Baby bored out of his mind by 5pm

[Carrotsurprise]

Anyone got any tips for this? I have a 9 month old and a 6 year old in the summer holidays and we're in a bit of a routine - early morning we're all getting ready for the day and baby has breakfast and is plays with his toys just fine. Then after his first nap we go out somewhere and come home for lunch. Then after second nap we're at a loss. We have a tiny house with no useable garden and everything is so hazardous outside of the living room so we're just in there at that time of day. We've already been out earlier so there's not a huge scope to go out again, it's really hard finding places a crawling baby can go to anyway where they're not just in the pram the whole time. The morning outing is basically park, library or soft play. He has lots of toys and books and we rotate them but still, after 4 or 5pm he's so bored of everything and whinges and whinges and whinges except when he gets hold of something he's not allowed to play with and then he makes such delighted excited noises I feel awful I'm not providing him with enough stimulation. All he's interested in at that time of day is trying to break past babyproofing. I can't stand it and presumably neither can he. And he doesn't go to bed till 8 so there are a lot of hours to fill. What can I do to give him something fresh to do that time of day?

I think that’s an issue with many age gaps and will be for a while yet. I have to follow my 2yo around at soft play/ playgrounds et which means his 5yo brother gets annoyed I’m not giving him attention.

It is still easier being out the house than in all afternoon though.

I don’t think it’s not understanding that a 9 month old can’t be bored, I think it’s not understanding why you wouldn’t get out of the house again in the afternoon just because you’ve been out in the morning.

Honestly it's because DD has never enjoyed going out twice in one day and so it's never been something we do and so it doesn't occur to me. And when it comes to naps this is why I prefer to have them at home rather than on the go if possible - it's the only time of day she gets my full attention, and in that time she prefers stuff we can do at home like dolls house and crafts and stuff. She is not the bored one here!
It does sound like it would be good to force everyone out again in the late afternoon but I'm not sure what difference it'll make...we can go to a different park to the one we went to in the morning but it's still just a bit of grass to crawl on, again. And some more bloody pram time. I wish he could walk, just want to fast forward time.

Stay at home in their morning and go out after the afternoon nap?

Are there any playgrounds in these parks? Playground would be perfect for your two - DD can climb about independently, may find some little buddies too. You can take the baby around and explore various low
down bits of the playground with you holding him or watching closely.

If he’s definitely not tired then at least you don’t have the danger of him falling asleep in the buggy and then refusing to sleep at bedtime - that was a huge issue for us and for many parents!!

Do you have a toy library? Perhaps some different toys might help?

Definitely second getting one of those toddler trikes where they are still strapped in and you can push with a handle. They often love those even when they hate the buggy. They are often offered for not much money on local selling sites. Get one that is easy to push and steer though as the cheapest ones can be very hard work!

Play pen big as you can find and that will fit in a couple of your other rooms. That way only the space in the pen needs to be baby proof.
Or your DD could go in it wither her activities away from the baby, but in the same room.

Also clear a safe space in the garden and then the baby can go in the play pen. Water play is great in the garden. Balls, soft paly with cushions etc.

Could you go further afield on the bus/train and have a day out - baby could sleep in the buggy and you would have some time with DD.

Once mine were crawling though, I tended to let them crawl around in most places. Just always have plenty of anti bac and wipes with you.

God, solidarity OP. The long afternoon/evening is a killer. I find those hours hard to fill too. Just being in one room, even with loads of toys is super dull and not great for them, but the options are so limited… play park, garden or walk in okay weather, fine, but little ones can’t do much in a play park - mine’s just of an age where she can do more, climbing up, and it’s brilliant. Library shuts at 5, no soft plays or outings open, even bloody CBeebies turns off at 7, lol. And she’s often up til 10 or 11! Bath can only take up so much time, and if I have to do one more walk round a random supermarket just to go somewhere…

My DD is moving to full days at nursery in September and I can’t wait tbh. I think she’ll be so much more fulfilled and hopefully tired when she gets home!!

What are your nursery plans? Mine started mornings at 10 months. And at least when the school holidays are over you won’t be juggling both. Nothing’s forever!

