https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 28 May 2026 07:40:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1140253 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:23:33 +0000 Pepper 1140253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mjane: Those are my exact thoughts! He smiles and interacts with his dad, so that can't be bad for his development, right? We FaceTime with him like 3 times a day, so I m right there with you. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1140236 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:19:05 +0000 mjane 1140236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pepper: I refuse to believe FaceTime is totally bad screen time! Maybe I'm just being willfully ignorant, but the people on the screen are talking to her and responding to her and vice versa! If definitely makes her more interested in the computer/iPad generally, which I'm not a fan of, but it can't be the same as TV/games. Right?! </p> <p>(We just moved abroad so I do a lot of it with family and friends. Can you tell I'm feeling a leetle anxious?) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1140201 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:07:07 +0000 Cherrybee 1140201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@heartonastring: my LO isn't interested in her black and white books but she loves her "baby sees" book, which is the same concept only is brightly coloured pictures of animals. Her favourite is the centrefold picture - it's a picture of chicks, of all things. Chicks in the centrefold! DH finds it hilarious! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1140200 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:07:06 +0000 Pepper 1140200@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He loves the fan, his play mat and his swing. We sing songs and I make him "dance" by moving his arms and legs (which he loves). We practice standing, and we have little conversations back and forth. He likes looking at books and magazines with me (as long as there are pictures). We go to the store and to visit people during the day, too. He also likes his toy winkle, Sophie the giraffe, Mortimer the moose and the musical seahorse thing. </p> <p>LO wants to watch TV SO badly. He cranes his neck to see it when I have him turned away. We FaceTime with daddy when he's at work... I guess that's probably bad "screen time" too but he loves it and so does DH. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1140181 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:02:45 +0000 mjane 1140181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.Badger: LOL. Seriously. I am loving the image of you reading the grisly murders in a cheerful children's entertainer voice!</p> <p>@Fronkinzankinsbride: @Mrsjets: I also just do housework (mostly cooking, washing dishes, and laundry... so damn much laundry) and narrate what I'm doing, and stop every so often to blow her a kiss or say hi, and sometimes I bring her something to show it to her (i.e. a wet sock, a carrot). She's happy to sit in her chair or lie on a blanket with a toy or two while I do that (used to be happy to do it in her bouncy seat before she got too big). As long as she's close enough to see me and I make contact every so often, she's good. I find that I can prolong her chill-ness if I play music BUT I have to sing along! Otherwise she is not. amused. The Beatles are excellent for this, because you inevitably know all the words. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1140044 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:27:21 +0000 Fronkinzankinsbride 1140044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I second the cleaning/cooking and explaining/teaching while you do your normal daily stuff. </p> <p>Also reading novels (classics, children's) aloud. Not just picture books. </p> <p>Singing and playing music with egg shakers, tambourines, harmonica etc. Something different every day.</p> <p>Several walks a day. Around the block, running errands, going to get coffee. Baby should stay warm enough if you baby wear. </p> <p>Sitting on the porch or looking out the window and naming what you see. I do "brown bear brown bear" but name animals that I see... "green lizard green lizard what do you see? I see a yellow butterfly looking at me..." sometimes using objects too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1140014 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:20:29 +0000 Ms.Badger 1140014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: From your description we have very similar babies. Right around 3 months he started playing with toys (well chewing on toys). His favorite is a big Eric Carle caterpillar. He also loves sounds so anything that makes interesting sounds is good for at least 10 minutes. Also playing with his legs, bicycling, etc.