Do you have any ideas on how to keep a five month old entertained?

Question

I have the Einstein play seat, a bouncy chair, toys and a swing but she gets bored quickly with each one. I am really concerned about spoiling her by holding her too much. Also, I am a work from home single mom so I need to be able to have her entertained while I work sometimes. Thanks for any reccomendations.

Answer 1

Put her on the floor with plastic containers, lids and a wooden spoon...let her amuse herself...put on a kids cartoon so she has stimulation if she starts getting bored...if you know an older child (neice or friends kid) you might want to borrow them occasionally to play with her, I only say older kid so you dont have to baby sit them aswell as look after your own child...

Answer 2

:) make a space that is just hers, a playpen I found was a good entertaining way for this... and string toys above her, some higher than she can reach and some right in reach. Then place a couple of stuffed animals in there with her, this will give her someone to "babble" too and reach for when she is a little lonely. After that, like when she gets bored, place everything you have bought her in front and on her sides ( now we are on the floor) and let her decide, all the while play classical music and my son liked a bit of country and mellow rock (like fromthe 70's). They tend to try and "dance". Now my 10 month old loves music and "dances" whenever he hears music. He also knows that when he is placed within his playpen it is time when mommy has to "work" ( do some house cleaning that I can't get done while he's napping). It will be hard at first until she gets the hang of the routine, but be patient with her and move her when she gets bored; however, don't give in to holding her all the time. When you do have the time though, show her and talk with her about what mommy has to do. I believe they can really understand what is going on, even though they can't express themselves very well.
Good luck, I'm fighting the case of the "late-night blues" as I call them; a time in thier lives when they don't want to sleep because they miss ANYTHING! What a grump! lol

Answer 3

My daughter is 5 months old and I will run some ideas what we do during that day...She has her "floor time" which she loves because she has mastered her rolling over and loves being on her stomach..If your baby likes being on her stomach then you are one of the lucky ones and let her be as long as she would like! I have all kinds of toys ranging from toy rings, musical toys, stuffed toys, a play gym mat with toys hanging from it...she enjoys picking toys up and putting them in her mouth..She has a swing that she sleeps in, a bouncer that she jumps in that makes noise whenever she moves (loves it)...she watches cartoons but gets bored within 15 minutes..I hold her and she sits in her chair while she eats solids, started at 3 1/2 months and she is FINE! If she doesn't like when you put her down try putting a blanket on the floor and taking off her diaper...babies love being naked so this may just make things a little more enjoyable! You are right by not wanting to hold her all the time..My sister did this and now she is paying for it dearly with a spoiled brat of a child! Your baby's problem might be not soo much that she doesn't like being independent but she may just want to watch you and see you all the time. Try just putting her in her chair and going about your daily routine. There is times where I just have to leave my daughter a few minutes while shes crying to retrieve our dog that runs out of the yard..lol Crying is not going to hurt her and after she cries for a few minutes a couple of times she will understand cause and effect meaning that you will not come running every time that she wants to be picked up...Hope this works, however remember that your baby needs interactive time with you also...:)

Answer 4

Hi, I also work from home and have bub to entertain and keep happy. Firstly are you sure that she is getting bored?
My little one will play for some time with a toy on links, suspended from the doorway. I change the toy over each couple of days. I also have a very good portable organ/music machine which I put at the end of a change mat on the floor, and let her spend a lot of time kcking freely with her nappy off and playing music kicking with her feet. I can change the sounds of the organ every five minutes or so to get her to start the game all over again.
When I really need to get work done, I pop her into a sling or carrier and let her watch me work.
good luck

Answer 5

put her in the floor with some toys and try to let her play on the floor pick everything up first so you don't have to run behind them. i have been a stay at home working mom for 5 yrs. with 2 kids, it's hard exspecially when i'm in a hurry to get a job done. then it seems like the worst time they never stay happy very long.at that age they don't stay happy for long at all they want to exsperiance everything. put on some musical cartoons or something . hope this might help out a little!! good luck!

Answer 6

at five months, about 5 minutes is all your gonna get. I wouldn't worry too much about spoiling her, after all babies are supposed to need their momma's and she is too young to the know the difference now. Perhaps look into getting a sling, I prefer maya wraps, you can find on the internet or ebay, or into hiring a mommy's helper for a few hours during the day so you can get some uninterupted work time, and you have someone to help entertain your baby.

Answer 7

I work from home also and I had my son right beside me, playing on the ground with lots of bright and colorful toys, stuffies, babies, books, music instead of the TV. Some days this didn't work so I would giving him all my attention until naptime or bedtime, then even if he slept on my chest and I could work that when I did. If you have a ceiling fan try hanging some stuffies and light toys off of it, turn it on and let it spin. My kids loved it. Best of Luck.

Answer 8

you won't spoil your child by holding her, especially if you are getting to and doing your own tasks.

Babies don't need to be the centre of attention, but love to be the centre of activity.

My baby LOVES watching me do the dishes. I have a stretchy wrap (a homemade hug-a-bub) so i wrap baby to my front, give a spoon or spatula to play with and do my dishes - who knew it could be so entertaining?! Baby also gets interaction from me as i sing or talk while i'm doing it and give kisses on baby's head. Vacuuming is another activity baby loves.

As a WAHM, you could potentially be far more productive if your baby spent some of the day with you in a sling or wrap, just observing what you are doing.

Answer 9

Sit her on a high chair with small pieces of bread, crackers, finger foods. Or put her in a playpen with lots of teddy bears and play some baby einstein cd's . or get a walker, she may not be ready to move around but she will get entertained trying to.

good luck

Answer 10

try talking to her while you are working, or turn a kidsy cartoon on for her, my 6 month old loves to lay on a pilot and watch blues clues with my 4 year old daughter. you really can't expect too much more than 30 minutes at a time they get bored very easily...