolling/crawling around in it

Sounds like you do loads already tbh

I don't think there is a whole lot else you can do with a 5m.o. in the house. You mention that you are doing massage, have you tried baby yoga too? Then you can do it at home as well. I have just done baby massage and yoga with DD (19wks) and I am going to start boogie babies soon.

Sounds like she's getting plenty of stimulation - when she goes to childcare you'll see what they're doing with her and that'll give you ideas. Babies really don't need to be played with that much.