What to do with a 4mo?

[minka85]

Hi all - I'm looking for any ideas to what to do with my 4 month old baby girl. She has a mild disability that currently doesn't really affect her, other that we need to support her spine a bit more. So NO bouncy chairs, NO babywearing, NO sitters. Basically she should be on the floor or held in a cradle hold (not upright) as much as possible.

We have two different baby gyms for her, the Fisher Price one with a piano to kick, and another with more dangly toys. I also have one almost fully reclining sitter that she can be sat on, I usually have her sit in it and talk with her, or show some toys, after the feeds. Other times she's either on the playmats/gyms on the floor, doing some tummytime (only couple minutes at the moment!) or I hold her briefly.

Problem is she seems to get increasingly bored with these few activities and at the same time can't really play with anything yet. She will hold toys and bring them to mouth if I pass them to her. Sometimes she grabs dangly toys. She has rolled from back to tummy once but still hates tummy time (tires after a couple min), she has some head control but not fully.

I would just babywear and take her with me to do chores etc but I can't!

Any other ideas?

Could you buy some more stuff for the playmat to add some variety? My 4MO is obsessed with this really cheap crinkly baby book we had leftover from DC1. We just chuck it on top of him whilst he’s lying on his playmat and he’ll play with it for ages. He also has this hanging off the hood of the pram and it’s a big hit: LAMAZE Captain Calamari, Clip on Pram and Pushchair Newborn Baby Toy, Sensory Toy for Babies Boys and Girls from 0 to 6 Months www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002VWZU7S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_EJ16DY2EDWPCFPMFFSK3?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Disco ball light, projects onto the ceiling my LO loved this.
Pasta, rice, pom balls in plastic bottles.
Big books that will be stand on the floor so she can look whilst lying down.
Noisey toys that you can press buttons for her that light up etc.

From my sensory class when LO was that age, I bought hand bells, big rattle, ribbon, sheer fabric. I'll add pics

Captain Calmari is the king! We've just got a basic baby gym and I just clip different pram toys onto it for DS to bat around or for more supervised play (when I'm not doing chores or watching Grey's anatomy) you can tie different ribbons or textures onto it for her to explore.

Is she ok in the pushchair? If so, walks. Walking though trees, to the nearest pond to look at the ducks, anywhere that's a little colourful.

I take my baby with me to do chores, either sitting in her seat or I lay her on her changing mat with a toy. The change of scene keeps her occupied for a while. She loves playing with the laundry, either while I am hanging it out or slithering around in the dry stuff on the bed. Also have you tried getting her naked? We keep that one for when she is bored as gains us another half an hour. Just lay her on a towel for the inevitable wee Plus you can follow up with bath time so that’s more time filled!

Thank you for all the suggestions!

She seems to have hit all the milestones on average timing (not delayed compared to average infants, despite her disability) but do you all think she's a bit behind as she isn't really interested in toys? She has just started grabbing some, but at most will bring them to her mouth. She seems to love sucking on her hands more than any toy! Pushing buttons etc is really something she can't do.

Like the crinkly toys, all books, or anything... at most she might grab them briefly then toss.
She likes to babble with me and will laugh if we make silly faces but that gets a bit old after a while too!

We live abroad in a hot climate and it's honestly too hot already to take her out, I'd love to but unfortunately we must stay indoors.

How about swimming?

I take my 3mo round the house in her moses basket while I do chores. She seems to enjoy the change of scenery and I talk to her while I am busy