Hi,
I have a 4 month old dd. We are stuck inside all the time because of the weather and having no car (my dh drives it to work). I am exhausted from being up all night (dh doesn't help) and am having trouble figuring out how to entertain her. Any suggestions? She has the exersaucer and the gymini thing, but gets bored easily on both. I hate to resort to the TV. What would you suggest?
Thanks,
Grace
baby entertainment help
Books are a great way to entertain. How about music? There are lots of fun kids CDs where you can sing, dance, and play. Do you have people that can come over for play dates or to visit (even if just an hour long)? Is there anyone that could pick you up to go out somewhere like the library or a mall?
Also, do you have a baby carrier like a baby bjorn? Most kids love just "hanging out" in those while you do other stuff around the house... laundry, vacuuming, making a meal, etc. If you can get stuff done this way, while the baby is awake, then you can nap with the baby and not feel like using that time for house work.
Hang in there. It will get easier once you are getting more sleep, and can get outside (which will hopefully be soon for both.)
Also, do you have a baby carrier like a baby bjorn? Most kids love just "hanging out" in those while you do other stuff around the house... laundry, vacuuming, making a meal, etc. If you can get stuff done this way, while the baby is awake, then you can nap with the baby and not feel like using that time for house work.
Hang in there. It will get easier once you are getting more sleep, and can get outside (which will hopefully be soon for both.)
Me 36, DH 34 - Creating our family since 2002
Here are just some things I do with mine....
exerciser (I have Baby Einsteain one where they can jump up and down)
Johnny Jumper
play mat with toys that dangle above them
put them in their boppy and give them a rattle, book that makes noise, or something they can play with
swing
we can go for a walk around the neighborhood
Just some ideas
exerciser (I have Baby Einsteain one where they can jump up and down)
Johnny Jumper
play mat with toys that dangle above them
put them in their boppy and give them a rattle, book that makes noise, or something they can play with
swing
we can go for a walk around the neighborhood
Just some ideas
Me: 25 PCOS, BFP 1st time with twin girls!
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;10723;35/st/20080805/n/Mackenzie+and+Brooke/k/08dc/age.png[/img]
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;10723;35/st/20080805/n/Mackenzie+and+Brooke/k/08dc/age.png[/img]
Hi Grace,
I just wanted to say Hang in There. Your baby is going to start getting a lot better at "self-entertaining" within the next few months -every week it gets a little better. I have a 7month DS. For the longest time it seemed like he could only tolerate about 5 minutes in the exersaucer, didn't like being in the pack & play unless he was asleep, was entertained for maybe 10-15 minutes on the activity mat...I couldn't get anything done and carried him around all the time. It gets much better as they get older! Now he will stay in the exersaucer for 20 or more minutes happily bouncing & playing, he LOVES the activity mat and will keep busy with that for 30 minutes or so. Best of all, he can now sit up on his own and loves to play in the pack & play with his baby toys. He either stays in the pack & play or sits in his high chair while I cook dinner.
Keep on trying new things, new little toys, they don't have to be expensive. We've had incredible luck buying things off of Craig's List.
2nd timer
I just wanted to say Hang in There. Your baby is going to start getting a lot better at "self-entertaining" within the next few months -every week it gets a little better. I have a 7month DS. For the longest time it seemed like he could only tolerate about 5 minutes in the exersaucer, didn't like being in the pack & play unless he was asleep, was entertained for maybe 10-15 minutes on the activity mat...I couldn't get anything done and carried him around all the time. It gets much better as they get older! Now he will stay in the exersaucer for 20 or more minutes happily bouncing & playing, he LOVES the activity mat and will keep busy with that for 30 minutes or so. Best of all, he can now sit up on his own and loves to play in the pack & play with his baby toys. He either stays in the pack & play or sits in his high chair while I cook dinner.
Keep on trying new things, new little toys, they don't have to be expensive. We've had incredible luck buying things off of Craig's List.
2nd timer
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/1;20732;19/st/20080808/k/c515/preg.png[/img]
2 IVF's & 2 FET -all BFN
3rd IVF -BFP!!!
2 IVF's & 2 FET -all BFN
3rd IVF -BFP!!!
grace- hi!
I am sorry to hear you're having a tough time- our little guy is 4 months old as well.
Does your dd get good naps? I think Pulman plays better is and is better entertained when he has had a good couple of sleeps during the day. he likes books and these things I call "jingle bugs" that a friend gave us- the are cloth covered dangly things that make noise and he can bat at and pull on from infantino toys - they work really well and he self entertains for a long time- sometimes an hour or more depending on his diaper situation.
I also put him in the baby bjorn or maya wrap and go along with my everyday stuff- he likes to watch me make food (though it takes a lot longer as i have to be extra careful with the knife).
we go for walks and such- but if I'm not being too forward, I would suggest that you see if you can drive dh to his job and you and dd go have a day out together, then pick him up later- or ask dh to take a day off and let you get out for a bit solo. It's really important for you to get a break, I think that helps the little ones as much as it helps the mommas
I wish you all the best
yours sincerely,
loopie
I am sorry to hear you're having a tough time- our little guy is 4 months old as well.
Does your dd get good naps? I think Pulman plays better is and is better entertained when he has had a good couple of sleeps during the day. he likes books and these things I call "jingle bugs" that a friend gave us- the are cloth covered dangly things that make noise and he can bat at and pull on from infantino toys - they work really well and he self entertains for a long time- sometimes an hour or more depending on his diaper situation.
I also put him in the baby bjorn or maya wrap and go along with my everyday stuff- he likes to watch me make food (though it takes a lot longer as i have to be extra careful with the knife).
we go for walks and such- but if I'm not being too forward, I would suggest that you see if you can drive dh to his job and you and dd go have a day out together, then pick him up later- or ask dh to take a day off and let you get out for a bit solo. It's really important for you to get a break, I think that helps the little ones as much as it helps the mommas
I wish you all the best
yours sincerely,
loopie
Me 41 Dh 41
1st IVF BFP!!! Jan 2008
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;10722;442/st/20081025/n/Pulman+Percival/k/3cf8/age.png[/img]
1st IVF BFP!!! Jan 2008
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;10722;442/st/20081025/n/Pulman+Percival/k/3cf8/age.png[/img]
Thank you so much for the great ideas everyone!!! I have noticed her attention span slightly improving since I put the post up.
Loopie - she does nap pretty well, unless we had a rough night. Also, funny you should suggest driving dh to work! I tried that once, and it's an hour each way due to rush hour traffic. I was thrilled to have the car and took dd out during the day and hit the town. Then we did the 2 hour commute to pick dh up. And... dd went ballistic for 4 hours straight that night (way past her bedtime) because she had slept way too much in the car on all those trips back and forth.
Dh is also a horrible, horrible babysitter... but that's a whole other story in itself. My parents do help out but they went to FL for 2 months. Next up: I am going to try to fly to FL alone with dd. Wish me luck! 
Thanks again!
Grace
Loopie - she does nap pretty well, unless we had a rough night. Also, funny you should suggest driving dh to work! I tried that once, and it's an hour each way due to rush hour traffic. I was thrilled to have the car and took dd out during the day and hit the town. Then we did the 2 hour commute to pick dh up. And... dd went ballistic for 4 hours straight that night (way past her bedtime) because she had slept way too much in the car on all those trips back and forth.
Dh is also a horrible, horrible babysitter... but that's a whole other story in itself. My parents do help out but they went to FL for 2 months. Next up: I am going to try to fly to FL alone with dd. Wish me luck! Thanks again!
Grace