<br /> @lawbee11: I sometimes read him whatever I'm reading. I like detective novels so I read the murders in really upbeat voice. I assume that since he has no idea what it means I'm not doing any harm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1140006 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:18:44 +0000 looch 1140006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: from a video on you tube via the ipad! It has a giant red bus and two men in drag. It's hilarious, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1140005 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:18:34 +0000 Anagram 1140005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was just talking about this yesterday with some friends. Maybe I'm a bad mom, but I don't worry too much about entertaining her at this point, unless she's fussy. I try to get out if the house once a day and am planning to get a Bundleme for the stroller to continue doing that when it gets cold. So that takes a lot of our time. I put her in the play gym or crib to watch her mobile if I need to get dressed. And we do tummy time as much as she allows which isn't much. And then the day is over ! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1139998 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:15:57 +0000 heartonastring 1139998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, for those who say their LOs have no interest in books, have you tried black and white board books? For the longest time those were the only ones DD would pay any attention to....and she couldn't keep her eyes off them, loved them! Just a thought in case you want to add something else to your playtime arsenal :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1139989 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:13:05 +0000 MrsF 1139989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I definitely hear you! I forget how old your LO is, but if you're still on the yoga ball there are brighter days ahead - I promise! I was so scared to put that ball away, but so happy when it was finally time :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1139981 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:12:14 +0000 illumina 1139981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Favouriting this for later! Already getting to the stage where I have to think of things to do/talk about for a few hours each day!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1139946 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:03:48 +0000 lawbee11 1139946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do pretty much the same things as you. Activity mat, swing, bouncy seat. I take her to her room a lot and we "play" with toys (I basically dangle them over her and move them from side to side and she follows them with her eyes and sometimes smiles at them). I also read to her but she has no interest and usually just stares at the fan the whole time. I know it's good to talk to her but sometimes I don't know what to say so I will just read Hellobee threads out loud to her--yep, I am mother of the year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1139879 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:46:35 +0000 heartonastring 1139879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the morning when she gets up I feed her and then we cycle through a bunch of stuff:</p> <p>-activity mat<br /> - taggie blanket strewn with toys<br /> -we read books<br /> -we practice sitting up<br /> -I try to put her on her tummy and she invariably flips onto her back within about 10 seconds<br /> -we sing songs, culminating with her favourite, Wheels on the Bus<br /> -Jolly Jumper<br /> -we make faces at one another and I blow raspberries on her tummy<br /> -we sit on the front porch and watch the cars go by and I let her pick flowers out of our planters</p> <p>We don't do all of the above every morning, just a few things! </p> <p>Then she has a nap and when she wakes up I feed her again. After that I try to get out of the house. Sometimes we go grocery shopping, or to the mall or bookstore. I basically just make up outings. I almost always wear her when we go out, because she sees a lot more that way and it seems to tire her out for her next nap!</p> <p>Quite often, after her afternoon nap, we go for a walk through the neighbourhood or in the park. </p> <p>I totally find it challenging to keep coming up with activities. I can see how, over the course of my mat leave (one year), we're going to acquire a lot of toys just to try to keep things interesting!</p> <p>ETA: I fully admit to occasionally putting her in front of her Baby Beethoven DVD in the evening when DH and I are trying to clean up after dinner :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1139834 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:30:28 +0000 Cherrybee 1139834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsF: It's not as bad as it was! Now we've got her tummy issues sorted and I've worked out (well, Loveisstrange suggested) that I need to put her down for yet another nap after 45min-1hr of awake time, she's nowhere near as grumpy as she was. In fact, she has been quite cheerful in the mornings. She gets bored really easily though so my next challenge is working out what to do to entertain her!! </p> <p>@Foodnerd81: That's a good idea, I could put her in front of the window in her seat!! I felt awful letting the TV babysit!! </p> <p>@looch: Bubbles is a great idea! Aaw, how did he get a British accent for one verse?? What kind of accent does he have the rest of the time? Bless! </p> <p>@blackbird: I think rotating is a good idea. She gets bored with toys so quickly!! I had no idea this would happen!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1139820 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:27:49 +0000 blackbird 1139820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh yeah, E liked to just lay on a blanket outside! But i know it's getting to be cold in the UK :( </p> <p>Even now, we just go outside and she's like, "omg look at all the things!