Ideas for how to entertain a 9 month old when sick

[Eumy]

So both me and my DS have a nasty cold, and I think he might be teething as well, so he’s pretty grumpy right now. He can’t crawl or stand yet.

He loves going for walks, or watching me cleaning/doing things. However, as I feel so rough that isn’t really an option. He seems to get bored of his toys quickly and will then keep whinging until I get him something else.

I need some activities I can set up for him where I can just sit next to him and supervise - Ive looked online and so many need him to be crawling or standing!

You don't have to keep a baby constantly entertained... just let him play.

This is where TV comes in!

TV. You're both ill!

How if they don't stop whinging ? My 4 months old will carry onto a full on crying and screaming.
I'd love to let him play on his own

Ms Rachel on YouTube!!

BBC i player - find CBeebies - whatever you think will take his fancy put on and leave to repeat…

@Sniffypete have you had a 9 month old? Once he's played with something for 5 minutes mine then whinges and then if I'm still not paying attention he screams. Hard to ignore that when you're ill! I guess some 9 month olds are happier to play alone than others😮‍💨 (yes, I do leave him to play alone while I clean, cook etc)

Can he look out of a window? Watch whats going on? Maybe put some bread out for the birds if you have a garden to give him something to watch.

Roll a ball to him. Throw and catch. Bounce it.

Bubbles (get a bubble machine if you can)

Put him in the bath if he plays better in there.

Let him empty a cupboard. Or fill a box and let him empty that.

A box of tissues. The bigger the better. He can pull them out one by one!

Is 9 months the age where they love to put things in things? If so, get one bucket of little things like Duplo bricks or small bits and pieces and a lot of small containers and he can spend a while sorting and putting things in the different containers. I might be remembering the age and stage wrongly though..

I think 9 months is more likely to shove tiny pieces in their mouths!

Definitely TV OP.
Cocomelon on Iplayer.

I have an 11 month old and you've totally just planned the rest of our day thanks 👍

Thanks for the replies all!

I’ve had the tv on (Bluey and Hey Duggee). He does seem to watch it for a bit but gets bored after a bit!

We don’t have tissues, but he does love trying to yank all his wipes. I have loads of scarves and put them in a box for him to pull out. He seems to love it!

Whilst bluey and hey duggee are the best options from an adults point of view (least annoying), something like coco melon (most annoying) is likely to hold a baby’s attention far better in my experience. I say this as someone who left their 11 month old in front of the tv for extended periods whilst trying to work during covid 😂

Sing with CBeebies is good, I find it more bearable than cocomelon, and has classics like heads, shoulders, knees and toes, which babies are likely to come across at play group for example too. My DS is 16m now, but could point to his eyes, ears, mouth and nose from 10m maybe? we began watching TV around 9m, shortly after he started nursery and caught every bug going round, poor fella. He definitely picked up some words from nursery rhymes this way.

I agree with putting objects into containers. My DS really liked putting things into our plastic kitchen bowls. Or "helping" to sort out the laundry by putting socks etc in the laundry basket.

What's in the bag? Is good. You just fill a bag full of safe household objects with different colours and textures, and then you/the baby take them out one at a time to look at.

Is your baby interested in books yet?

@LT2 yes, and they are now a moody pre-teen!
Let them whine and whinge, as long as they have things to play with (not necessarily toys!) and you chat to them then they will be fine!

Get a load of stuff out of your kitchen cupboards, shove it in a box or plastic bowl and let them go rogue. Obviously no knives or anything that will hurt them but DD loves playing with random kitchen crap!
Let him pull clothes off of an airer or out of the washing machine if able to reach ok.
Baking tray with water and a few toys in on a towel in the kitchen?
Lift the flap books if interested in that?