first time mum,need more things to do!!!!!

[inmyopinion]

my dd is nearly 5 months now and my dilema
is that me and my dp both work i only work

part time but when i am not working he

normally is and i dont drive unfortunately so i am constantly trying to make the days as exciting for my little one as poss but she has played with the same old toys day in day out.there is a mother and toddler group on my day off and i am ashamed to say i havent had the guts to go.i would love to but i am so shy!! i live in spain by the way. does anyone have any ideas for homemade toys? games? etc or any ideas of things i can do.i really should make the step to go to the group but then what about the other days? does anyone else feel as though every day is the same? i want her to have fun not be bored doing the same old things all the time

go to the toddler group and make some friends .. because you need them

you cannot possibly stay sane being with a baby all day every day

she's 5 months old she'll have fun doing whatever you want to do by the way

• take her to a cafe and read a paper
• take her to a museum / art gallery
• go shopping

everything is a game to her .. everything .. so if you want to do something for you take the opportunity NOW before she's crawling .. because it won't last this peaceful time

apologies for the gaps dont know whats going on there!

stuff to do at home by the way

reading
music
playdoh (can make it easily)
banging on pots with a wooden spoon
water play ..
fill a wicker basket full of natural objects to discover - citrus fruit, stone, twig, keys, spoon etc (look up heuristic play for other ideas) and let her explore

the most important thing my DH taught me when we first had a baby was to plonk him in the middle of the floor with a few toys nearby and just relax on the couch (reading / coffee etc)

it is SO much better for them than always being entertained

thanks twiglett wasnt sure if the "go to the toddler group and make some friends .. because you need them" was an insult lol.you are right about doing anything though, i suppose they just sit back and take it all in!!

youre right aswel about sitting back and letting them play, i feel like i need to constantly be talking to her, playing with her etc or i feel like a really bad mum but im going to give all of these things a go.thank you!plus i was thinking of taking a friend with me the first time i go to the group to make it a bit less daunting

I completely agree with twiglett. Babies don't need constant entertainment to be happy. My HV was pretty useless but she did one good thing when dd was born and that was to put me in touch with another mum who she thought I might get on with. She was right and I can honestly say that that friendship kept me sane. We're still good friends now 8 years on and in fact she introduced me to MN.

sorry .. the 'you need them' was more of a collective 'one needs them' when one is a new mother, particularly first time mother

friends in the same situation can make you laugh and keep you sane

and believe me, toddler group will be fine after a few sessions

Twig

I agree about just meeting people, getting the baby out to see different people. They also love older children.

my DS of 4 months loves the following games:

swimming in the bath, and bath with Mummy
make a 'piano' out of water glasses filled with different amounts of water, or just bang on pots and pans with a wooden spoon
make toys talk to each other and dance in front of him

but as others have said, everything is so exciting. we took him to a cafe yesterday and he LOVED just watching the barman making juice in the juice machine! so good luck!

At this age - go out and do stuff that you enjoy - because honestly you have loads of time when you will have to give all your attention to her because she won't let you do otherwise!

I'm not saying ignore her - just that she is content to be with you whatever you are doing.

Personally I didn't bother with mother and toddler at 5 months old - what is she going to do there? So if you genuinely don't want to go (as opposed to secretly want to go but are too scared) then rest assured she is not missing anything. I just went out a lot and sometimes fell into a conversation with another mum, and if I liked the person I gave them my phone number and invited them around for coffee.

Try and get out for a walk at least once a day, it doesn't matter where.

If you can bear the mess, my little one would entertain herself for hours if given a yoghurt or a banana to play with . I tried her with paint, but was too worried about it going in her eyes.

I agree about letting them play themselves and if you can get to meet other babies they are fascinated by them....but all that baby talk can be dull for the adults! If at home I put the radio on and dance, sing away at my DD - she hasn't figured out I am tuneless! Do the things you enjoy cafes, walks and silly chats!

I agree about letting them play themselves and if you can get to meet other babies they are fascinated by them....but all that baby talk can be dull for the adults! If at home I put the radio on and dance, sing away at my DD - she hasn't figured out I am tuneless! Do the things you enjoy cafes, walks and silly chats!