Will lockdown affect my baby?

[mum374]

My son has just turned 8 months old. I’m really struggling with the fact we’ve been plunged into lockdown yet again - with nowhere to go, no one to see, nothing to do, potentially until March. I’m struggling to keep him occupied all day using the same toys and doing the same damn walks in freezing cold weather. I tried a few Zoom baby classes recently but I hate them - the whole point of classes is the social interaction and Zoom doesn’t provide that, not to a tiny baby who doesn’t have a clue what’s going on. How do you pass the time and keep your baby as happy and stimulated as possible? I’m worried he’s missing out on so much.

I read a tip that ripping up a magazine or cardboard box can keep babies occupied - I tried that and he just started shoving bits of paper in his mouth and it was stressful trying to remove them and I was worried he’d get a paper cut. I give up

My DD was 3 months and 11 months for the previous two lockdowns. At the end of lockdown 1 she had developed quite strong separation anxiety, which could well happen for you, but it didn't take her long to get over it thankfully. I am a bit worried about her development if this keeps happening as I know social interaction is really important from 18 months or so, but all your 8 month old needs is loving parents.

As for passing the time, make sure you get outside for a walk every day. Make sensory/treasure boxes full of interesting objects. Read lots of books. Sing songs, preferably ones with actions (row your boat, head, shoulders, knees and toes, etc.). Start introducing chunky crayons (DD started light scribbling about 9 months so maybe a bit young). Fill plastic bottles with dry pasta, sequins, small pom poms etc. (make sure they are well sealed) to play with noise/ colours. Feeding solids (and the inevitable clean up) takes a while too! Xx

Yes to all the above....but sending him to nursery for 2 days a week has helped hugely.

I should also say my DS is 9 months, so a similar age to yours

This is what I’ve tried with my 10m twins: foil blanket, sensory scarves, baby club on CBeebies, stacking paper cups and knocking over, taking all the laundry from the hamper, playing with spaghetti, disco light, bubble machine, pulling post it notes off the window, feed them really small bits of finger food that take ages to eat, play with squirty cream, putting paint in a freezer bag for finger painting, pots and pans drums. I look for ideas on Pinterest but ignore anything too complex or messy! Your baby will be happy just being with you, it won’t impact their development long term.

Thanks for the suggestions.

putting paint in a freezer bag for finger painting

@Snapcat this sounds fun - how does it work exactly?

@mum374 So splodge some paint on a piece of card, put it in a freezer bag, seal it up and tape it to flat to the floor. And then they can squish it around and ‘paint’ but theres no cleanup. I think what’s hard about this age is the really short attention span. I hate doing anything that takes me longer to set up/clear up than it holds their attention.

Give them a loo roll to rip rather than ripped paper or cardboard. Put cooked (and coloured with food colouring if you fancy it) in a baby bath. Make “paint” with plain yoghurt and food colouring and let them play. Put some Christmas baubles in baby bath with water and a few cups and let them play. Bath doesn’t need to be before bedtime - just do it when bored for play. All that sort of nonsense 🙂.

From my experience, I really don’t think it will make a difference to a baby or a young toddler, but it makes it harder for you as a mum (and if it’s harder for you it might have a marginal impact on them that way). I don’t think my baby was bothered about anything I took them to in first year, but it helped me to have structure and company and pass time. I hate zoom too - there’s no/little incidental contact, chat etc and it’s just another screen. Plus it doesn’t take up the whole morning the way a 45 min/hour’s class does: get dressed and organised, walk or drive there, do the activity, have a chat with other parents, the people running it, maybe a cup of tea or coffee afterwards, go into shops on way back, get your outdoor clothes off and warm up again, then it’s lunch and you’ve done half your day. I think your baby will be quite happy, just try and do what you can to keep yourself sane and occupied.

Baby 8 months here also. In different country so have been in lockdown again since November already

He’s super active, but not ready for painting etc still.

For Xmas we bought him some indoor ‘gym’ type stuff. Mini soft play black to climb on, a pop up tunnel and tent. They seem a hit.

He’s also literally in the last week or two now interested in looking at books. He wasn’t before

I think at this age things they can’t do today, change very quickly and they can do in a few weeks time so forever changing what activities

I try and head outside at some point each day, and at home vary rooms we are in.

Pinterest. More ideas than you could ever want.

Find a way to get on a local mums whatsapp (start one if you have to) so you can check in/swap ideas/moan.

Find something that you do that is independent of your baby and gives you a sense of time passing (eg reading a book, cooking, doing Duolingo, a jigsaw, growing plants etc)

It's hard in lockdown but I remember having a baby that age and being stuck in a lot anyway with naps, colds, crying fits, rainy days etc.

The best baby toys in my experience are saucepans, a cushion, a scarf, a box, wooden spoons etc. Everything else sets you up to think they'll be entertained forever and you get annoyed when they're not.

A few cartoons here and there won't do any harm either and may save your sanity. Plenty of options with some educational / musical value to choose from, doesn't have to be something banal like Peppa

Nine months is a classic age for separation anxiety as they learn object permanence around this age. So when this happens, don’t freak out and think lockdown has traumatised your baby permanently. It’s a normal phase and it will pass.

Is baby crawling yet? Chuck on a fleece lined wet suit, booties and waterproof mitts and let him have a crawl around on the grass in a park. Get out for pram or sling walks. Swings, if you feel comfortable with it, just take hand sanitiser.

It’s boring and frustrating, but these are not normal times and I think you just have to be kind to yourself and accept that there’s a limit to how much entertainment you can offer. Don’t waste time worrying about something out of your control.

On a practice note, at that age, mine like

Posting milk bottle caps into a cardboard box with a slot
Pulling chiffon scarves out of a tissue box
Pulling pipe cleaners out of an upturned colander
Annoying Toot Toots, button whacking on repeat

Baby instruments - shakers, bells etc
Sensory bottles (easy to make your own)
Sing songs, dance together

As for the social side, I’m sure he’ll be fine. I agree, zoom baby classes just don’t work. Fingers crossed for a more social spring.

You can also make edible paints out of loads of things, food colouring in yoghurt for example. Could strip down and do painting in the bath, if you fancy some messy play.