Babies are often quite tricky around this age. They are getting more aware and less sleepy but still can't really do much. Some of the suggestions about pushing cars in cereal etc I think are still a bit beyond and are more for about a year onwards. They often get much easier once they are walking as they are less frustrated and tire themselves out properly.

What are his nap times op? If you think he only needs two, I'd be inclined to keep the first one till later in the morning, then the second till that late afternoon "witching hour." If he stays up a bit later in the evening that might be easier than having him being difficult and ruining the afternoon.

He's a bit bored and it sounds like you are too, understandably! And your older child was a little calmer/more easily stimulated. I absolutely would do two trips a day. Let the older one do something interesting that keeps the baby entertained.

Another one we did a lot was just sticking all the kids in the bath together with bubbles and water toys, passed 40 minutes or more happily.

We just went out for a second park trip at 4.30pm and a good time was had by all 😉 I think I just felt hopeless yesterday because it was also bad weather. Thank you everyone for all the good advice which I have read and thought a lot about x

Glad to hear it op.

I do remember that as a really tricky age as they are getting knowing but also still not really able to do much physically to assuage their ambition. Its kind of like an extra puberty between baby and toddler.

Its tough isn't it, especially when you're probably tired yourself.
Other than using normal toys and the odd bit of Duggy, we did a really random range of things with dd like baking (baby can stir, bash biscuits etc), pots and pans musical, toys frozen in ice or buried in sand, washing up bowl and child cutlery with an inch or two of water in, messy painting, flou/pasta drawing/messy play on a tray, den building (just sheets really for babies), baby yoga. Some of these are messy but worth it!

Also op, I know you say he isn't tired but I think at that age they suffer from a different sort of tired. Once he's running round getting physically exhausted they tend to be all go, go, go, then crash for a deep sleep!

I think part of the problem is when they aren't moving as much they get tired but not quite tired enough to sleep, if that makes sense.

Aah that’s good OP .Forcast great for foreseeable future so enjoy the summer.

I agree with you op, it's amazing how people think babies can't get bored. And clearly you don't know your bow baby 🙄
Do your kids like having a bath? Random I know but a bath in the middle of the day with a load of toys can take up a good amount of time.

Sounds great OP. We like to make the most of every scrap of dry weather and I find that makes the rainy days stuck in easier when they happen.

Definitely give the local soft play a bash. The older child is old enough to run off and amuse themselves while you have baby in the smaller section.

Also agree with everyone saying get them in the bath. No such thing as too many baths when you’re trying to get through the day! Stock up on bath foams and jelly baths and the like to have handy, and make up a box of extra special bath toys you can whip out for such occasions. We have the bath barista and it’s a massive hit

Actually without wanting to be a spoil sport, I'm not sure lots of bubble bath time is good for their skin to be honest. Our paediatrician told us only use a bit of baby soap when necessary, and even then only where needed, never full soak.

Once in a while won't hurt I'm sure, but I'm not sure the all the time is a good idea.

Baby in sling. Mine was walking by 9 months. So 0 chance of him happy in one room all day. But was far happier if awake in sling.

Go for a walk somewhere. Woodland walk with oldest finding things, or eldest on her bike or scooter. Or walk to get an ice cream. Put baby down on grass somewhere with picnic rug

There must be other things to do though nearby even if you don’t drive? I mean do you literally go out 10-12am daily then stay in the rest of the day? Don’t you ever just go out all day in the summer holidays? Out after breakfast and off for the day to somewhere eldest likes like zoo/ museum/ new town/ beach/ event on/ kids stuff?

Or just days out for practical reasons like trip to diy stores/ supermarkets/ appointments/ garden centre.

If you don’t drive, it must be very limited only being outside for 2hrs max as surely that excludes public transport anywhere.

Depends on the kid I guess. Mine has always been fine with loads of baths, water play, and days at the swimming pool.

Well, I live in a hot climate, and my 11 month old is in a pool AND a bath every day. Almost every kid here is the same. No issues. The advice to only bath every other day was when they were newborns.

Oh sorry, I didn't mean the bath itself, it was the bubble bath.

But as a pp said, it may depend on the child's skin a bit too.

I didn't actually know about the newborn thing. Think i bathed mine daily. 😬