[Cluckyandhopeful]

Hi there,

My DD is 9 mo and has been a very easygoing baby since she was born. However, I do find it a little challenging keeping her entertained all day (she's currently swinging between 1 - 2 naps a day and they vary; they always have since she was born, I've never been too stringent on this).

She normally is happy to play on the floor for a bit with her toys, watch a bit of Giggle and Hoot, Playschool and Sesame Street (don't judge me, I've only just started letting her watch a bit of kiddy TV), we'll have a roll on the carpet to encourage her crawling (she's only rolling at this stage), read her a book but then I find I have to pick her up and take her for a walk or have her with me to do things here and there.

Sleep wise, she's a lot better this week, she's been having weeks and weeks of wake ups in the middle of the night - WIDE awake which has been frustrating. I'm putting this down to developmental changes or teething (no teeth here either!!!)

Would love to hear if this is 'normal' or if you can offer any advice. I might have to start walking her in the pram in the early arvo? Or put her down for more naps? But if I do that, she struggles to go to bed at 7pm and wants to keep partying.

[AntiBourgeoisie]

Your baby needs more naps. Unless she is having one 3-4 hour naps a day.

At this age she should be having 2-3 naps (with each no shorter than one hour, and totalling 3.5-4 hours).

The night waking is probably because she is sleep deprived. Sleep begets sleep in this age group. Just make sure her last nap ends no later than 4 pm if she is hard to get down at 7 pm.

[rosiebird]

- take her to a library and sit in the cushions reading
- go for a walk outside and point out different things on the way
- set up a little picnic outside on a sheet
- let her sit in a baby bath outside with a few cms of water and splash with bath toys and containers/cups
- let her explore a cupboard full of saucepans, pots and wooden utensils
- go to a park and swing on the swings with her, hold her and whoosh her down the slide etc
- set up a small clam shell with sand and let her go wild with cups, toys and spoons
- have a few soft balls to roll back and forth
- put on different types of music and dance or sing
- let her bang on a piano or keyboard
- get some a crunchy paper, bubble wrap and a few other materials and let her play with them
- show her family photo albums

As you can see, I spend a lot of hours playing on the floor with DD!

[harryhoo]

I felt a bit 'lost' with what to do with DS around this age too! I found this website which has a few good ideas on it. Much of them similar to PP's suggestions.

http://www.fun-kids-activities.com/nine-month-recipes.html

[misse10]

- take her to a library and sit in the cushions reading
- go for a walk outside and point out different things on the way
- set up a little picnic outside on a sheet
- let her sit in a baby bath outside with a few cms of water and splash with bath toys and containers/cups
- let her explore a cupboard full of saucepans, pots and wooden utensils
- go to a park and swing on the swings with her, hold her and whoosh her down the slide etc
- set up a small clam shell with sand and let her go wild with cups, toys and spoons
- have a few soft balls to roll back and forth
- put on different types of music and dance or sing
- let her bang on a piano or keyboard
- get some a crunchy paper, bubble wrap and a few other materials and let her play with them
- show her family photo albums

As you can see, I spend a lot of hours playing on the floor with DD!

I'd love to do these sorts of things with my 8mo baby but i feel stuck at home so he can get enough sleep (he sleeps best when in his cot) as there isn't much time between sleeps to get out plus feed lunch. And he just wants to stick everything in his mouth (sand, grass, paper, books whatever) so I've been sticking to "safe" (non-edible) toys. Am I being too strict??

[rosiebird]

My 13month old is a shocking sleeper who eats like a bird and has no routine but we do have a lot of fun together! I tend to sacrifice routine for activities and outings but it might not work as well for other people

[AntiBourgeoisie]

I'd love to do these sorts of things with my 8mo baby but i feel stuck at home so he can get enough sleep (he sleeps best when in his cot) as there isn't much time between sleeps to get out plus feed lunch. And he just wants to stick everything in his mouth (sand, grass, paper, books whatever) so I've been sticking to "safe" (non-edible) toys. Am I being too strict??

8-12 months is a hard age. They take so bloody long to eat their solids, they still sleep a lot, they aren't very mobile and everything goes in the mouth.::
You shouldn't sacrifice life for naps, but I also think naps are important. We tended to go out a few days a week and let then sleep well a couple days a week (to catch up). This was a good balance for us.
And by 12-15 months it's a whole different ball game. Walking, less in te mouth, more interactive, less sleep, quick about eating (and self feeds efficiently!). Life is easier at 12 months!

[rosiebird]

My DD slept well in the pram and car so I used to time travel around her naps and sit in the car with a book if she needed more sleep. We were out 3/7 days a week and she was at home 4/7 when I was at work.

[KRT]

I also think your baby might need a bit more sleep. It doesn't always work out, but if he's had a good morning nap I might let the afternoon one slide a little.

However, on the dirt/grass/books etc, I just don't worry too much. DS loves to explore and one of the main ways he does this is with his mouth. I would of course stop him if he did any more than taste the dirt and start eating handfuls, but if he decided to chew on a stick for a bit, well, that's fine. One of the teachers at his daycare once commented how little sand he ate compared to the rest of the kids - so I think that sort of thing is fine and normal.

As for books, our mothers group had a talk from one of our local librarians who specifically said not to worry about babies eating library books - they just want the babies to develop a love of books, and for some that might happen through chewing first

[Cluckyandhopeful]

Thanks for the ideas and yes - agreed that my DD needs more naps. You try telling her that!

Some days I have to sacrifice my day to ensure she gets enough naps but at the end of the day, life goes on and I still need to go to the supermarket/bank/doctor etc so this is a constant decision making process that I have struggled with ever since she was born. I feel guilty and then guilty for feeling guilty!

Perhaps when she gets older she'll be easier to manage with the one nap...when did you drop your naps with your little ones down to just the one out of curiosity?