Question for SAH Moms with infants- how do you play with/entertain baby all day? (Seeking ideas)

[Anonymous]

Go outside as much as you can

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here and thanks to everyone that is saying I don’t need to be actively engaged with her all the time- I think this is my guilt of having her home and working. I don’t think she would be getting more 1-1 attention at daycare with a 3:1 ratio but I still feel guilty when I have to focus on something other than her for a bit. I’m glad to hear that this is overbearing on my part...

Think of it like having a personal trainer. Would you want a personal trainer who was in your face 24/7? No, it would be too much. Babies aren't race cars, to be optimally tuned. They are very good at getting what they need for their development from their environment. A couple of stretches of focused engagement with your baby a day is fine; constant entertainment is not. There's nothing to feel guilty about.

[Anonymous]

crinkly paper, measuring cups and spoons, tupperware, a dishpan with a little water in in, etc.

A dishpan with water is NOT an appropriate toy for an unsupervised or lightly supervised baby. Great for when you're right there and fully engaged, but NEVER to buy you some time for a phone call. Babies can drown in just an inch or two, especially those at 5/6 mos. who have just learned to sit up.

[Anonymous]

OP - my baby was 6 mo in march when I started to work from home. When I read your post it seemed like me 6 mo ago. So I want to share what I learned - from 5-6 months to 7-9 months old there is a big difference in terms of activity, need for interaction, and it ramps up at 11-12 months once the baby starts walking. We ended up getting a nanny, and it took a full month to screen and interview people and finally get someone.

[Anonymous]

Mirrors and a tummy time mat got us pretty far in those early months. Soft books that crunch, squeak and rattle. Now my problem is keeping baby safe around exuberant 3 and 5 year old. The best solution I've got is constant supervision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mirrors and a tummy time mat got us pretty far in those early months. Soft books that crunch, squeak and rattle. Now my problem is keeping baby safe around exuberant 3 and 5 year old. The best solution I've got is constant supervision.

I had kids with a similar age spread. My solution was a playpen. It wasn't about keeping baby in, it was about a place big siblings knew they weren't allowed to climb in.

[Anonymous]

Don’t fuss or engage too much if your baby is going to daycare. Let the baby get used to what daycare will be like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t fuss or engage too much if your baby is going to daycare. Let the baby get used to what daycare will be like.

Don't do it anyway, daycare or not. My baby's daycare providers were affectionate and engaging, but obviously they weren't holding her all day or interacting with her to the exclusion of the other babies all day. Which, honestly, was fine. They sang to the babies, rocked them to sleep, etc., but they also gave them some time to hang out and chill with toys and play with their feet and watch the other babies. Which is good. Not engaging with your baby every minute of the day =/= neglect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t fuss or engage too much if your baby is going to daycare. Let the baby get used to what daycare will be like.

Oh shut up.

[Anonymous]

Exersaucer