Hi everyone. My DS (13 weeks corrected as he was premature) is getting a bit frustrated in the evenings and becoming quite crabby. I think a lot of it has to do with boredom. He doesnt like repetitive play in the same day. For an example of how our day usually goes, yesterday looked like this:
6am - BF and back to sleep.
9am - BF and bottle top up with gaviscon (he hates syringe!), play in a little 4 in 1 activity seat for 20 mins (he sits up really well and has strong neck muscles.
10am - bath, then some floor play with nursery rhymes, head, shoulders, knees & toes, etc.
10.30am -nap.
1pm - BF followed by bottle. Play time on my bed with tummy time (not keen on it) and rolling front to back. During tummy time we usually have a chat where I try to get him to copy words and he loves it when he manages to get it right.
1.30pm usually go out a walk. He may nap but is nosey so prefers to look around.
2.30ish - back home, some hand play with sensory toys (trying to teach him how to hold objects and control them ie bring to his mouth (still struggles get them there and ends up licking sleave!).
3pm - short nap if Im lucky. He fights his sleep in afternoon.
4pm - BF & bottle, 15mins or so on playmat or jumperoo (he cant bounce yet but likes it when I swing him).
Now the evening is where it gets tricky. He gets crabbit really quickly with everything we try, and we're running out of ideas. He will lie on a mat for a bit and have some 'quiet time' where he yaps away to himself. This gives us a chance to have tea. We end up having to walk him round the house, letting him look out the windows, in the mirrors etc. He also has spells where he's fine on his own during the day where I squeaze in breakfast or lunch. But in the evening till about 7.30pm/8pm he's so crabby and I dont know what to do with him. From 7/8 he'll feed then go down for the night but until then he's a bit of a nightmare and seems to get bored with activities/interaction very quickly. Any ideas for age appropriate activities or might it be something else? I thought it may be teething as he chews his hands and bites anything put in his mouth but its been 2 weeks and no teeth. Any suggestions appreciated!