Keeping a 5 month year old entertained

Zola.

barbiedoll wrote: »

It’s probably not so much boredom as separation anxiety. Babies like to be near a human at all times at this age, it’s probably an evolutionary thing, they’re safer in your arms as opposed to being left alone for a predator to get them!

My son was exactly the same, I have a photo of him in his bouncy chair, crying because he thought he was going to be left alone in it. I found that he was much better if I just carted him around the house with me while I was doing stuff, as long as he could see me, he was ok. The kitchen seemed to be his favourite place, he liked watching the washing machine, and he grew very attached to my plastic pasta spoon, so much so that he used to take it out when we went shopping. (I still have it, you can just about see the marks from where he chewed it while teething!)

I admire your reluctance use screens as a distraction but videos of goldfish swimming, or birds at a bird table, can be very interesting to a baby (They’re designed to amuse cats, but my friend’s baby absolutely loves them!) I also used to plonk my kid in front of the news on tv if I desperately needed 5 mins for a shower or bathroom break, at least you can tell yourself that they’re learning something.

No, you can’t “spoil” a baby at this age. He needs reassurance that you are nearby and that you are attentive to his needs. That doesn’t mean buying endless toys or expensive gadgets. It means listening to him and learning his language, he’s talking to you now, so you just have to listen. I know it is exhausting but this time goes so fast, you’ll blink and suddenly he’ll be all grown up!

Of course, you can’t be on hand to amuse him 24/7. As others have said, he needs to slowly learn to amuse himself. And he will....don’t worry! Just include him in your everyday activities, when you eat, when you’re just sitting and having a conversation, when you’re doing the washing-up. He’s part of the family, he’ll get to know the routines and he’ll soon realise that you aren’t going to abandon him. It does get easier I promise. (Until he starts walking and talking. Then all hell breaks loose haha!)

Lovely post thanks :beer::cool:

z1a

What's a 5 month year old?

Abbafan1972

What do you mean by 5 month year old?

FreddieFrugal

Oh we've been very lucky with our second son. He's just turned 6 months now.

Like all babies he wants a change of position, location and/or activity regularly.

But he's quite happy to be sat in his bouncer seat while I wash the pots, or start doing cooking. So long as I talk to him while I'm doing it.

When he was younger he was an absolute Saint - his older brother just over two starting to become more of a handful - he'd sit or lie down patiently for ages while we were sorting things out.

But it's perfectly normal (and encouraging) for children to want interaction and engagement. You're doing the right thing.