I'm almost four months old now. My head control rivals a 5 year old meerkat. I can fly on the ground like superman. I can hold onto this here phone and laugh while Daddy yells "Buy, buy, buy. Sell, sell sell". I lie on that same old playmat thinking "Mum, seriously, how am I gonna be a pro-golfer lying horizontal like this?". I sit in the bouncer thinking this would be great, if only I had a pool to do a 'double tuck with a twist into'. I like moving. And I know you've noticed. Don't get me wrong, you make me laugh with that motorboat thing you do, and those songs you sing with the same tune but different words (yes, I noticed) do crack me up the first few times (just not the eighth, ninth and tenth). It's just that I'm ready for more. It's like those kids trying out for The X Factor. They've got potential, and they need a platform to use it. That's me. But I need a little help from you. You're my Simon Cowell, mama. Make it happen.
I'm as bored with his gear as he is. Seriously. The poor kid lies on that same old mat, sits in that same old bouncer, cruises around hanging on my arm day-in, day-out, staring at the same noisy inchworm, chewing on the same rattles, staring Sophie straight in the eye, his patience quite obviously diminishing.
All he wants to do is stand bolt upright and check out the world. Or at least sit bolt upright to do it. His head control is ridiculous and in the past week he's learnt to roll over, get stuck on his tummy and subsequently crack the shits 'cause he can't get back without a little help. The kid isn't even four months old yet. I'm nervous. I can't keep up. The day-to-day changes at the moment are OUT OF CONTROL! In my head, he's still that lump of deliciousness that needs me for everything. Including holding his head up. The reality obviously ain't so.
So I need some help. The good ol' Mother's Guilt is creeping in. I feel like I need to keep him entertained and right now I'm doing a crap-arse job. I'm clearly a complete amateur at this whole gig. I have NFI. I was thinking it's time for one of those bumbo things, and have been told a Jumperoo is the way to go.
Any other suggestions for toys to keep him stimulated?
How do you keep your little ones entertained at home?
11 comments:
Get him a Bumbo, if you haven't already. It supports babies so they can see more of the world. Also great for trainee escapologists.
We loved the bumbo in our house and my girl was much happier once she was able to watch the world go by. Also loved the jumperoo and those walkers you can get from target.
Anything new I found helped at that age and getting out of the house as much as possible. they do get bored sitting there like that.
Good luck x
We still use our bumbo as it's also great for feeding with the tray attachment. Great for getting Fletcher to learn to sit too. The jolly jumper is great - gets rid of lots of energy.
Also check out the interactive toys that are above his age. He is advanced after all ;) Good luck x
Our bumbo was TOTALLY fab. Really cheesed that I gave it away to my Sist-I-L and never got it back for this bumpino numero duo. But don't give yourself a hard time or get any Mama guilts - repetitive is just fine, simple is totally brilliant, and honestly your attention is all he needs. Even if you're just highland dancing round the room to Yankee Doodle for his bemusement, he thinks you're DA BOMB, and hanging on your arm all day is how he's going to learn EVERYTHING about the world.
I didn't find the bumbo all that fab, for babies that move alot it is a bit dangerous, my little squirmer managed to wiggle out and hit the table...NOT that they are meant to ever go on a bench or table...but then you are back to the floor.
Open up the plastics cupboard, plastic spoons, measuring cups, bowls, etc, hang them from playgym things, fill a cushion cover with plastic bags...noisy ones, so when little legs kick it or roll on it they hear srcunchy sounds.
Fill a plastic drink bottle with rice to shake, roll, hit, drop.
Get a baby swing and hang it outside, babies love to look out at the trees, birds, mum hanging the washing.
And books, lots and lots and lots of books.
You're so funny Bridget. Loved the little note from Fletch, gorgeous.
Have you got an activity mat for him?? They're really good for around his age. Gives him more incentive to do tummy time. I never had a bumbo, but they do look good from what I've seen.
Reading sensory books is good too, the touch & feel ones. Maybe some water play, babies LOVE splashing around, even in the smallest amount of water.
You're doing a great job too, don't be so hard on yourself. Fletch would seriously only be looking at you with complete love and adoration xo
Easy. Have more kids. My older ones entertain the bub (read: torture him) when they're around.
In all seriousness, they don't need special things to entertain them. Take him for a walk, jangle some keys, splash some water. Books. My kids all loved newspapers and magazines to scrunch and feel. The whole world is a new adventure for them.
Just talking to him and singing and showing him the world is all he needs.
Don't feel guilty, my bub just gets carted here, there and everywhere. Poor kid doesn't get a lot of one-on-one stimulation.
You're doing a good job.
Can the guilt
(pot advising kettle here!!!)
and buy the Bumbo.
Loved ours.
I've seen some great little activity centres that focus around a soft cushion-ring type thing with interchangable toys around the top.
Swimming?
Walks?
Mirrors?
Trashing the newspaper was a hit here too. (or a box of tissues).
I think I was more bored with the bubba stage than my beautiful bubba tho!!!
You are doing a kickarse job, by the way.
:-) xx
The Bumbo was good for us for a short time; the Jolly Jumper was never popular, but from what I can gather most babies love them. We got a fantastic gizmo called an Exersaucer Triple Fun which converts from a floor mat with dangly things, to a round stationary activity centre that babies who can hold up their heads can sit in with toys all around the edge, to a an S-shaped thing with the same toys that bigger babies can pull themsevles up on and walk around. They're quite pricey in Aus (about $250) but maybe cheaper in HK?
I personally don't think that Bumbo's are all that great. They are good as a first sort of high chair for starting solids but they don't really have much of an entertainment factor. Also, how big are your baby's thighs? My baby had thunder thighs and so the Bumbo didn't work for him beyond about four months.
I would HIGHLY recommend one of these bad boys.
http://www.kidsii.com/brightstarts/p-227-doodle-bugs-around-we-go-activity-station.aspx
Baby C is also a mover and a shaker. I was at a complete loss one day when he was about five months old and so carted him off to Big W and came home with what we call his command centre. He loved it. And six months later he still loves it. At the start when his legs didn't touch the ground I just put a book or a cushion underneath the seat part. Then he went through a phase where he would run laps. Now stands on the outside of the seat part and uses it to practice walking. This thing has been an absolute life saver!
Good luck!
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