What do you do all day with a baby?

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Hi all I'm a ftm with a now 6 month old, and just wondering what others do with their days if there's no other kids around.
I go to a baby group once a week, can't really afford to do any more, and the free ones seem to be for more active babies/toddlers so feels a bit silly me going along and just sitting there when baby can't do anything.

Most days we go out for a walk or go to the shops, have nap times and feed times (starting weaning). Other days I just feel totally rubbish Mum and can't be bothered to do anything and feel it's so tiring. Once she's fed and clean sometimes I just put her in her bumbo or high chair for half hour or more to just sit and watch tv, have a cup of tea etc.
Basically I don't feel I do enough good parenting, and I get bored! Please tell me I'm not the only one or am I a really terrible parent?

Oh gosh enjoy the moments of being able to sit and watch tv! I wished I'd enjoyed these more with DS1. With DS2 any time I was able to put DS2 down, I played with DS1 so he wasn't ignored and I didn't feel like such a crap Mum! Sounds like you're filling your time well with walks, groups etc. Do you have many friends / family locally you could see once / twice a week?

What you're doing sounds just fine.

But if you're looking for ideas you could do baby sign (lots of songs etc on YouTube or buy a book or flash cards), something to do and useful too.

Or put together some bits from around the house for exploring aka sensory basket.

This is one of my fave ages, sitting but not crawling and the fun of food. How about exploring some baby friendly recipes, like veg muffins or mini omelettes.

I would bring firewood into the house, garden. Clean, tidy. Basically everything I would do normally with DD or DS in tow

Have you looked on the babycentre.co.uk website? They've got ideas of activities you can do with babies at any age. I found that really useful if I couldn't think of anything to do with mine. At this age, you'll be able to entertain them with things like peekaboo, nursery rhymes, tickling their feet with different textured fabrics. Look up treasure baskets as well - can easily make your own with safe stuff from around your house. I used to just narrate my day to my daughter as well, even if it was doing boring stuff like the washing. I love babies at this age too!

What you do with them at that age is more for your own sanity than theirs. I was told to get out of the house at least once a day and talk to an adult at least once a day, so I did.

I used to:
Go to the park for fresh air
Go for a ride on a bus or train as the movement seemed to soothe them
Meet up with other mums for coffee mornings (not that exciting but better than being alone)
Same, but for lunch occasionally
Go to church creche and playgroups
Catch up with friends without babies whle they napped
Go to a baby music group
Go to sing alongs in the library

Do what you normally would. Housework, visit friends go to the shopping centre , knit sew read nap cook bake ....

In the early months I mostly stayed at home and watched tv while breastfeeding. Tried (and failed) to catch up on sleep when I could. I liked to get out once a day for some fresh air/break up the day a bit, but this was mainly a walk around the town centre or something. I did go to a couple of baby groups (free ones with the children's centre and a singing one in the library) but these were aimed at under one's.

With dd at home I did things like mentioned above, sensory baskets, nursery rhymes, looked through picture books, her activity mat.

Honestly I found it hard to actually do much. Mixture of birth recovery which took me a few months, sleep deprivation and just getting to grips with life with a baby.

I did sort of feel I should be doing more, I felt guilty about it but really I didn't need to, and looking back on it I am happy with the way I did things. As she got older we were out a lot more and went to more groups and for walks. Now she's 3 and I feel like I never get a moment to sit down and relax properly so I say make the most of the stage you're at now because it won't last!

Sing nursery rhymes, lie down on the floor with them whilst you're singing and doing the actions. Play peekaboo. Go for walks. I made some fantastic friends on an antenatal group on Mumsnet actually, then our babies, same age and development more or less, could play together or stare each other out and gabble incoherently. That was a real life saver.
Take baby with you round the house while you do chores. A good way to start off washing a floor is to give your baby, if they can sit up independently, a bowl of warm soapy water and some plastic toys and let them 'wash up', which involves splashing (fun) and you can wipe the floor dry after (clean). Also give them a bowl of water and little paint brushes and sponges. A warm house and easily changed clothes help with this.
Go to the supermarket for nothing, just to get out and about.
Talk to your baby a lot.

Please don't feel inadequate. As soon as you became pregnant, you were everything your baby needed. You can't let your baby down, don't feel under pressure.

Hope you have things in the diary for you too, going out with friends or popping to the shops on your own. Look after yourself, you're still in there and you're a valid human being. It's easier to be inventive and upbeat when you're getting time out to chill and just be. Never out yourself last.

At that age my kids were basically just something I took along with me while I did my own thing. Meeting up with friends, shopping, cleaning.

Our LO is about the same age.. agree it's vital to have something arranged every day or you feel you're going mad!
We go to a free singing/storytime at the library. Swimming is also a good low cost activity and church playgroups near us are v low cost too. Don't be put off going to playgroups aimed at slightly older kids - the parents there are a great source of info/advice as they're slightly ahead of you! I go along to those just to chat rather than expecting the baby will get anything out of it!!