Feeling guilty about not playing with my 8 month old

[Mama127]

I'm not sure if anyone else feels like this or has any suggestions, but I just feel guilty, I have an 8 month old and I am 20 weeks pregnant and I'm so tired 😫
I just want to sleep all the time, I hardly play with him, and have just about enough energy to cook his meals, change him and do the house work and all the other boring stuff.
He doesn't have screen time as I don't really want to do that, does anyone else have this problem or have any suggestions for me?

Ditch some of the housework and play with him.

Does anyone wish they'd had a tidier house on their deathbed?

Can your partner pick up more of the housework? If they baby is happy and you chat to them a lot while doing your housework etc then it's probably fine for now, but id let house standards drop and enjoy this time with your baby before you are even more split

Cut down house work and boring stuff. Could the dad help?

Is your child in nursery?

Don't beat yourself up. You can only do what you can do.

That does sound very difficult. 8 month olds really love to interact and play. I find 8-12 months to be the most difficult stage due to the increased mobility combined with a lack of any safety awareness is a real challenge, especially if he is pulling up to standing or climbing on furniture. I have an 11 month old and couldn't imagine being pregnant right now.

I agree with previous poster about prioritising playing and interacting with him before the housework. I bet you'll feel a lot less guilty over some dishes than you do now!

If you're really low energy then maybe bring him in to bed with you and entertain him with silly games there (difficult if he keeps trying to crawl off the edge I know!)

Hire a cleaner and play with you child.

Prioritise playing with him over housework.

Have you had your iron levels checked? Lie on the floor and let him play over you, wave a couple of toys around this was me heavily pregnant and exhausted

Hey girl
from one snoozy Mumma to another I relate. I don’t do any housework at the moment my partner does if all and I do what I can. I missed my Uncles funeral mass through exhaustion. I haven’t got an 8 month old but I do have two other children and I get your guilt. But…… you are doing your best and that’s enough. You’re giving your bubba the best plaything in the world with a sibling. Please don’t beat yourself up. Coming here for advice shows you’re a good Mum. You wouldn’t be here if u didn’t care. It’s safe for baby to have a little screen time. There are loads of educational and age appropriate things of YouTube. I wouldn’t usually suggest them but they’ll help the situation you’re in. Get inventive with things to stimulate baby. Loads of ideas on TikTok and media. It will get easier and you’ll have more energy when u birth soon. I’m here anytime Naomi

Hey girl
from one snoozy Mumma to another I relate. I don’t do any housework at the moment my partner does if all and I do what I can. I missed my Uncles funeral mass through exhaustion. I haven’t got an 8 month old but I do have two other children and I get your guilt. But…… you are doing your best and that’s enough. You’re giving your bubba the best plaything in the world

There are lots of things you might be able to do that don't require too much effort. Get some big picture books and lie on the sofa/bed and read to him - with lots of silly voices and expression. Hide under the sheet/behind a cushion or pillow and play peek a boo. Get some blocks and sit on the floor and build towers for him to knock over. Sing nursery rhymes to him with hand movements. Put some pasta in a saucepan or give him some empty boxes and give him a wooden spoon for him to play with and watch him from the sofa and talk to him while he does it.

The big thing to do really is to keep chatting to him. Describe what you're doing while you make him dinner or put on the washing. Don't be obsessed with having a pristine house. Try to get out for a short walk and some fresh air every day too if you can and get your iron levels checked. Well done though for keeping him away from screens as tempting as it is!

I was thinking just this. Get on some iron supplements.

I totally understand, I am 39 weeks pregnant with my 15 month old and I have felt so guilty during my pregnancy about this. Especially since she started walking at 11 months, as she needed so much more supervision/active play.
I found making my living room completely baby safe helped so much. Baby gates on both doors, and removed everything that she could injure herself/pull over/climb on, put down a big play mat and regularly change up/rotate the toys in her toy box and her books. I can park on the floor with her and she will happily play on the days I have been too tired to get out of the house.
Occasionally put nursery rhymes on the TV but always with some musical instruments and singing with her, so I didn't feel like I was just parking her in front of the TV, but that did help when I was particularly tired.

This is a good suggestion actually. My iron dropped later in my pregnancy and I felt absolutely awful, even walking up the stairs was tiring. I felt better really quickly after starting on iron supplements.