What do you do with your 6mth old?

[Peanutgant]

Finding it hard to entertain DD who is just over 6mths old. She can sit up (with a prop) but doesn't roll so gets very frustrated. I tend to take her out for a walk or shopping etc as she loves to watch the world go by (i.e. nosy like her mummy ). But as for toys at home I am finding it hard to know what to get her and how to entertain her.

Mirrors, balls and toys which roll to encourage her to stretch forwards and move a bit or scoot it to and fro between you, things to shake or which light up and make noise when handled. dd loved swings too.

my nearly 6 month old just gets dragged around to his sisters activities! seems happy enough!

I really think toys have fairy limited usefulness at this age. tbh, even my 2 year old doesn't play with toys much! I'd say a few well choes rattley things and some chewy things are all she needs, and to supplement you could give her wooden spoons, bottle filled with coloured water, bottles with rice in etc. apart from that i think just chatting to them and singing to them is enough...oh and books, lots of books to ook at (and chew!)

i'm sure f&z will be along soon to tell you all about heuristic play!

Have you thought of just giving her (safe) household items to play with? My son seems far more fascinated with investigateing random objects placed on the floor, than in playing with his toys. (We haven't bought any new ones for a while now, I guess, so he's probably bored of them). Obviously, nothing small enough to put in their mouths and choke on or sharp or pointy... At nursery, he apparently bangs a tambourine, so you could always give her some pans and things to hit them with. Once she can start moving (my son started rolling to get around at first), I'm sure she will be busy investigating all kinds of things anyway and will be much easier to entertain, but harder to keep up with!

Liking the idea of homemade stuff Have noticed she can spend ages ripping a magazine apart! And she loves her wooden bricks. I do resent paying a fortune for stuff she will barely use, can't believe how much a bit of plastic costs?!

Mine enjoyed a jungle gym...they should really lie on their backs so that they can learn to roll too. The jungle gym offered entertainment and he learned to reach for the toys out of his reach. I used to put him on his tummy on our bed and enticed him with something from my drawer (not a toy) by placing it out of his reach and then just stayed near him while he tried to reach it. sometimes placing him in a plastic blow-up ring with a dvd from baby einstein.

They tend to be more interested in you and your things.

peanut - agree, its a complete rip off what they charge for some toys. my dd LOVED the coloured water in bottles, i threw some glitter in too. must make one for ds.

we have few toys compared to some people, but so much of it is rarely played with...less is more, methinks

Yes, homemade "toys" always a winner here. I made ds rattles with empty vitamin bottles by filling them with rice or chickpeas for different sounds.

I also agree less is more (plus there will come a time when an old quality street tinjust isn't enough, so enjoy it while it lasts.
DS is 6 monthsand moves around the house so he can watch me (his top entertainment) Sing and dance while you do the housework for added laughter.
I use his bumbo alot still as he can reach for thing withoput keep falling over.

Bumbos are great - DD loves hers! Not sure how long she will stay in it though as she is starting to arch her back and try and get out. Also enjoy singing and dancing with her, got some CDs from the library so that I don't sing the same stuff.

Had a good day with her today, took the bus to the city centre and then went blackberry picking with her in the sling and the dogs - perfect

My home made rainmaker a like is a small waterbottle with ridged sides and a bunch of lentils in it. Right now ds ( 6m/o) is on teh floor playing with his thumbs and blowing raspberries he might pick up a rattle or a shower puff both are in reach. I was singing to him earlier and hes had a good tummy time on the wooden floor so he slides about.
We go to mums and tots and the libary, he loves watching bigger kids and laughing at them. I do expect him to amuse himself some of the time and he does, he can be absorbed for 30 mins at a time with whatever he has found to fiddle with. We will be going to a tresure baskets group this term, I think he will like it.

just to add- slack dads idea of amusing baby includes watching the simpsons and playing teh trumpet, ds seems happy with both.

Percussion intruments - at that age DS just lurved hitting things together. Board books, stacking cups and stacking ring toys and brick towers (for baby to knock down), and anything that plays a tune. Charity shops often have loads of great toys - pick a few up for 50p each, and just take them back when DD gets bored with them. We've had some great stuff that way.