What do you DO all day?

[Casey44]

DD is 6 months getting to the age where she is awake more during the day and we actually have like 1 to 2 hour time slots throughout the day to play or do whatever we want. I try to get most of my chores done while she's napping so I can spend time with her when she's awake. We play on her play gym, get on our bed and roll around and lift her up and down etc. But towards the end of each day I'm feeling a little bored with these things. Hopefully that doesn't sound bad, but day after day of this I've found I need a little more stimulation or something that interests me a little more! Even just one outing a day is perfect... but it's SO hot there's just not much we can do besides go to the mall or run "errands." Which just makes me spend money I don't need to be spending and gets a little boring after a while.

I would really like to do some type of volunteer work, but I would need to take her with me- does anyone have any ideas for volunteering... or just ideas for things to do during the day that would get us out a little more? Preferably things that don't cost money!

I would love to hear any and all ideas!

[RiverandJulie]

I agree with the getting bored thing, so dont feel bad. Mine is 6 months too and I love being outside, but the weather the past couple of weeks has me worried about being out with him for too long. As much as I love the new giggles nad smiles and playfulness, it gets boring day after day, week after week.

Check out a baby gym or mommy and me yoga, or find a mom's club or parenting group in your area. Go to meetup.com or yahoo groups to find one. At least you will have other adults to talk to while you roll around with the baby.

I have also found that mine LOVES the pool. Our local pool is pretty inexpensive.
I would love to hear other ideas too

[Xavismom]

I hear ya!! Here are some of the things we do so I dont get bored just sitting in the house!

We go to the library once a week. Other days, if its super hot, sometimes we will just drive to a store or mall and walk around, just to get out of the house. I think DS gets as bored as I do sometimes. We bought a kiddie pool that is big enough for me to fit in to, and thats been pretty fun. I put him in a sling and go out and water the garden, he gets a kick out of the hose. We go out to lunch if he is in a good mood (meaning he is in a good enough mood to sit through me eating lunch!!) I try to go somewhere that I can order something that is BLW friendly, so he can have something to gum while I eat. We go to a nearby park and watch ducks.

I really wish I had a playgroup, I need to get on the tribes forum soon. I also really want to do the mommy/baby swim class that a local pool is offering, but my DH FREAKED OUT over putting DS in chlorinated water

[ann_of_loxley]

I always aimed/aim for at least one outting a day. Even if that is just to go to the post office or to get some food! Though usually we do library, a baby/toddler group, swimming, home ed group, a few friends houses (where we are over for a meal), having friends over, etc. One thing a day makes the day go by more quickly! Most importantly, I just need company!

I dont think we have to be our childs entertainer - and I don't think its good for them if we are. I live life, cleaning toilets and all, with my children awake or asleep!

[marinak1977]

I found that DS actually likes watching me do chores - or I wear him while vacuuming, washing dishes, etc. Tonight we're decluttering, so he gets to be on a play mat next to me as "we" shred old paperwork. We also go for walks, and to have lunch with friends frequently. Now he's in daycare for about 6 hours a day, and I have to do chores when we're both home so I try to maximize our time together by involving him in as many things as possible.

[Snapdragon]

I hear you, OP! Wouldn't it be great if our culture were more baby friendly and most towns actually had vibrant places that moms could go in the day to hang out with other moms and babies? My town is pretty small and dull so I blame that for lack of things to do. But I wonder if maybe it isn't more common than I think- moms with babies having to figure out how to get the stimulation we need.

[CalaRei]

I totally get the feeling that outings right now just end in me spending money to go shopping or whatever. Plus, I don't want to get into a habit that malls and stores are cool places to hang around - I don't like the idea of centering entertainment around consuming, if that makes sense? One of our local malls has an indoor play area, though, so that's something for when they're a bit older.

Man, has it been hot, though!

It's a tough situation, I guess. I just went to the library with both of them for the first time last week, and I think I'll try to start doing that once a week as a routine. I also did a "free try it" session of a music together class, which was fun, but probably not something I'll sign up for for a few more months, yet.

I *might* shell out money to sign up for a yoga class for all of us.

