Anyone else not know what to DO with their baby? Ideas please!

[tigerbear]

I'm at a loss as to what to actually play with 10 month old DD while we're at home. Does anyone else feel constantly tired by trying to think of ways to entertain their babies?

I've tried bubbles, usual toys, books, C-beebies, etc, just stuck for new ideas.
If anyone can suggest anything I'd be really grateful.

I think they just love hearing your voice and interacting with you - so lots of singing and nursery rhymes - especially ones with hand actions.

Have you tried making a treasure basket? www.littleacornstomightyoaks.co.uk/Articles/Treasure_basket

Also just getting a load of household things like pans and wooden spoon and putting them on the living room floor for them to handle and play with for a change.

Course! It's hard work. Do you go out to groups? The park? The library? I have to go out at least once a day and I work part time

I also let my 12 mo watch me do housework and try and get her to help which means im entertaining her but also getting stuff done. I let her play with cupboards and drawers and help sort my washing out.. Also I dont play with her all the time. She explores stuff by herself. Often the best time for this is after she has eaten but before her nap is due.

Also peekaboo? That's a classic.

Does she move yet? We play chase a lot (13mo) and peekabo and sing and clap and look at books and try to stay still...I've got a boisterous boy though, he kind of shows me what he wants to do. Mostly I just get lots of stuff out and we build and knock down towers and look at puzzles and post things. Have to say though, I'm scared of getting bored so we do go out a lot for walks and coffee.

Dancing? DS is only 6 months old but loves being waltzed around the flat whilst I'm singing tunelessly

He absolutely beams whenever I just start the tune.

Oh god. I remember this age.

Soft play - I know some think they are the work of the devil, but they saved my sanity. Even just sitting doing nothing while DS crawled about was a godsend for me.
Exchange "play dates" - fellow mum and I used to visit each other once/twice a week. Gave us adult conversation and much easier to cope.
Cleaning - my DS will now sweep up if I ask I used to give him a slightly damp cloth and ask him to (bedroom) clean mirrored wardrobes, (kitchen) wipe cupboards, (bathroom) wipe side of bath - living room was a dry duster and he "cleaned" the couches.
He also loved boxes of junk - clothes pegs were a particular favourite as were teaspoons.

Thanks everyone, lots of good ideas.
I just feel tired all the time as I work part time and also run my own business so I feel like I'm never fully interacting with DD while I'm at home as trying to do work too. Guess I have to start leaving work stuff and housework until when she's in bed, but just so tired by the end of the day that everything is half done.

Sorry, that gone from a post about playing to be having a moan :(

Don't worry about it. I'm a WAH mum and my day at that age was:
6.00 - 10.30 Up and play with DS while trying to tidy, do washing etc.
10.30 - 12.30/1.00 WAH job with (if I was lucky) a bit of lunch.
12.30/1.00 - 4.30 play with DS. Or try to find things to do with DS.
4.30 - 5.30 dinner time and a bit of telly while I tried to prep dinner for DH and I
5.30 - 6.30 play with DS
6.30 -7.30 bed/bath routine
7.30 - 8.30 dinner for us
8.30 - 10.00 tidy house, bit more WAH stuff, maybe 1/2hr of tv.
10.00 bed
And repeat ad infinitum!

It does get better. DS is now 18mo and will play independently for a bit 15-20 mins at a time but likes to know where I am - so I can now work downstairs on a lap top in lots of "bursts" so I now have his nap to myself which is BLISS.

Just keep chanting "this too shall pass!"

housework or toddler groups.

Ds1 used to sit next to the sink while I washed the dishes, ds2 played with the hangers while I hung up the washing, ds3 puts all the washing back in the basket while I try to sort it and put it away. They all followed me round with the hoover, sat in the kitchen watching while I cook.

Thanks again everyone for all of your ideas. We've had a good day - DD played with some kitchen stuff this morning - pastry cutters, wooden spoon etc - played peekaboo, went to a playgroup and we went for a big walk.
:) I didn't do any business work today which really helped, will leave it for the weekend.

Bearcrumble - I really like the Treasure Basket idea and am going to start collecting items for it.

There's books out there with ideas -

E.g. www.amazon.com/Games-Play-Babies-Jackie-Silberg/dp/0876591624

I found it hard too, we went out a lot (swimming was our favourite) and read a lot of stories.

I found this stage really hard because DD wasn't walking by herself yet and only wanted me to hold her hands and walk her round all the time.

She did like water play though and we used to stick a big bowl of soapy water on the kitchen floor with some different sized plastic cups and let her play at "washing up".

Do you have a garden, if so a blanket with a few toys on the lawn if the weather is nice. Dd loved this last week sat just reaching out to touch the grass, which was a new texture, and watching and listening to the birds, lots of different senses.

Whilst i'm busy in the kitchen I pop dd in her high chair where we can see each other and give her a wooden spoon which she chews, bangs on the table and drops on the floor all in good humour. If i'm ironing upstairs I plonk her on the bedroom floor, within sight, with toys and let her entertain herself. She is 10 months and rolling everywhere, loves opening drawers and wardrobes provided I can see her I let her. If I need to leave the room she goes in her cot.

It is hard work and I find it easier on days where we go out, either in the car or for a walk, staying in makes it feel endless at times.

Does your baby/toddler like music. do you put CDs and radio on? Pop/classical...anything. Have a go while she's playing and see what happens, my two always tended to settle better at something with music on and it still helps now at ages 10 and 12 yrs.

bearcrumble just want to say a big thank you for your suggestions. I have given 7 month old DD a collection of random non plastic items in a basket and she is fascinated and has sat picking up/tasting/holding them in turn for aaaages. I reckon 2 blocks of 30-40 mins solid yesterday. So lovely to watch her play and such a tremendous relief to get the short mental break from constant attempts to engage and entertain!

But op, why do you feel the need to constantly entertain? You havent said that baby is continuously grumbling or clinging. There is no need whatsoever to specifically "entertain" babies, in fact hardly at all. The times when you naturally entertain them as a Mum (eg nappy, food, clothes, bath, milk, bed, park trips etc) really are enough (unless your baby is a clinging, entertainment requiring type of course!). The odd 5 minutes here and there of books or cars or tickling are really fine, honest!!