Activities at home

You could some classes. Baby sensory, monkey music etc?

@Naomi yeah I go to one a week near me and did monkey music a couple of weeks ago. I could book some more though you’re right

Find a creek or some woods. Let him walk and explore. Endless entertainment

I found I needed a little task each day out. A class, walk, food shop etc. classes are a great way to meet other mums too. Swimming is a great class as well!

We do two baby groups a week, one trip to soft play, swimming once. We do messy play with jelly/cereal, playing in the garden, sometimes I'll just let him play/splash around in the bath for a bit if he's being cranky. We do big walks, into town for a cuppa and back home again or with the dog w baby in the carrier. We also do a couple of food shops a week rather than one big one, he loves going round in the trolley and having a snack x

We go to some soft plays where he's practicing his pulling up to stand and cruising around there too and it just means he's doing that somewhere with new things to explore. Do you have any soft play places near you?

Thanks guys all great ideas. I do need to get out more just a bit depressing on your own isn’t it 🤣 yeah I’ve got swimming and soft plays and parks so I’ll get exploring. I’m going to kit out the garden with outside toys too sand pit etc for when the weather gets better

I also am in the same boat (military family) closest friends and family are 2 hours away. I couldn’t stay in all day now. I take her swimming, park, to classes twice a week, softplay. It doesn’t matter how many toys you have you will always get bored I know because I’ve tried slow days. Even a pram walk is good. My little girl is also a mover, hates the pram, she’s walking so wants to practice all the time but sometimes mama needs a break. My partner is also away a lot though like all of this week so I need time for my sanity or I’d be over touch and over stimulated 630am to 730 pm with just my baby

@Kirsty thank you. You feel like the only one don’t you! Yeah I just need to get things booked get out and just realise I’m on my own ha maybe then will meet others I just really like friendships to happen organically not forced you know!

I love going out on my own with my 10 month old. We get the train into town, have a little look around the shops even if not buying she loves looking at everything and people watching. Will go to a coffee shop and buy a drink while giving her dinner. In the house we have time playing in the living room, kitchen when I’m cleaning, her bedroom when I’m getting her ready or after a nap so she’s getting a change of scenery. I put music on and dance with her, have time to read to her, time for her to play on her own. It is quite repetitive so I don’t like staying in more than one day at a time. I’ve just bought flash cards so she’s enjoying learning animal noises at the minute. You could try swimming, baby classes, soft play, the farm, shopping, coffee shops, out for lunch just the two of you, walk to the park, I even just go to Asda for a walk round sometimes she LOVES going in the trolley and saying hiya to everyone x

If you are close to a library they are often good places to head too. Our one has space for babies to crawl around and they can be as noisy as they want. Then lots of books to look through. At home, day time bath is always a good one for entertainment. I also think if your little one has a buddle suit even if they are crawling you can go sit outside for a short while on a picnic blanket or grass while they explore there

These are all great ideas thank you all. Think it’s just getting my confidence back really. I was stuck in the house most of last year with builders. I had a super busy independent job before I had him so I just need to get up and out don’t I! 💜

Bless you, I do everything just me and my baby as we have no one else and I love it! I found it difficult from like 5-8m only because I was so so self conscious about how much weight I've put on and kept thinking if I bump into people I know they're going to be shocked but now i literally don't care 😅 You've got this ❤️

@Katie ah thank you. Yeah same but you’re right we need to not worry and just enjoy x

Messy play? Oats, rice, cereal, cornflower are all great. Going for a walk. Playing on the garden, swimming. We do swimming each week, two playgroups and then I will think of an ‘activity’ to do on quieter days. We walk the dog every day took, read stories and listen to music every day. I have also found rotating having 4-6 toys out for a week helps keeps play interesting with those toys for the week as they explore learn to engage with it, rather than being overwhelmed and bored with lots of toys and not knowing what to do with them. It’s also like they have new toys each week x

@Stef oh 100% I’m lucky enough to of found 1-2 close friends but I pine for my friends at home especially when my partners away just to have company and found myself not going out either but it just drove me insane. Now summers coming, picnics in the park is something we will do and outdoor play, praying for some nicer weather to make it easier!

Thank you all so much feeling much better I was in a real state last week not knowing what to do with ourselves! X

Gemini ♊️ babies are naturally sociable outdoor children they rarely want to be in my baby is now 10 months old bath every other day with toys lights music etc we go out every day to town park baby groups every Tuesday and Wednesday when we're home it's read books or bit of educational baby tv sing songs playtime loads of different toys interaction watches me washing up tidying the house the simplest things are most exciting for babies blowing bubbles is another one just do what works for you and your baby baby carriers are good they give a different higher view of the world rather than prams just seeing mostly people's legs walking by lol 😆