Entertaining clingy baby?

[whitelanner]

I am looking for tips and ideas how to entertain a 6 months old attention-seeker baby girl with the least effort. For example on those mornings, when you didn't sleep well and you don't function before your 3 coffee.

What I tried:

• Give her teether toys.
• Give her other toys.
• Show her books.
• Play with musical toys.
• Tummy time, gym time.
• Jumparoo
• Seat me up
• Building blocks
• Standing up - sitting down - standing up on a loop.
• Call the cats...

These things only entertain her for like 30 seconds (well the cats would do so longer, but they get bored of her...), so even if I do all of them, after like 5 minutes she is asking for more. It's exhausting.

What I can't do when I am this tired: sing and dance and be silly. (This is what she most enjoys though)

HELP!

That’s sort of what I was getting at @Sayitagainwhydontyou. I know it’s not what you want to hear OP but there reaches a point where you just have to accept you can only really relax and switch off when the baby’s asleep. It gets easier when they’re older and can potter and play alone (for 5 mins anyway )

My LO loves the barefoot books songs on youtube plus they are not too annoying for adults.

If you can bare it teletubbies is generally quite engrossing for babies, although I found I had to fast forward through the videos with the children.

Still working on getting my LO to like the good stuff like Hey Duggee.

Gosh I sound like a terrible parent but bit more relaxed the second time around....

I mean.....if you're going to either diagree with or say you dont want to do certain things then I dont know what you expect....

Peekaboo with a tea towel over their head which they pull off. “There she is”

Rhyming songs with actions eg incy wincy spider, heads shoulders knees and toes, old McDonald.

She’s not too young for books. Read to her.

It’s not really a morning thing but I would use bath time with older babies as my more relaxed time. I’d be there supervising but they would play happily with bath toys with me making the occasional encouraging noise for a good 30 minutes.

@Footlooseandfancy
ahh.. no way. Feeding her is sooo stressful for me. That definitely wouldn't be a peaceful coffee break for me.
With every gag I age 5 years.

@Sayitagainwhydontyou
No, they are not!
I had plenty of time to drink coffee and check my emails so far. Only the last couple of days she became a bit fussy, but I plan to keep the "me time". I would rather teach her to entertain herself than to go crazy.

@Letsallscreamatthesistene
"I mean.....if you're going to either diagree with or say you dont want to do certain things then I dont know what you expect...."
That's why I wrote my post very specific... so that I get specific advice for my situation. If you don't have an advice that suits my situation, then don't give me one, and then I don't have to disagree with you. It is so simple.

[quote whitelanner]@Sayitagainwhydontyou
No, they are not!
I had plenty of time to drink coffee and check my emails so far. Only the last couple of days she became a bit fussy, but I plan to keep the "me time". I would rather teach her to entertain herself than to go crazy.[/quote]
Lol. Is she your first baby?

@whitelanner also, I've just seen in your OP that you refer to your six month old daughter as an attention seeker. That's really not on, OP. She's a baby, she's not capable of the manipulation youre prescribing her. Not being able to be left for more than a minute is absolutely normal small child behaviour. You just have to ride it out. She'll be able to play without supervision in a couple of years.

Yeah your 'peaceful break' comes when/if she sleepsattention seeking isn't really a pleasant way to refer to a 6 month old- she's 6 months old, she needs attention & stimulation (even when you're tired!)- that's the reality of having a baby. If it's only 2 hours in the morning that this is an issue for you, then lucky you!

I think the "me time" comes when they nap. Lots of people have offered advice OP but you just keep rejecting it all so not really sure what you're looking for.

At this stage I’d just put her in a carrier and get on with jobs, then chill out when she naps.

Once they get into CBeebies it gets much easier. As it does once they’re on the move and can get to the toy of their choice.

Why answer if you only want to judge me and not help me? Go and be proud of being the perfect mom of the world! I didn't ask anyones' opinion I asked advice. So please keep your judgements and opinions for yourselves. Thanks!

@whitelanner

Why answer if you only want to judge me and not help me? Go and be proud of being the perfect mom of the world! I didn't ask anyones' opinion I asked advice. So please keep your judgements and opinions for yourselves. Thanks!

We are helping you. Your baby isn't attention seeking, she needs input and interaction from you, being a parent for the first several years means that you don't get "me time" if your baby is awake.

This is all helpful, true information - it's not our fault that it isn't what you want to hear.

But there's been loads of advice... People have offered what they did / do. From toys, slings etc

Ultimately most babies just want attention from their parents and the only time off is when they sleep.

Mine started watching In the Night Garden at that age and was transfixed. A year later and we still use it as a babysitter.

Not much of Cbeebies would appeal to a six month old, maybe Teletubbies? Twirlywoos?

@Sayitagainwhydontyou
It might be true for you that you don't get "me time" but it's not true for everyone. It is certainly not true for me. I had, have and will have "me time". I am sorry if you don't like it.

My baby IS attention seeking... in terms of she is seeking my attention. I did not say this with a negative voice. I know she needs attention but some babies need more some less... and recently she needs more. This is all I meant. Stop judging and go and have some "me time".

@doadeer
I know and I am greatful for the real advices. But there were a few judgemental comments... those who said them know that I addressed my message to them.

I think it's just personality to be honest. My son happily gazed around and listened to the the lion king. Happy cuddling in my arms etc but my nephew wanted to be entertained all the time. It's just their nature I think. I didn't do anything special. I just had an easy going boy.

Sounds a bit weird but my older son loved watching the snooker at around that age! Obviously not for very long, but certainly long enough to make a drink then I'd sit next to him for a bit and "discuss" it with him.

I agree OP that ‘me time’ is really important I just think that you need to be realistic about when that is. A long bath and podcast at 8pm when baby is asleep- perfect. At the weekend brunch with friends while partner is with baby- great. Date night with a babysitter- lovely. ‘Me time’ the first two hours of every morning is not realistic with a child. I think you’re just realising your baby who before sleeps eats and lies like a potato is how a person who needs interaction. When they’re a toddler and small child no matter how well behaved they will not play silently and nicely for two hours to allow you to wake up. No ones saying be a martyr to your child as that’s just as tedious but just have realistic expectations. If you want a lazy morning get up an hour before they usually wake!

[quote whitelanner]@Sayitagainwhydontyou
It might be true for you that you don't get "me time" but it's not true for everyone. It is certainly not true for me. I had, have and will have "me time". I am sorry if you don't like it.

My baby IS attention seeking... in terms of she is seeking my attention. I did not say this with a negative voice. I know she needs attention but some babies need more some less... and recently she needs more. This is all I meant. Stop judging and go and have some "me time".[/quote]
I get plenty of me time. My daughter is a little older than yours - i get time to myself when she's asleep.

The newborn stage is pretty easy in terms of "me time" because they just sleep and sit there. And then it changes! Your little blob becomes a person who needs your attention. You don't get to have time to yourself while she's awake. Accept that, enjoy naptimes, and everything will be much easier for you to manage.

@Napqueen1234
But I didn't ask if my expectations were realistic or not.

I didn't ask you guys to teach me how to think and behave like a real mom.

I am who I am and I have whatever expectations I want to have. I might be able to fulfill them, might not. It is my problem, not yours. I didn't ask you guys to enlighten me of the realities of motherhood.

All I wanted were some tips on how to help my baby to self entertain herself for a bit.

My question was very simple, and I got some very good ideas, that I will try out. Thanks for these!

You sound like an absolute charmer

@Letsallscreamatthesistene

You sound like an absolute charmer

Never spent any time around a baby before, betcha a shiny penny.