How to entertain a 7 month old

[GiraffesHaveMoreFun]

Finding entertaining DD hard work at the moment.It's fine if we're out and about, as she loves watching things and people. At home, it's a different story, but of course we need to be here sometimes - dreading autumn/winter as I don't know what we'll do, esp on rainy days.

She's got a jumperoo and will play in that for about 10 minutes. She usually, but not always, cries if I leave the room. She'll look at books, play with toys, watch the cat, etc, but again only with me. She cries after a few minutes on her playmat, whether or not I'm in the room. She can just about sit up by herself, can't really roll or crawl anywhere.

This makes getting anything done impossible, even preparing food for her means a full on complain-fest from her.

any advice? I think she's really bored and frustrated at not being able to move around, but what do we do until that happens?

Oh, she HATES her sling btw (unless we're going for a walk), and at 21lb, it's hard work lugging her with me around the house.

wnaky basket

sit her in her highchair next to you while you do things?

Have you done lots of entertaining her up till now or does she usually play by herself fairly well for periods (ten minutes or so)? This sort of age is quite frustrating for them - they can't move, communicate or eat as well as they want to so a bit of crossness is reasonable.

octavia She used to be much better at entertaining herself. I'm sure it's frustration. She's in bed now, and I'm busy making her a wnaky basket as recommended by woof. Fab idea, thanks. robyn, she just starts groaning/half crying to come out and be held while I do whatever it is I'm trying to do.

7 months is a dodgy age for 'entertaining'. I struggled with my DS. It gets much easier.

Don't fret about winter as your DD will be 10/11/12/13 months. So almost definitely crawling, and probably walking towards the end of the period.

When crawling, they really start to enjoy gymboree. Do you have one close? What about drop in playgroups. At 7 months your DD will be pretty robust so you won't need to be a complete nervous wreck with other babies/toddlers around her.

And when they start walking... it is brilliant!!! DS is 13 months and now we go for walks, go to loads of drop in play groups. It is a a lot of fun, and you have this to shortly look forward to

My ds is 7.5 mo, I agree it's quite frustrating at the minute as he is sort of going forward and kind of rocking on one knee as if he wants to crawl but then just flops onto his belly! We just do the usual playing with toys, reading, singing, rolling, carrying him around showing him stuff whilst giving an inane commentary etc.

Today I put rice crispies on his high chair tray as I read it can help develop their pincer grip, but he just swiped them onto the floor.

oh yes, he has a treasure basket too. His favourite items are a velcro roller and a silky handkerchief.

The basket has had mixed results - she particularly enjoyed smacking the cat with the salad server, and eating some of the loo roll tube.