He Doesn't Like Toys/ Road Trip

[Blueone]

My son is about 9 months and will rarely play with toys. He gets into everything else though and likes to play with electronics.

While I don't mind his exploration, there comes a point where I am beyond tired from pulling him away from the computer, the plugs, the heater vents, and the few things left out. I seriously can't leave any knick knacks out.

Is there anything I can do? I try to play with the toys with him but he crawls away, I try to distract him, but it doesn't work. Will he ever play with toys?

Also, we're going on a cross country road trip, any tips for entertaining him?

[kittykat2481]

Originally Posted by Blueone

My son is about 9 months and will rarely play with toys. He gets into everything else though and likes to play with electronics.

While I don't mind his exploration, there comes a point where I am beyond tired from pulling him away from the computer, the plugs, the heater vents, and the few things left out. I seriously can't leave any knick knacks out.

Is there anything I can do? I try to play with the toys with him but he crawls away, I try to distract him, but it doesn't work. Will he ever play with toys?

Also, we're going on a cross country road trip, any tips for entertaining him?

I saw this on new posts and jumped in. Try getting a basket and filling it with things that *aren't* toys: a wooden spoon, a remote with no batteries in it, some nesting measuring cups, an empty food container with some rice or beans in it (that he can't open)... get creative. When he starts to get bored, switch it up. Throw in a hair brush or a rolling pin. He is interested in these things because he sees you use them. Set him at the table with a little puddle of water in front of him (on the table or high chair tray) and give him a wet sponge or wet wash cloth. He'll squeeze it, suck on it, pound it on the table, and who knows what else, and you might get 5 minutes to get the dishwasher going.

As for road trips, I don't know... How long of a trip is it? When DS was about that age we tried to time a 2 hour trip during nap time and he slept most of the time. That's also the only time we've ever allowed a DVD player in the car. Hey, if you don't use them every day they can come in handy now and then. Babies love Elmo. I'm just sayin'...

[tzs]

we just did an 9 hour road trip. alot of the time she slept. a little of the time she was happy, and some of it one of us sat in the back with her. the "toy" that entertained the best was an empty crinkly wipes bag...and her toes.

[Blueone]

I love the idea of different things in a basket!! Thanks!

The road trip with breaks is 4 days. I'm moving from the East Coast to the West Coast to stay with family while my husband is deployed. My mom will be doing the driving and my car doesn't have a DVD player. I'm not willing to spend the money either.

I'll try the basket though for the trip.

[Peony]

A basket with lots of objects, food to feed him, and stopping almost every 1.5 hour. I just got back from a trip with my 11 month old, that is what got got us through it. We took turns sitting with him in the back, I would sit back when he was getting fussy and nurse him to sleep. 1.5 hours in the seat at a time was the max amount he could handle, we would have to stop even it was a quick break. By 3pm he was DONE with the car and we would have to take a longer break, like an hour before we could attempt to drive anymore. It was a much shorter trip then what you have planned, only one full day there and back but it still has left him with a hatred of the car seat now. He twists and screams anytime I try to put him in when before he didn't mind the car seat, I end up having to wrestle him into the seat by using both hands and one knee, I'm hoping this passes soon....

[candelaria80]

Sounds like my DD. She LOVES wires, cords, remote controls, cell phones etc. We have bought so many toys and she is just not that into them, she would much prefer a set of real keys to the plastic. We also gave her a dummy remote, but for some reason she know the difference between that and the real one! The key is for her we pretend like we are using them, then she wants them.

Anyway, we have tried to just let me play with objects that we feel are "safe" and just added them to the rest of her toys. She has an old cell phone, the remote and a wireless keyboard we had laying around. We put them in the dishwasher and set it to the sanitizing mode before giving them to her.

She hates the carseat so, I am not much help there. I have noticed that she can handle the car if she can snack a little (if someone is in the back with her), those organic puffs.
Good Luck!

[tzs]

for us longer stretches of driving (like 3 hours then stop to nurse, change, stretch) seemed to work better than many breaks. the longer stretches enabled her to fall asleep. in our case she tolerated just staying in the car better than being taken out only to be strapped back in (once she's in she's golden, it's the strapping that she seometimes dislikes.)

but yeah, sometimes it took someone in back and then she was a happy camper. i also had a bottle on hand for those moments where she went from fine to super duper cry hungry in seconds with no exit in sight.