What do you do with a 9 month old?

[HeidiL2020]

Sorry for this silly question. Im the youngest in my family and so didn’t grow up around any younger kids/babies and don’t have a whole lot of friends, let alone ones with kids. I’m very much figuring it out as I go without much knowledge whatsoever! So I’m just not sure what to do with my 9 month old! I roll balls towards him, dance with him, and read to him and he has a fun bath every night. He loves climbing the stairs so we do that a lot. I try to get him out for a pram walk to look at trees and we go into town to look around. Mostly I just end up letting him sit and play with different toys. We took him to some swings but he was totally nonplussed so this must be too soon. I’ve heard of soft play centres. But is he also a bit young for this? We don’t drive so this makes it difficult to get to different places. We haven't been able to go to swimming classes for this reason, as they are all too far away. He is in nursery 3 days a week though so gets plenty of socialisation that way. I think because he’s in nursery so young I want to make it up to him when he’s home and just feel guilty that he probably has more fun there! My brother and his wife have a son only 7 months older and are constantly busy at weekends, every weekend booked up. My brother said to me recently he couldn’t wait for 5 weekends time from now when they’ll have a quiet one (at home and the park). That is pretty much every weekend for us! I’m too embarrassed to ask them what they are doing and feel guilty that our son must be so bored and under stimulated. Should we be doing things like finger painting or is that too young? If anyone has any ideas or resources suggesting play ideas please send them my way! xx

Soft plays do have baby areas.

Can deffo do finger paints.

I went to a baby class at my local church at that age, think it was like £1, you get a coffee and biscuit, babies play together. See if there's anything like that round your area.

Library.

Plenty of walks.

In the garden, know it's cold at the minute but on warmer days, blanket down, wrapped up, toys out and some bubbles.

Local cafe for coffee and cake!

Towel on floor, pans, utensils, water, pasta and rice. Let him explore it.

Kenetic sand, slime for some sensory.

Disco light and music on.

Look on Pinterest!

Your doing absolutely fine. I had plenty of chill days when my son was little.

Thank you so much for this really helpful reply xx

Finger painting etc is more for the parents or Instagram at this age.

Your son sounds like he does lovely things with you.
You will see what he is interested in soon.
My DS1 liked vehicles and we would go and watch diggers etc (outside Building site etc), point out tractors etc. He was interested in wheels and things that spun.
DS2 liked animals - finding a cat to stroke etc, and water (puddles, water table, baths). Blowing bubbles.

They both enjoyed being read to.

I try to make fun for my 9 month old as we get ready in the morning- telling her what’s going on, singing songs and throwing in the odd silly dance 🙈😂
There’s certain jobs i can do with her. She likes watching me wash up from the high chair and she finds me making the bed hilarious for some reason!
We then get out for at least 1 pram walk a day. We will usually meet a relative or friend for a coffee once or twice a week and we have just started a baby music class on a friday. This was good as it gave me a few ideas of things to sing/ do with her at home too.
So between that, naps and meal times we have a few hours in the day where we will sit at play.
She has an activity table and some stacking cups that are her favourite at the moment. I’ll get involved and we’ll read a story sometimes but she’s quite often happy playing bu herself on the mat, so i can enjoy a brew while i watch her.
She also loves her musical instruments at the mo- maracas, tambourine and xylophone.
I used to feel worried that i wasnt entertaining her enough but i try to be a bit more chilled with that now.
I think it’s hard in winter too, looking forward to summer and getting out more

6mo gets a walk twice a day for preschool run, most days a coffee/play at a friend’s house and the rest of the time she sits and plays with toys in various rooms of the house while I do housework. When her 3yo sister is home she mainly watches her and laughs.

I did much more in the way of activities with my first and she’s very demanding on my time/wants attention constantly. I’m hoping that the more relaxed, second child syndrome approach to DD2 will help her be more independent….though I’ll be back at work after Easter and she’ll spend four days a week in term time being doted on by the ILs so maybe not!

A big shallow plastic box is good for sensory play. Put it on a plastic sheet/ tablecloth, put sand/ paint/ slime etc in it and put baby in the box in his nappy if the room's warm enough - otherwise I recommend a change of clothes and a place to put dirty clothes to hand before you start!

I also made sensory bags - here's a site with some suggestions: entertainyourtoddler.com/entertain-with-sensory-bags/

That said, I don't know that any of this is necessary! Lots of chatting to your baby as you go about your day is probably more important.