Running out of things to do with 9-month-old in winter

[surrealpotato]

Just that really. I'm solely in charge of baby from 9-5, at which point my DH takes over.

I feel a bit stuck. We don't have a lot of money, don't live within walking distance of anywhere, and the weather is grim.

I try to do as much as I can with her.... Free playgroups some weekday mornings, library rhyme time, swimming sometimes.

At home we fill some time by reading, eating solids, naps, some nursery rhymes, tummy time etc.

All that said, there are still large parts of most days where I feel she's bored. I definitely am!

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fill the time with her? I find myself resorting to sticking kid's telly on for her more than I'd like, which I don't feel great about.

I should also mention I'm four months pregnant so some activities are limited!

Sounds like you're doing a lot already. A 9 month old doesn't need to be entertained at all times. It's fine to do nothing.

Are you far from a bus stop/bus service?

Not far at all. We do have a car though.

What is public transport like near you, or do you have a car? Where we are there are loads of things free & indoors, museums which are free and most of them have some form of sensory room type thing for babies, art galleries free and again have something for the kids, at 9 months just take her where you want to go and chat away to her. Our local cinema does a baby morning and a toddler morning which is fab, Everyman do them if there is one near you? Swimming always a winner for us as well!

Or to be honest we spent some time just chatting in the house while she watched me tidy😂

I'd love her to just sit and play with her toys or roll around for a bit. She does sometimes, other times she'll grizzle any time she's not being engaged with/entertained!

I'm sure others will disagree but at this age 15-30 mins of appropriate TV time a day will do no harm at all.

Is that because you're making a rod for your own back and never leaving her to entertain herself? You've got another baby on the way, that's going to be a nightmare. Try setting her up with something to play and leaving her alone (supervised Obvs) independent play is important too

What errands do you need to run? We did a lot of trips to Tesco, the post office, B&Q.

Get out for walks even when the weather is crap. Rain cover on the pushchair and waterproofs for you.

What do you like doing? I did a lot of free or cheap museums, botanical gardens, just wandering around seeing stuff.

I do. She'll do that for maybe ten minutes before grizzling...

Museums is a good idea. We have an art gallery near us.

January was always a slump month with babies, it's not you, it is harder. What do you want to do with your time? I would visit family nearby and head off to museums but that might not be available to you/ might not be your thing. But can you adapt something that you enjoy?

X-post, I write too slow.

Depends on your parenting philosophy but we’d let our kids figure it out - obviously plenty of playing with them etc but they spent plenty of time playing with a spoon in their highchair while I cooked, or being on a playmat while I cleaned. And hours and hours looking around in the buggy while I got a coffee / grabbed milk / went to Ikea.

You have a PFB and are worrying about how to entertain her. I did that with my first. My third got carted around on my back for the school run twice a day and we did no activities till he was at school. He's now 13 and seems reasonably intelligent and normal.

It's winter, stay inside and read some books and sing some nursery rhythms. If you feel up to it then do some easy indoor activities, bit of finger painting or playing with some toys or make some play dough for her. Chat away like you are slightly insane and enjoy her naptime.

I usually do one activity a day in the morning although sometimes its just come with Mummy on errands. I do stuff for me too like an excercise class and baby cinema. Then home for a long lunch and then she crawls around whilst I try and crack on. We have the school run and after school park 3-4 which breaks up the day. Could you do a walk around that time every day? Getting outside is key!

I agree that you are worrying about this because your baby is your PFB.

A bath with lots of toys often goes down well or in a trolley going round a supermarket (you don’t have to buy anything) with the occasional spins if the aisle is quiet.

Do household chores like folding laundry and set up baby to watch. Tell baby the names of all the clothes and let her play with some socks. Similar for cooking.

Why the need to have your baby on the go so much ? A walk every day was all mine got. You are setting your child up for a hell of a life where they have to be entertained constantly, yes she grizzles now because she isn't used to being left to look at the world. As for you being bored, you live in an age of the internet, and 24 hour tv. You have you pick of online courses, craft projects, books, forums etc.

Read a book while baby sleeps. Last chance for this maybe for a while wait when they start walking !!

The baby will be fine but you must be bored! Do you have any friends with babies? Get them round for a coffee and to hang out for some company. I also always recommend church baby groups where it’s £1 and they make you a drink and give you a biscuit, and you get to be out in the world interacting. It’s mind numbing staying at home with a baby! Do you have any garden centres locally? We have lots with fish in them, always good for a mooch. And I know you said money is tight but lots of soft plays and attractions round our way are doing cheap entry in January and February, might be worth asking around (or ChatGPT) for your local options.

Honestly nothing at that age. Well nothing child
centred. It was Covid time so nothing open anyway that winter.

I took Ds daily in pram or sling for a walk mainly. Sometimes driving to new area to walk. Errands out and about like supermarket, diy stores, garden centre, appointments. Playground - by 9months mine was walking so could toddle about

Otherwise at home just general getting stuff done like cooking. Another walk most afternoon as he only napped in pram. Played at home. If they did nap then get some admin done, read book, look up some stuff.
But yes just relax, by Easter is outside at lot more.

Go for a walk I. The buggy and talk about what you see with her. They love it and completely free

Bloody awful. I used to mentally divide the day up into 20 half hour slots.

I had a book of nursery rhymes with music and would sing through the lot.

The trouble with watching them play was that I just fell asleep.

Stick them in a sling, fill the sink with warm water and play ‘pouring’ with plastic pots while they watch.

Go and visit other mums and invite them over. Every day if possible.

Do a small food shop more often.

Bloody awful. I used to mentally divide the day up into 20 half hour slots.

I feel seen 🥲

I do sometimes. But we live right on a main road and nowhere really to walk. Even if I took her in the car to the park... It's freezing and rainy.

Roll on summer! Though I'll have another one by then 🥴

I know my mum was a plants person. Watering plants could take up a few minutes. Though they’ll have to be high up to avoid the earth being eaten.

’Making beds’ used to take a while - that was genuinely quite fun. Get a sheet out and play with it like a parachute game.

Laundry also involves some baby friendly stuff - counting knickers, pairing socks. The Sock Song helps. ‘Here’s a green sock, where’s its pair, where’s its pair? Where’s its pair?’ Etc