Entertaining babies?

[ticklepickle]

My little boy is 10 weeks today, and the last couple of days he seems to need to be entertained constantly whlist he's awake, plus he's gone from being an angel sleeper to not sleeping too well.

Does anyone have any advice as to how I can entertain him yet still get things done? He's only happy when he's on my knee 'practising' standing up and having a good look around. He's ok when we're out in the pram but I need to do things at home plus get a shower! He has a great playmat but doesn't like being on there on his own as he seems to get bored quickly, but he's fine if me or OH are there showing him things and talking to him...

I don't want to sound like I don't want to play with him - that's so not the case, but I do need to tidy up etc...

[twirlygirly]

Do you have a bouncy seat or something that he could sit in and watch you to the housework? That was he can see you and you can talk to him. What about Baby Einstein DVD? I've heard some babies really love them. The jury is still out in this house, but it might be worth a try.

HTH,

TG

[littlesheep]

Get a sling and carry him whilst you are doing your chores? I got mine from www.littlepossums.co.uk (http://www.littlepossums.co.uk) which has lots of fab advice on how to choose one!

[Stephi103]

Either a sling or a bouncy chair with things attached to it. Take him in the bath room with you whilst tou have a shower, he can sit in there and watch. Use to to dinner like that!

[Opprobrium]

A sling or carrier for chores definitely! I would never have got anything done without our sling!

Also we had a musical vibrating, flashy lights bouncer chair thingy that I'd take into the bathroom while I have a shower.

For cooking time I'd put a Baby Einstein on.

[ticklepickle]

Thanks all - I am thinking of a sling or baby carrier but just have NO idea which to choose as there are so many out there and have no friends with one so I can try.

Will have a look at the little possums website - thankyou! :grin:

[nickimacrae]

God, I cringe posting on threads like this cause I feel like I'm touting for business :oops:, but I really think a sling could help (from any sling seller, not just me! :lol:). I've never 'entertained' my kids per-se, they just hang out (literally) with me until they get to the stage where they can entertain themselves. Its amazing how facinating dish water going down the drain can be, or swishing leaves on trees if you're hanging washing! When DS1 was an older baby I used to do voluntary work serving in a gift shop with him on my back and he would gabble at customers or play hidey-boo with them :lurve:.

Listen, I'm always happy to offer fellow Damsels sling choosing advice, so if I can help then just ask away! :smile:

[Dr Spouse]

I'm not a parent but I've seen slings help parents I've known.

If you don't want to spend much (sorry nicki!) just get a piece of plain fabric - even an old sheet or sarong - it goes over one arm, under the other, and round the baby's bum/back/one side of the head if he can't hold it up yet.

[nickimacrae]

I'm not a parent but I've seen slings help parents I've known.

If you don't want to spend much (sorry nicki!) just get a piece of plain fabric - even an old sheet or sarong - it goes over one arm, under the other, and round the baby's bum/back/one side of the head if he can't hold it up yet.

No offence taken in the slightest Katiea :smile:. I actually give out resources for making slings in the workshops I do. :thumb: I'm always trying to encourage folk to give making thier own a go, but most people do revert to buying as it's a bit of a no-brainer - you know the product you're buying has been safety tested, if the sling sellers worth their salt then it should be comfy to use and you've always got the seller to go back to for help and advice. There's always the secondhand sling market if you know what you're looking for and don't mind trawling ads in search of it.

I've used sarongs and things in the past. I did just want to add a few geek things though if anyones thinking of giving this a try...

Basically what Katieas describing is making a simple sling like a Mexican rebozo. If you're interested in this or the whole cultural thing, have a look at http://www.rebozoway.org/. Its a bit like a ring sling without rings. When tying any sort of sling (home fashioned or bought) you do have to be careful about what knot you use - ideally this should be a reef knot liike this...
http://www.realknots.com/p/k/breef.gif
...for safety. If you want to make your rebozo adjustable then you can use a slip knot - this is safe, but allows you to slide the fabric through the knot and therefore adjust the size of the 'pouch' you have formed and also taylor it's shape to ffit snugly around baby. You need to be careful with fabric choice / the sort of shawl you're using - obviously like any sling check it carefully for flaws / weak points / etc that could open up into rips with the weight of a child straining them. Also some fabrics are just more comfortable to wear than others, but thats a whoooooole another chapter :wink: :lol:

[Chell]

I never had a sling. I used to pop DS/DD in their bouncer chair and move them from room to room as I did jobs.

They used to like looking out the window if the trees were blowing in the window or if there was birds in the garden.