What did you do....?

[wobblyknicks]

What was your average day like when you had a 8-month old?

Sorry, boring question and I have a vague memory that quite a few threads like this have been done but I'm really interested. So far, dd has eaten, pooed and slept but now she's really getting active in the day and although I go out for walks with her and do some activities, I feel like most of the time she's just doing nothing.

So I was wondering what all the other MN'ers did in an average day with an 8-month old?

I think we went to the swings, went to feed the ducks, met other babies/mum's either at home or went to their houses and dd played with their toys. Went to Rhythm Time music class once a week. dd didn't walk or crawl at this age so maybe I'm not representative?

Can't remember anything else at the moment...

Started swimming class once a week around this age. Also met up fortnightly with some of my antenatal group. At around 15 months joined a music group and started to got to soft play areas/activity-based Mums and Tots.

tbh it is really difficult at this time of year with a little, almost mobile one. Mine were often quite happy in their own environment. I found things improved once ds could walk confidently and was able to take more inetrest in things around him, and the weather was better so could play outdoors for longer.

hth

Thanks, just feel like a should be the 'perfect mum' and have an activity for her at every minute of the day - too many high expectations!!

wk I'm not following you around honest! I had exactly the same thoughts today about my 4 month old - ie was I doing enough stuff with him or was I just dragging him round with me and stunting his intellectual growth by not giving him enough baby centred activities. It's tricky isn't it? I tend to put him on his play mat a few times a day, show him stuff when we go out and try to make sure he interacts with other babies and adults whenever possible. We do a bit of massage here and there and lots of songs and occasionally I feel like a prat and read him a story but that's about it. I'm convinced all other parents are out there creating baby geniuses by doing all kinds of things I've never even thought of.

With ds1 I used to feel like I should have an activity lined up for every minute. With DS2, I've been much more relaxed. It took me a while, but I finally realised that just being here is novelty enough. Everything is new to them.

FWIW, he's 21 months now and we go to a toddler group 3 days a week. I can't remember how the day shook down when he was 8 months! isn't that awful!

Please don't feel that you have to have an activity lined up for them every second - it will send you completely around the twist with stress and guilt!

Been trying to remember. At 8 months DD had just started to crawl, but was always on her feet - cruising and wanting to be 'walking' holding your hands.

2 days a week, term time DD went to day nursery. There she did a whole range of things, painting, glueing and sticking, playdoh and modelling, free play, wooden puzzles, playing outside, walks in woods, singing and dancing, etc.

1 day a week DD went to PILs for a more relaxed type of day's activities. Walks in the pushchair, playing with toys, reading, singing, etc.

On our days off together we did:

Tumble Tots - once a week, term time only
Swimming class - P&T class once a week
Walks in pushchair, park, visits to the farm
Lots of playing with toys
Reading, singing and dancing
And (shock, horror) some video/TV watching
Painting - when feeling brave Also met up with a friend and her little boy - 7 months old than DD - for some social play for DD and chat for me

TBH, I did more of this stuff more for myself than DD probably - to get out and about, and not stay in all the time.

Like Clayhead, plus I did baby massage for a while and had joined a NCT tea group to meet local mothers of children the same age. I read to him every day - lots and lots of books, and singing. But apart from the books and singing, I really think most of the rest of it was for me, to build my social life. I think babies benefit from anything as long as you talk to them and show them books and you sing a bit - so a trip to the supermarket is every bit as 'beneficial' if not more so, than a trip to a soft play centre.

Erm...on our days off, dd2 gets dragged along to whatever dd1 and I are doing. Or she lounges under her baby gym. Doesn't get books of her own but gets to see/hear masses of them. Am bad, bad, bad neglectful mummy but I do cuddle her and chat to her and kiss her on her tummy a lot too.

I think babies do absolutely fine tagging along with your life. In fact, I think it's what they are supposed to be doing. Also, I don't see any difference between books for a toddler and books for a baby - ds still has basically the same books as I used to read to him/show him as a newborn.

I've remembered that with DS1, I used to go to the supermarket every day, just for one or two things, or just to visit. He loved the lights and the people so much in there, and I had PND, so couldn't do a great deal else. It was a godsend!

Most libraries have a storytime and free magazines to read. I used to love that. Leisure centres have under-5's things to do. Try netmums.com for other stuff to do