What am I supposed to do all day

[PebbleTTC]

It's 10.40 baby is bored and I'm wrecked! How do you fill your days between naps ? Baby is 6 months old, I'm not very good at playing

That was my cue to go back to work!

Okay I also have a 2 year old but my 6 month old and in fact his sister at that age used to go to / enjoy toddler groups (I did bumps and babies plus a church group) rhyme time at the library, play dates with other children (can be older when dc1 was little she loved going to play dates with a 4 year old and the 4 year old loved her too!) We would do painting, sensory play - shaving foam, ice, sitting and exploring the treasure basket we had made, would sit and watch me cook. We use the whole of our house playing in different rooms just for a change of pace and different things to see and play with. Walks in the country park, going to the playground (loved swings from 5 months) sure start centre had a craft session we would go to. Go to the library and sit and explore the books, go for a coffee at costa,

My routine would be sorT stuff at home / do cooking in the morning 7-9 with free play and breakfast. Nap in a cot then straight into the pram and out to a 10am group or a walk to town etc. Do group 10-1130, home for lunch at 12 then 2 hour nap. Up at 2.30 once bottle done it was almost 3pm so we would potter off for a walk, go grab a coffee, do some painting etc. Tea time at 4.30/5 by the time I'd tI died up dinner and washed up it was almost 5.30 we would share books on the couch then bath at 6

I feel your pain OP. DS is 7 months. Desperate to crawl but hasn't quite cracked it so gets angry when he splats on his face yet again! And it's boring spending all day with just their company! I go out as much as I can, at least once a day - baby groups, library, meeting friends at houses, lunch occasionally but that's a bit of a pain now he is semi mobile. Mostly naps in the cot as that's where he sleeps best, but he will sleep in pushchair or car seat too.

I sleep trained DS (sort of) as he wasn't napping well in cot, but slept fine at night. I read best thing was to make all his naps v consistent so he learnt that meant sleep time. Spent a v tedious week unable to basically leave the house, but now he goes down no problem for naps in the cot, and will happily sleep in the car/pushchair if we're out over nap time. Hope you see some improvement soon!

DD is 6 months and our days are rough like this:

Wake up, nappy and bottle.
Wash and dress me and baby, my breakfast.
Cuddle and book time.
Nap for 40 mins.

On waking, sit baby in bouncy chair to watch while I do chores. Talk to her throughout.
Play time on floor together.
Her brunch (on 2 meals at the moment).
Cuddles then a nap (40 mins).

My lunch and her bottle.
Go out for walk, to a group or to shops - anything to get out of house every day.
She'll usually have a nap in buggy on way home.

Playtime at home.
Her tea time.
Time with daddy when he gets home - playing, book, cuddle.
Bottle then nap with daddy

Bed time routine.

Roughly the same every day, but afternoon activity or outing varies.

I only get 2 or 3 toys out and change them over every couple of days. Stops her getting overwhelmed with choice but keeps it varied.

Get out the house as much as you can. Playgroups, libraries, swimming, walks in the park - whatever. Meet other mums, go for coffee, play at their house / invite them to yours. It is harder in winter months but you will feel better for it.

Looking back on having just one 6mth old the one think I wish I'd done differently was stop trying to entertain and do activities for and revolve around my 6 mth old. They honestly don't care what they do as long as they are with you. I could have enjoyed my time alone with him so much more if I'd just got on with enjoying my time off and had him revolve around me instead.

Agree whole heartedly with Polly; thru just need something to look at and to be with you so do your thing while you still can

I had a very similar experience. Going back to work was my lifesaver. I didn't make a secret of not enjoying mat leave and tried to refused to feel guilty about not being someone I'm not. I think it's important not to perpetuate the myth that everyone loves those baby months.

My other mat leave saviour tho as pp say is getting out. Try your local council run sports centre. Mine had a crèche that took dd from 3 months for a ridiculous 50p per hour!! It gave me time to go to the gym/ shower in peace/ hide in the sauna. The ladies who ran the crèche loved having a tiny baby so she got loads of cuddles and I was close by; not that they ever needed to come get me. I felt bad about "needing" to do it at first but got over it and really enjoyed the time off.

By the way, dd is now 2 and a bit and is becoming excellent company. Shes thriving in full time nursery and we are having increasing amounts of fun at weekends / in evenings. It gets so much better / easier.

Staying at home is exhausting in a whole different way! I spent most of my mat leave out and about, I used to go for lots of walks, visit family, baby groups, lots of lunches with other mums (it's loads easier with a baby than a toddler, make the most of that!) And garden centres. I went to loads of garden centres looking at nice crafty things and going to little cafes and eating lots of cake (the walking will burn it off ;))
I used to split my day in 2. Before lunch and after lunch. I'd always try to do something away from the house during the first or second half of he day.

Thanks everyone for the replies. Last 2 days have been tough he is cranky. We do go out every afternoon / evening it's just the mornings I try have naps in the cot