How to entertain my 9 month old out of the house

[Sammie1990]

Hi all

I’m a FTM with a 9 month old. I’m not returning to work until April as the nursery I want him to go to didn’t have places until then.

I am struggling for ideas of what to do with him to keep him entertained and stimulated. He is quite chilled generally but I feel I’m spending too much time in the house with him now he’s getting older. We got to 2 classes a week one sensory and one messy play. I also take him swimming weekly and for walks. I’ve tried farms and animal sanctuaries but I think he’s too young, we recently went to see some pigs and he was more interested in the metal fence 😂. I also put him in the crèche at my gym a couple of hours a week.

Has anyone got any suggestions of other things a baby of his age might enjoy. Many thanks!

Do you have any Forest school/ outdoor playgroup type places near you? The one we go to has activities and resources suitable for sitting babies upwards.

Try playgroups. Most churches our way run them. They're often free or very cheap. It will get him used to socialising.
I also got an annual pass to softplay when mine was that age, helped wear her out!

Don't overthink it, fine to go to the park, shops, or just run errands. They learn so much from you interacting with them as you go about your daily routine. I'm the house read to them, try play dough, play music and other sensory experiences. Just do avoid screens so young.

Maybe I’m biased as I’ve had 2 little firecrackers that wanted to be out of the house ALL THE TIME. But if he’s happy playing inside and you aren’t bored I’d just embrace it really. It sounds like what you are doing is fine.

Relax, you don't need to keep adding.

Time to stop, time for your little one to sit with a couple of toy, time to explore them himself, build up some self reliance and focus ( seconds upwards).

Time to chatter together.

Time for a walk, looking and talking about the trees, the leaves.

Hi,
this may be a silly question but I’ve thought about it for a while…if I’m watching TV and he’s playing with his toys with the TV on does it count as screen time?

Just adding, have you read up on schema. Spotting his schema will help with the toys/items he is provided with to support his play and development.

education.gov.scot/media/chjjekf0/nih058-parentzone-booklet.pdf

He is fine playing but I feel like he might be bored but just has a chilled out nature…maybe I am overthinking it 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

Relax. Count the rails in the fence. Talk about the colours. Pick up a leaf and scrunch it.
He has only been in the world nine months. Everything is a new experience

My DD is 8 months.
We do a couple of classes each week - £13.50 for the whole term, so very affordable.
When out and about ...
She's just big enough to go in the swings so we usually go to the park
Library!! We go maybe 3 times a week. She loves crawling around and looking at the books
I go for a run five times a week and she sits in her pushchair with a toy. It's early so I usually put some music on my phone which keeps her entertained
There's a children's play corner in my local coffee shop, so I often meet my mum friend for a coffee and we let the babies out of the pushchair to play with the toys.
Go for a bus journey
We've done a lot of leaf play. All in one waterproof suit over clothes. Plonk on the floor and throw leaves in the air, roll about etc.
Shopping centre. She likes looking at the lights, we listen to the man play the piano (he usually plays twinkle twinkle little star for her). There's so many sounds and things going on it keeps her entertained
I've taken her for a few days out. The aquarium was perfect she was completely mesmerised. I'm on London so took her to the Pulse exhibition and also a few museums (Horniman was great and young V&A)
Also check out children's centres for stay and play which is usually free and drop in.
I go for lots of walks with her. Just give her something to hold, sing nursery rhymes, pull silky faces, just talking to her and pointing out things we see.
Sometimes she just naps 🤷

Honestly don’t overthink it!! I went back to work after 10 months and did one class the whole time. We did shared parental leave so my husband was off for a month around 4m and then three months at 7m, so I did have some help before he then took over.

I didn’t even do the constant talking and counting and describing when out, as to be honest I felt a bit silly as they couldn’t talk back to me! They just did what I did, shopping, walking, watching me cook/housework/diy/etc. Sometimes I had the tv on in the background, sometimes the radio.

They now constantly talk! Play independently and with others, count everything, make up songs about what they are doing. Enjoy the peacetime!! It doesn’t last long!

I used to walk to our local churchyard a lot and sit on a bench with a nice view. If he was asleep, it was nice and relaxing for me. If he wasn't, I'd just bounce him in my knee, chat to him, look at the trees and stuff. There's no need to be complicating things; all they want is to be near you.