Ideas needed on entertaining/stimulating 7 month old

[Melly]

My 7 month old dd seems to get very bored in the afternoon say from about 3.30 pm until she has her tea at about 5 pm. I'm not really one for buying loads of big expensive toys etc and I'm sure most babies and children are probably far happier playing with everyday household things (assuming they are safe and you supervise). I'm sure she isn't tired because generally she has a really good lunch time sleep of about 2 hours. I find this hour and a half really difficult as I end up carrying her around with me and at nearly 18 lbs that gets a bit tiring. We live in the sticks so I can't really put her in the pram and go for a stroll because the lanes (or rather the drivers that use them) are too dangerous.
Any ideas very welcome.

[bossykate]

we have had exactly the same thing with my 7m ds practically since he was born! my absolute sure fire winner is to take him for a walk - every day even through the winter when it was dark and raining, we live in the inner city so always lights and activity to amuse him! you say you can't take her for a walk - how about going to do some errands, driving to a playground? if you had a baby carrier would it be less dangerous to go for a walk compared with the pushchair? i have heard that baby einstein videos can keep them happy. good luck - i found that this period of pm boredom and restlessness exactly coincided with my own low energy time of the day!

[Melly]

Hi bossykate, thanks for responding to me, that's really helpful, I have got a sling so maybe we could try that, it would also be good exercise for me! I will try the video you mention as well, always keen to give things a go. Know exactly what you mean about your energy levels at that time of day!
Thanks again.

[SueDonim]

Melly, I think that time of day can be one of the hardest - I used to console myself that I wasn't the only one going through it, lol! A few ideas that might help, anyway. If you are getting a meal ready then, try giving your DD some bits and bobs from the kitchen to play with, maybe ringing the changes, with a saucepan and some wooden spoons one day, a few plastic tupperware type boxes another, a couple of teatowels, dish clothes and other textile 'feely' things, safe kitchen utensils, like a lemon juicer, a sieve etc. I also found books absolutely invaluable at that age, whether picture books or nursery rhymes or fairy stories. HTH. :-)

[Melly]

Thanks SueDonim that's helpful, I will give it a go today! DD is happily rolling about on her play gym at the moment but I know within the next 20 minutes or so she will get bored.
Thanks for advice

[emmagee]

Melly, she's the perfect age for a 'treasure basket'. Basically get a small basket or wooden bowl (salad bowl?) and fill it with as many 'non-toys' as you can find/buy. Ideally they should all be natural materials, but you can cheat with things like pastry cutters/lemon zesters/those toe dividers for painting your nails!. My basket has large pebbles, corks, a stone egg, mushroom brush, bits of fabric, measuring spoon - metal as they make a better noise, napkin rings etc. The idea behind treasure baskets is that they are far more engaging than 'toys' which only have one function, babies take ages investigating the different textures, weights, etc and very quickly establish favourite objects which they enjoy searching for.

Another idea is to give her supper earlier- say 4.30 or a snack at 4. We have been doing this with our 8 month old recently and he's then content to play a bit more afterwards and have bath/bed at the usual time.
Hope this helps

[bossykate]

i will try out some of these ideas (again!!) too. thanks!

[Art]

'Treasure box' sounds great - Im going to put one together tomorrow! I have also found books to be invaluable with ds (8 months).

Have you got any friends with children of a similar age - we try and swap toys now and then, as they definately get bored with the ones theyve got.

[bea]

know exactly what you mean!

My dd (8 months) gets all grouchy and whingey at that time, i find putting a cd on quite loudly and dancing around the room quite good fun, as she finds it highly amusing... especiallly when she hears the music coming out of the speakers she's very interested in them! although this only works if you have the energy to do the dancing around! but a bob up and down suffices!!!

ps i like the idea of tresure box too as she seems to find normal everyday objects (usually sharp and inappropriate) much more interesting then the usual toys (yeah seen that one! next!)

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[Melly]

Thanks everyone for all your great ideas, especially the treasure basket. Am actually looking forward to tomorrow afternoon to try out some of these

[mollipops]

Hi Melly
You can also try blowing bubbles (although that's something you need to do for her obviously!), most kids love bubbles...
Cloth books are great, also bath books, then they can suck/chew them as well!
If you have a cupcake or muffin pan you can give her one and let her fill each spot with something, icecream containers are also great...any sorting and in-and-out games are usually good. Measuring cups are great for stacking. Large blocks or empty containers can be used for making towers and knocking them over.
For games to play together any finger rhymes are great, and peek-a-boo with scarves...hth!

[Rhiannon]

Don't know if this has been mentioned. Put him in your washing basket (assuming it's rectangular) hang some bits off the side like bikki pecs and keys to play with and put him in front of the working washing machine! R

[berries]

Bit messy this, and can only be done if she's ready to sit in a highchair, but a big bowl of jelly, or cooked spaghetti kept mine quiet for hours. The played with it, squished it, made patterns with it and occassionally (sp) ate it! Sometimes both at the same time worked as well, had to be followed by a bath though (well, the jelly did, spaghettis not too bad).

[sis]

melly, I don't know about your dd, but our ds has always been fascinated by pictures of babies so you could cut a few out from catalogues, magazines etc for her to put in the treasure basket.