How do you play with your 5 month old?

[Hullabalooobs]

As title says really! Wondering how people spend their time with their babies this age. I'm trying to go out more, but home bound a lot of the time and worry I'm not doing enough with my little one....

Have you got a jumperoo/door bouncer? When DS2 was younger (now 11months) I would put him in that with a baking tray underneath him with either some luck warm water for him to splash with his feet, or some tinfoil that he could make a racket with whilst bouncing/kicking!

Or what about getting a disco light/bubble machine/one of those water towers from Amazon? We had one of those and I'd make the room dark and he would sit fascinated for about half an hour - plenty of time for a hot coffee for once 😂😂

Some coloured paper that he can scrunch up and tear? An empty bottle with dried pasta to shake?

5 month olds are really easily entertained so anything is better than nothing!xxxx

*luke warm! - and don't forget a towel 😂

I wouldn't worry too much :) Talking and singing to your baby are really beneficial. Doesn't have to be anything exciting, just chatting about what you are doing as you do housework etc or point things out when on a walk. Nursery rhymes are fab.

Black and white books and ones with lots of textures are great and some grasping toys.

Everything is new and a learning experience to a 5 mo old :)

I didn’t play as such. I rambled on at both of them, basically narrated my day. Would pop them in the bouncer and move them round the house as I did jobs. The washing machine going round is VERY entertaining!
I would lay on the floor with them with a couple of toys, one eye on the baby and one on Netflix, I have some lovely lift the flap books where the flap is made of felt (bought them from Asda) so they’re nice and baby friendly as they can’t pull the flaps out.

Talk to them about what you are doing, take them out and about, front carriers are great at this stage so they can see the world. Tummy time, bright coloured toys with different textures but don't overthink it. What is important to the talking bit, ignoring them whilst on a phone/watching tv should be avoided unless they are asleep - try talking to them about what you are watching even! I have a friend who is a salt therapist and says not talking enough is the number one reason for language delays

As PP's have said, I chat constantly about mundane things e.g. about what he and I should wear for the day, what we are going to do today, oops mummy forgot to turn the heating off, etc!

I also play nursery rhymes on alexa/Spotify and sing and action them to him, which he loves.

I also put him in bouncer while I'm in the shower and he enjoys watching the water running.

We have a bouncer with a toy bar which is great - if youre getting one make sure they can reach the toys otherwise they just get frustrated!

When I'm really struggling or hes frustrated waiting for a bottle to heat up I sometimes put Peter Rabbit or an animal documentary on the TV which he loves.

I remember this age! I went out for long walks. In the house, I moved DD from one place to another a lot. She was bored after 5 minutes in one place so the day felt very very very long.

Popular games as I recall:

• hold dc up to mirror, make faces
• Row row row your boat
• Jumperoo (thank god for the jumperoo)
• Door bouncer
• Electric cot mobile, though losing its appeal by now
• Long bath.
• Singing
• peekaboo
• Playmat
• Bouncy chair with toy bar

Once they are weaning at least there is that to take up some time!

Thanks everyone!! Very helpful suggestions. @minipie this exactly! She seems to get bored so quickly and the days are looong. Currently she is only napping when I walk her in the pram so have limited energy to walk when she is awake too lol, but will give it a go. Lots of other good ideas too, and very reassuring that it's not just me that feels/felt like this!

Oh the napping only in moving pram! Also just like my DD! It gets easier I promise

Would go for a walk and let him feel leaves- point things out.
Tummy time together
Mine was shuffling/backwards commando crawling at 5 months so encouraging more crawling was a fun game
Nursery rhymes
Water mat was a hit- with the fishes inside

Peekaboo! Constantly. With anything and everything.
Baby books.
Baby gym
Musical instruments (including improvised ones - mine had a plastic bottle full of dried lentils that she loved for months)
Play tent with baby sensory lights etc
Tummy time (on rolled up towel under arms if needed), with crinkly things or water mat underneath
Singing, talking, nursery rhymes
Lift them up and down (like to the song Grand Old Duke of York etc)
Splashing in the bath