Under-stimulated 7 month olds?

[mandyandthetwins]

I've got 7 month old twins and I worry that I don't do enough with them. We live in an area of tight covid restrictions so can't do that much anyway. We live on the edge of a national park and have lots of walks, but outside of the house that is pretty much it. I'm conscious that as the weather changes we will probably be out a lot less.

At home, when the babies are not eating or sleeping they spend almost all of their time rolling around on the floor. They've got a big box of different toys and I try to get different ones out each day. They've got a door bouncer and a jumperoo. They like me singing to them but don't want to stay still to look at books. They seem to much prefer playing on the floor independently than when I've tried to do things with them. So I largely just watch them play (and try very hard to crawl) by themselves. They can't sit by themselves yet so I spend time helping them practice that.

Is this ok?? They seem like pretty happy little babies but I feel a bit lazy spending a lot of time watching them rather than actively doing things with them
Am I overthinking this? If not, what else can I do with them?

At 7 months they will barely know who you are beyond someone who looks after them. You sound like you're doing loads with them and the fact that they're happy playing alone/together without you is a good thing - no one wants a clingy baby! I know this doesn't help now, but I've found the 1+ year time to be the most interesting as he's interacting with everyone a lot more and is just more fun than how he was this time last year at 6/7 months and I am sure I'll be saying the same this time next year too.

Mine is now 20 months and is just starting childcare as I'm now going back to work. I have to say I'm relieved because I feel guilty that we do the same thing every day and feel he's getting bored. At 7 months I wouldn't have been worried though. Mine is ridiculously interested in books but I'd say this has only been in the last 6 months (so about double your twins current ages) and before that we'd read him bedtime stories but feel like he wasn't listening as he'd be off doing other things. However we've since realised that he clearly was listening as those books are some of his favourites now.

Also, be kind to yourself - you became a mum during lockdown. Everyone with a baby or toddler is feeling as you are because you're right, beyond going outside there's barely anything open that you can do, particularly with babies so young.

Have you tried some online classes? We did Baby Sensory and the last few weeks of that were online. Likewise we did Busy Lizzy which has stuff for you and babies, that's also online now for £20 a month. Or we've also got into watching Mini Music Makers on FB or YouTube which is AMAZING and free. However remember that these classes are mostly for you rather than them at this age. They've got eachother and they won't need other kids for social interaction until they're about 2 anyway, and even then I'm not sure how essential it'd be as they're twins.

OP, it sounds awesome! For 7 months, it sounds like they do lots. If they are happy, let them be. If they are not happy, they will definitely tell you.

They're fine, don't worry! At 7 months you are their world.

It is so hard with twins, the fact that they are happy to sit and play is brilliant.

Other things I did was blow bubbles, put on nursery rhyme CDs and just change rooms regularly. Oh and 'treasure boxes' - full of safe household items (bath puffer, wooden spoon, old purse etc) for them to explore.

If you follow play hooray on Instagram she has lots of brilliant activity ideas for babies - I wish I had known about her when mine were babies!