Stuck for nice things to do with my 8mo?

[EmmaInParis]

Any suggestions welcome... bit fed up and bored and I think she is too.

We go to a music class once a week which she seems to like, but other than that it’s mainly meet ups with friends / family, out for walks or trying to entertain her at home. She’s just about big enough now for swings at the park so that’s a new one she’s enjoying.

But overall I feel like I’m not doing enough for her... she’s at that frustrating age where she seems to want to move around but can’t yet pull up to sitting or crawl, she can only roll.

Days at home feel like an endless cycle of playmat, jumperoo, books, repeat. She doesn’t nap very well so the days feel loooooong with a lot of hours to fill!

Grateful for any ideas.

Mine started swimming classes around that age and really enjoyed them.

It is a hard age.
Soft play - they have baby sections.
Swimming - just you carrying her round the pool but it's different.
Library - get some new books, let her flick through them there.
Go for some lunch - yes shes a baby but she's at a good age where she can sit and people watch. Also gets you some nice food

Thanks both, we’ve been swimming a couple of times so I should really take her back. Hadn’t realised soft play places had baby areas, I’ll check out some locally, thanks! Library is a good shout too, she does seem happier with a change of scenery being out of the house. Lunch is good too now she’s easily distracted with a bit of her own food... I just feel a bit guilty always dragging her to do nice things like that for me instead of her

Look at getting National Trust or English Heritage membership. At 8mp, its just a change in scenery. But as they get older, its a regular adventure to a new place to explore.
In a year or so change it for a farm or zoo membership.

Take her to feed the ducks
Are you near the coast. I used to take DD to the beach and she would sit on a towel while I threw bread for the seagulls
Read read read to her
Put on some music and dance round holding her
Try a playgroup

Honestly, OP, I can really relate to your post, and watching with interest for all the suggestions. Days can feel monotonous at times and I worry my 7-month old isn’t ‘doing’ enough, but then I try and remember that just being with you, being engaged with and spoken to, is enough. They’re still so little and need your time and attention more than anything x

There's also some places in my area who do a stay and play, you get a coffee and they can play around and see other babies. Tend to be church halls that do them.

I can totally relate to this post. Felt exactly the same when my son was 7 month, now at 11 months I still feel that way sometimes but he's now more mobile and has (very) slightly longer attention span.

A couple things I've found helped,

• splashing in water , outside if it's warm, in the bath if it's colder
• softplay - they can't do much til they can move but it's a nice change of scene and some near us have sensory areas for babies, and normally cheap for under 1s
• check out the library - ours has started up with free nursery rhyme singing sessions for babies
• our local church as a play group with a section aimed just for babies, welcoming even if not a regular church goer
• go to the park to the swing - change up the park if you drive for a change of scenery
• feed the ducks -
• baking - done it on the floor, baby more interested in hitting pots and pans with a wooden spoon but got tasty cake at the end
• wander round second hand shops - the ones near us nearly always have older ladies in who coo over babies which my little one loves
• trip to local kids farm
• lots of reading

I've also tried things like painting, messy play, toys but my little one is just not interested in those things yet

National trust membership is a good idea, we have a few great sites locally. Not near the coast sadly, she loved when we took her to the seaside this summer. Feeding the ducks good too! I feel like I’m just constantly waiting for people to arrive and entertain her as she’s happier in company than just with me :(

I’ve also got a baby around that age and she really likes sitting in the shopping trolley and looking around whilst I do the shopping. I also take her to a music group once a week and a swimming lesson. Sometimes I’ll go for a walk with her in the push chair. But yeh the day sometimes drags when she doesn’t nap very well.