Entertaining a 4 month old- ideas please!

[roslily]

My ds is 18weeks. He is now bored by his swing, doesn't much like either sling i have unless outside (we do a big walk every day)

I have been singing etc, play mat but he seems fed up and frustrated by this now.

Is it normal for them to get frustrated at this age? I try and get out of house as much as possible, but am running out of ways to play with him in house. Even the "lets look out the window" game is met with a frustrated cry.

I started a similar thread a few months ago when my DD was about 3 months. She seemed bored most of the time and I'd spend a lot of time worrying that I didn't stimulate her enough. Turned out she wasn't sleeping enough during the day so was over-tired and frustrated. Have you heard of the Jumperoo activity centre by FisherPrice?

www.amazon.co.uk/Fisher-Price-K7198-Rainforest-Jumperoo/dp/B000LXQVA4/ref=sr_ 1_2?ie=UTF8&s=toys&qid=1263162836&sr=8-2

I swear it's the best thing I've ever bought for my daughter, she still LOVES it! A cheaper alternative is a door bouncer thing. Good luck!

I also vote for the Jumperoo - DD is 6 months old and still loves it, as do her baby peers that visit. Beat of all, completely wears them out!

I have a door bouncer for him, but although he enjoys standing up in it, he doesn't seem to know how to bounce. He loves it when i bounce him in it, but can't work out how to do it himself. I have it so his tiptoes touch ground. Maybe he will learn!

I will look into a jumperoo on ebay.

I would have asked if he needed a bit more sleep as well.

Also, are you able to move to different rooms in the house during the day for a change of scene?

Babies of this age don't really bounce properly on their own - just kick about a bit. You could try putting scrunched up newspaper under his feet to make an interesting noise.

But honestly, it sounds like you're doing your best to entertain him. If he's fed up, he could well just need a nap.

Ah sleep. Well my son doesn't sleep well, never for more than 45mins at a time. I have tried extending this (co-sleeping, pram, sling etc) but nopw. I think he prob is tired, i follow his cues- rubbing eyes etc and get him down to sleep.

I will persevere with the sleep. Good idea about changing rooms- we hardly go upstairs!

Jumperoo is great, because they can play with the toys on it before they work out how to jump in it. It makes noises as well when they move up and down to encourage them to try

Catch with balloons. My 6 month old sleeps right through the night but rarely naps during the day, and is a Gemini to boot so needs plenty of mental stimulation, although watching his older sister fascinates him no end!

But the balloon thing amuses him for 20 minutes or so, or putting him in a bouncy chair with a featherweight mobile above him (
that moves with ordinary air circulation in the room) , you can attach long, wispy feathery strings, tinkly bells, those THINGS what are they called?? like optical illusions, snaky, plastic, spirals that appear to be liquid, etc etc.

Before my DD learnt how to bounce I used the door bouncer as a swing and she seeemed to really enjoyed it.

Oh yes balloons - DS saw balloons for the first time at about 6 months and thought they were hilarious!

I know exactly what you mean, it can be so hard to entertain them at any age! My dd is 10 months and sometimes she gets bored and grumpy. I do agree with the jumperoo, my dd absolutley loved hers and still does, although when we first got her it we did need to help her bounce.

I also agree with the sleeping, at that age my dd needed a sleep almost every hour, even if it was just for 20 mins.

Good luck, hope this helps