Erm, what do you mums *do* all day with young babies...?!

[Walnutshell]

Hi Laydeez n Gentz,
New to all this so please bear with. Have been wondering what other mums (dads too) actually do all day with their lo's... I have an almost-5m-old and I think we're doing OK but wonder what a typical day looks like for everyone else?
(Esp when I get a bit bored late afternoon and run out of entertainment value... ahem)

[Mud]

whatever you want- shop and meet friends 5 onths old very portable

[lapsedrunner]

Never had that problem as we have dog that needs walking 3 times per day .

[AngelaD]

Sleep for a lot of it or housework that never ends.
If you have too much time on your hands you need a dog or another baby.

[Surfermum]

I used to do loads of shopping. I loved being able to wander round with the shops so empty after years of having to go shopping on Saturdays. I used to have a coffee while I was out too. We also went swimming and met up with friends from ante-natal. Anyway, you will no longer be bored now you've found us . Never a dull moment here.

[jessicaandrebeccasmummy]

had another baby!!!

Jess was 6months when i fell pg with Becky. So now becky is 21 weeks, Jess is 20 months and there is never a dull moment, let alone time to sit and chill out!!!

[Nemo1977]

At 5mths it is quite difficult as they get bored of you before you get bored of them..lol I used to try and do a baby group a week like baby massage or tiny talk. Then spend time meeting friends etc so they socialise and so did I. Then as JARM said you have another one..lol

[yeamam]

I sit on the internet all day long and let my baby wreck out cupboards and pull clothes out of drawers, only stopping surfing to feed him and change him and lay him down for a nap, so then I have time to go back on and surf...and when I'm not surfing I am drinking tea and reading a magazine...only stopping long enough to pull my clothes on at 4.45 and look like I have been busy all day before my husband comes home, oh and the only reason my house is tidy is 'cos I sit in my computer room all day and don't mess any of the others

All according to a few so called 'friends' this is a picture of my daily life Rolls Eyes

In reality I am a busy mum who likes to have a relatively tidy house incase people drop in unannounced, I go and have a nose on the net when baba is asleep, and in my spare time I fit in a university degree... Oh I WISH I had the life my mates think I have

[dooley1]

See friends, go for walks, go to Mother and Toddler groups, go to the library, go shopping, go for walks, do housework, cook

[tortoiseshell]

With a 5 month old - make the most of having a portable compliant infant - I loved taking ds out to the shops, to friends houses, to music groups. It all gets SO much harder when you've got 2!

[yossa]

when i only had 1 child i used to think it was so hard. having 2 is easier on terms of then playing together. they are 3.9 and 1.9. what i have noticed is that i go out to see people less coz i cant be doing with the stress. rather people came here and i cleared up the mess than have the hassle of strapping them both in the car, remembering to take everything, worrying they will break something etc etc etc. only just realised that i used to prefer being the visitor but with 2 prefer to be the visited!

[Walnutshell]

Thanks for the suggestions and for being so welcoming!!
I suppose I am just being plain idle. Once a few jobs, cooking etc is done, I should take off the "loungewear" and get myself in the fresh (ish) air. I do blow the cobwebs off now and again at Tesco's (exciting!) or a friend's house, but haven't had much luck finding a decent babyclub. Not sure if I'm a babyclub kinda gal!
Also, don't have masses of confidence for those times when ds is feeling explosive and/or in need of a bf..... altho' things are getting better on that front!
PS - have 2 dogs but just cannot brave a buggy and 2 dogs right now, coward!

[Surfermum]

It's not the best time of year either for going out. The summer is great - we used to spend all afternoon with dd in her buggy and me in the paddling pool reading magazines, or at the beach.

[GDG]

When I had just ds1 and he was that young, I pretty much did what I'd do if I didn't have him iyswim. Obviously, I fed him and chatted to him and lay with him under the gym bashing the toys etc but there is only so much coo-cooing you can do in a day!!!

He pretty much just tagged along wherever I went!

Oh, had NCT group of friends so he 'met' with other babies every week

[Filyjonk]

they don't need other babies yet. I ran myself ragged going to groups etc with ds. now I have 2 of them, I wish i'd chilled a bit more. dd is 8 months and maybe might need other kids if she didn't have ds.

