How to spend maternity leave with baby

[Alicia870]

My baby is 14 weeks old and now that she is past the newborn phase, I'm just sort of struggling to know how to best spend my days with her while I'm off work.
I've got another 6 months before i go back. I have joined a baby yoga and massage. Can't really afford to pay for any more classes than that. But just wondered what do people do all day on mat leave? Don't get me wrong it's really busy looking after her but sometimes feel guilty as though I'm not providing her with enough. She's getting to the age she's getting a bit impatient and more easily bored just lying under a playmat. Any ideas welcome!

Swimming, parks

Most libraries do free sessions - Rhyme Time etc

I went to a baby group in the local church hall, £1 per week.
There’s a Facebook group for my neighbourhood, and people often ask for suggestions re baby groups etc. Might be worth doing the same.

Do u have a children's centre local to u?

Search on Facebook where I live there's a group called (place-name) mums meet ups. Its just a mum who's started arranging meet ups every week for mums on maternity or working part time :)
Also don't feel guilty staying if you find something she's happy with! She just wants to be with you it doesn't matter if you're not out every day.

My baby really likes to get out and stare at people! He’s happy wandering round the shops, having lunch in a cafe, walking in popular parks, etc.

Don’t feel guilty! When they’re bigger they want more entertaining but at that age my daughter was happy just rolling around on her activity mat or in her bouncer watching me in the kitchen. You don’t need to be in their face “doing” stuff all the time.

Baby group, library (rhyme time/baby bounce activity) walks, go to the supermarket, walk in the park, meet friends. I found it easy to get out with a baby that age as they don't need that much stuff (compared to having to take food, water, toys, bibs, snacks when they are older).

I go to a weekly baby sensory social group at a local church and that's £2.00 for 90 minutes, plus our local library do free rhyme and story sessions every week.

I'd try having a look on FB, we have a community page for our local area and baby groups are usually advised on there!

But don't feel guilty, you're baby doesn't need to be occupied all day everyday, just do what you can do. Xx