[Knitting Mama]

Definitely look for storytime in your area! Also check your tribal thread here on MDC and see if there's a playgroup, or check out other sites for other playgroups, like www.diaperswappers.com if you cloth diaper, www.thebabywearer.com if you babywear, etc.

[oolongtea]

I don't know if this is possible where you are, but around 4pm when it's shady I always take LO to a playground... at 6 months old he was fine in a baby swing as long as I wedged my purse or the sling behind him to fill out the seat.

If you have museums by you, that can be good... they always have free admission times at least once a month. My LO also always liked the aquarium, from as young as four months. We also go to pet stores -- poor man's zoo. At that age I'd also sometimes do naps in the car and drive to see my mother who was an hour away.

[Friendlee]

I'm in the same boat...and I know a lot of mother's get the "Now What?" Syndrome around 4:00 pm, trying to entertain and desperately trying to fill the time until bedtime.

I vote for free library classes! Although, the only one open to babies around here is right during dd's naptime so we've only been once. (Why do they do that?!?!). It is WAY too miserably hot to do anything outside, really. The park or the zoo would be great if the weather was tolerable, but it's never worth it in the summer where we live. So we've done a few Target trips, just for the heck of it. But we always run into the problem where she falls asleep for a catnap for 20 minutes on the way home and then won't nap. Ugh! I feel like it's even too hot to sling her while watering the garden. We just drip with sweat. I've resorted to having her watch her Baby Einstein sign language DVD and a bath just for soaking and splashing. It's SO wonderful when DH finally gets home and she can look at a new face and giggles abound!

I will be keeping up with this post, hoping to hear some good ideas that work in a boring town with no meetup groups listed.

[Lauren31]

She loves her jumperoo so I put her in there after nap times. I sit there and interact with her or do some chores around her and we just watch each other and "talk" to each other. haha I always thought of them as parent neglecter toys but she is like in LOVE with this thing, it's funny bc she will jump and jump and then look at me and make sure I am watching her and then she cracks into this HUGE smile and laughs and laughs. It's quite funny. Besides that I take her to the Library or the post office, but they do not have story time for babies...sometimes I take her to visit daddy at work... or we might walk to the recycling center or the drugstore. We take the dog for a walk in the woods or visit the neighbor and hang at her house to just get a change of scenery. Sometimes I go up to her abandoned nursery and organize her baby clothes and do yoga with her. I think it is more us as mothers putting this pressure on ourselves. I think our babies would be just fine chilling out a bit and hanging with us during the day.

[EzzysMom]

I volunteered at a local kids thrift shop when DD was that age. It was a great age to strap her to me and she loved all the people talking to her and sights and sounds. I also recommend libraries for storytime and singalongs. A little splash pool can be fun and cool too either in your yard or out in public somewhere. Take her to museums or places you'd enjoy, so long as you're flexible with her needs you will get some refreshment!

[Kmama2]

I with ya. When my youngest was a baby I got super bored. Now I have a 3 year old and a baby and Im still bored. There is just not alot of stumulation, adult conversation when you are with kids!
I have a kiddie pool and the baby likes that. We go out to the deck and mess around with toys and the pool and we also have a sand and water table. We put one of those EZ UP tents over the deck so its shady and we can hang out there.
We joined our churches moms group that has a playdate once a month. We go to the park ( its mostly shady), library. I joined a play group to meet some other moms. There are always LLL meethings. I want to join a baby wearing or cloth diapering group.
We have a swing set so when its in the shade we swing.... go for walks ( and sweat to death)
We also rotate rooms of the house... play in the living room, play room, kids bed rooms, laundry room etc. Keep it interesting in a 1000 sq foot house.
Don't feel like you have to entertain the baby all day. Its good for them to see that life is sometimes boring and has down times.
hmmm what else... we read.
Sometimes we make cookies ( baby in a carrier)
Or Ill stick him in his feeding seat with some cheerios to practice his pincer grasp while I make dinner ( usually buys me at least 15 min)
baths kill some time if we are really bored.
Its hard. I would go places but then I spend money so I avoid Target the mall etc except for in the winter when I am really nuts and stir crazy
letting baby loose in the kitchen cabinents is fun too.... tupperware, silverware etc.
When hubby gets home we all cheer!!!
Being on your own from 730 am to 530 pm is a LONG DAY.