Do a short course or something. Relax. Stick the baby in a hip sling + do what you want. A day at the museum is great for a baby.

I finally saw sense when ds was about 6 months. Got an allotment + learnt a language. Then he learnt to walk....

[purplemonkeydishwasher]

Go for walks. GO to mom and baby groups (those are my favourite days, I get to talk to grown-ups!!). Or lately just walk uptown and go to a cafe and have tea and a muffin (just me and ds...god, i need friends!).
BUt it is hard sometimes knowing what to do with a little one at home. We sing a lot. We sit with all his toys and see what he wants to play with. Or else we pet the doggy (his favourite thing!). Or lately just wrestle (he likes to use me as a climbing gym).
And he likes to watch Playhouse Disney a lot so we sing along with Bear and Jojo and Ernie and Pooh....

[skerriesmum]

Walnutshell, I walk my neighbour's two dogs with ds in the buggy... loop the leads around the buggy handles (I guess this only works with the umbrella style as they have curved handles!) They "pull" the buggy and everyone has a great time!

[drosophila]

Watch TV, surf, read oh and a little baby care.

[scotchlass]

When ds was 5 months I spent alot of time with friends, going for walks and drinking tea! Mums and tots were also great( more for you at this age) I think groups maybe saved my sanity!! Getting out at least once a day helps alot, makes you feel like your still part of the real world.

[notasheep]

When baby slept i did too

[blueshoes]

gosh, what easy babies ...

[moondog]

WS,what do you mean about the b/feeding angle?
Are you self conscious about doing it in public?
Really,there is no need to be,remind yourself that noone is watching you as closley as you may think they are 9applies to us all).

Get out NOW!!!
Wait until you have a turbo charged 21 mth old lie me and you will know the real meaning of the expression 'limited quality of life'

[Walnutshell]

Hi again, thanks for the posts. Have been away visiting doting grandparents... Decided to make more effort to get out and about although yet to find babyclub I really like. Wouldn't mind taking ds swimming but not sure of the 'holding' value of those swim nappies!

Surfermum - "...at the beach" - lucky you, I'm green! (In smog-city)

Skerriesmum - good idea re dog leads, although my doberman might try to take over the pace! (He's a good boy really...) Dh currently out with mutts and baby in Bushbaby carrier - cute!

Moondog - yes, self-conscious, well actually, not so much self-conscious as worried about someone challenging me - need to get a grip. What do you mean 'get a life now' - you're scaring me!!!

xxx

[Walnutshell]

PS Filyjonk - I'll take your experience on board and chill out! There's a million ways to raise a baby and I'm sure I'll settle into it.

[babyonboard]

yes..i agree...
if you are happy doing what you are then carry on and enjoy the few hours of time to yourself whilst baby is young enough to be sleeping for so long.
my DS (almost 4m) can spend half an hour gazing and playing with my hand..he loves it..and i get to read with the other hand..lol

I also come onto mumsnet when he naps, or chat to my mum/friends over msn and tend to do housework when dp is home and can look after DS

Other than tht we go for walks with him in his sling..meet frinds for lunch/coffee, go window shopping, take trips out with friends with toddlerts tc

of course all alongside the usual reading books, plying with rttls nd mobiles, cooing, spending hours gazing at each other and making faces..lol

sure you're doing fine..babies don't need or want to be entertaind the whole time they are awake..i guess just like adults they sometimes just want time to sit back and contemplate life, the universe and everything without need for social niceties...heeheehee

[Walnutshell]

BoB: I think you may be right. I'm obviously suffering from a mild case of new-parent-syndrome!!

Incidentally, which sling do you use? I bought a Tommee Tippee front carrier - took it back to John Lewis as thought it was too tricky to load baby in and out of. Now have a ring sling but finding it gives me neck ache - can never get the distribution of material quite right! Considering the Wilkinet one... don't want to make yet another bad purchase! Think ds would prefer to be positioned facing outwards.

Oh, re comment about contemplating the universe - absolutely right, babies do have a look of wiseness about them! I'm sure they know more than they are letting on!

Can hear ds giggling in the bath with dh, time to get splashed!