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1139774 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:18:32 +0000 Foodnerd81 1139774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsF: the damn yoga ball is such a blessing and a curse! Sometimes it's the only way to sooth her but I'm so sick of it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1139753 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:14:03 +0000 MrsF 1139753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This was the hardest time period for me. I would say, get out whenever you can! M being outside even if it's just laying on a blanket is a nice distraction. M was so colicky so we just bounced on a yoga ball all day long. Bleh. I second looking in mirrors and blowing bubbles (so cheap at the grocery store!). I used to sing to her all the time (still do!). I used to just walk her around the house and talk about everything we saw. I really thought I was going crazy! If anyone who you're comfortable with can come over and visit, let them! Most of all, it gets SO much better soon. Once they stay awake a little bit longer and stop crying so much I would definitely try to plan more thing out of the house. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1139735 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:11:05 +0000 Foodnerd81 1139735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We spend a lot of awake time eating. Otherwise she is just as entertained looking out the window as at the tv and I feel better about that- there are trees right outside and I think she likes the light and shadows coming in. I sing to her a lot- I like the glee station on pandora because it's usually songs I can sing along too. Last night she was cracking up as I danced to Macklemore. And we "talk" while I'm imitate whatever sounds she is making. She only tolerates her play mat for short periods. Oh and lots of walks. We just put a mobile over her crib and she will look at that sometimes too. </p> <p>But I still feel like the majority of our day is her eating or me trying to get her to sleep. I'm not worried about "teaching" her yet since I feel like the biggest thing is her hearing me talk to her a lot. I hope :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1139731 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:09:12 +0000 Mrsjets 1139731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At that age I took DS into the kitchen to watch me clean/cook/bake in his bouncy chair and would talk to him while I did it. Like if I was making pancakes I would talk to him like I was teaching him how. We also spent a lot of time outside (in the shade) doing yard work but he was born in May. I also had a mom and me group but it wasn't for me so another friend with a baby and I made a weekly date to take the kiddos out, although sometimes we did just go for a walk and stay in with them. Oh, and I found bathing him during the day was a nice way to spend some time as well as open up some evening time for DH and DS that wasn't scheduled for anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1139712 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:05:05 +0000 looch 1139712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bubbles, my son loved them<br /> I would prop him up in his boppy and he would "kick" a soft ball back to me<br /> I sang a lot, and kind of got him obsessed with the wheels on the bus. He now sings a particular refrain with a british accent (the daddies on the bus read their "papah", read their "papah"). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1139705 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:03:09 +0000 blackbird 1139705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>-Mobiles<br /> -Fans (her friend Mr. Fan was always on, lol)<br /> -Activity mats with toys that hang (I had two and rotated them)<br /> -Mirror in the crib (still popular at 6 months!)<br /> -Aquarium soother in the crib<br /> -Projection animals on the ceiling if it's dark (like a 5am wake up) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-to-entertain-an-infant-all-day#post-1139689 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 09:00:21 +0000 Cherrybee 1139689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bees! I just did the unthinkable!! I just popped LO in front of the TV while I ate lunch!! Lol. I don't even watch TV, I put it on FOR HER, hoping the movement and light would catch her attention - and it did! </p> <p>Anyway, my question is: what kind of things does/did your LO enjoy doing during the day? My LO takes 30 minute naps every 1 hour so I have several chunks of an hour in which I have to entertain her and hopefully teach her things in the process. She's coming up to three months. </p> <p>Here's what we currently do:</p> <p>- She used to like her activity gym but she seems to be bored with it now. I might retire it for a couple of weeks then bring it out again!</p> <p>- We do tummy time but she HATES it!! </p> <p>- We have wrist rattles and have a kick about on the mat. </p> <p>- We play pull up and get into the sitting position - then sing row, row, row your boat. </p> <p>- She sits in her bouncy chair and looks at some toys </p> <p>- We look at board books (she doesn't enjoy this yet) </p> <p>- We go on walks but its getting cold now!!</p> <p>I need more suggestions!! What does/did your LO enjoy? </p>