I would love to hear some creative ideas!

[Anonymous]

Hi!!!!

Does anyone have any creative or exciting activities/outings for 5 month olds? The family I nanny for is wonderful but it seems like the mother is anxious for me to entertain the baby outside of the house.

Any suggestions are helpful.

Thank you .

[Anonymous]

Five month olds can't do much. So just take the baby out to look at shit. Take the baby to the library and read it books. Go to free museums, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Five month olds can't do much. So just take the baby out to look at shit. Take the baby to the library and read it books. Go to free museums, etc.

Are you the CA poster?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Five month olds can't do much. So just take the baby out to look at shit. Take the baby to the library and read it books. Go to free museums, etc.

Are you the CA poster?

The museums in CA are not free, except for one day a month.

[Anonymous]

No, I am not the CA poster.

However, thank you for your suggestions thus far. Yes, I yale her to the library weekly and on daily walks...we even tried the zoo but she became upset because she was in her stroller for too long.

I just want to make sure there was nothing else simple that I missed, because the mom is really eager for her to experience new things but also wants her home in time for naps.... I try to tell her keep in mind she is only 5 months!

[Anonymous]

Can you try and find a baby playgroup in your area ?

[Anonymous]

I narrated for my charge at that age pretty much since birth - just talking out loud about every thing I was doing and seeing. I read rhyming books to him all the time and took him to an infant story time class. When you are outside especially, point to things and tell the baby what you are pointing to.

My charge is seventeen-months-old and very bright. I have no clue if what I did played any part but I'm glad I did it all anyway.

PS He loves and has always loved watching "big kids".

[Anonymous]

My charge was five months old in the summer months so my suggestions may not be possible for you now if you live in DC, but we did a lot of sensory play -- lying on the grass (both of us) and looking at the clouds and trees, letting her experience things that were soft, hard, wet, cold, warm, goopy, slippery, etc. while narrating everything. I also supported her back while sitting and let her do some quiet exploring.

[Anonymous]

Sensory activites: edible playdough/fingerpaint, laying/sitting on sand/grass, sensory bags

Outings: walks at different times of day, library, music classes, museums

Playdates: especially where she can watch slightly older infants crawling, sitting up and talking

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a first time mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sensory activites: edible playdough/fingerpaint, laying/sitting on sand/grass, sensory bags

Outings: walks at different times of day, library, music classes, museums

Playdates: especially where she can watch slightly older infants crawling, sitting up and talking

My charge's parents wouldn't let me take him around other kids until he was about 9 months. From that moment on, just watching older babies and toddlers, he was a changed baby - he started crawling very shortly after seeing the other kids crawl. Then standing, walking, squatting, running... all very fast.

[Anonymous]

People-watching. At the park or a place with lots of pedestrians.

[Anonymous]

Take him outside and narrate everything you do or see and point. It is a great thing to do in a carrier. Same with the grocery store.

The more words he hears per day, the better.

[Anonymous]

Can you join a music type class for babies, Im not sure how much they really get out of it at such a young age but it would be a nice activity once a week.

[Anonymous]

Music Together is a great music class for caregivers (parent or nanny) and babies and toddlers. Yes, it's great even at 5 months old if they are willing to pay for it. Send them the website and see if they are interested.

Otherwise, take lots of walks, let him feel the sun, the gentle wind, go outside at different times of day, sit on a blanket outside and listen to birds, squirrels, children playing. That could be in the backyard or at the playground, or a local park. The baby should be outside every day because fresh air is good for everyone, and sunlight and fresh air helps with sleep.

5 months old now means that you'll have a great summer as he gets to be sitting up and crawling - he'll love going to the zoo, etc. in late spring/summer. Since they are free in DC, you don't need to do it all and see it all - kids just can't - so pick one area to see each time. Doesn't need to be an all-day excursion to the zoo, park, etc. but if it's a major walk to get there, he will be done with his stroller by the time you get there.