How do you keep a baby occupied all day

DS is 2 months old and I think the hardest thing right now is keeping him occupied during the day, finding things to do with him, etc..

DH is home with him 4 days a week and I work from home 1 day, so I am trying to find things for them to do because I know he is going nuts and it's only going to get worse now that the weather is changing.

Any advice &/or ideas?

Re: How do you keep a baby occupied all day

Awwwwe...I am sure you are already doing plenty with him! They are not really into toys at that point so it is hard to find things to do.

-Play music for him while he is in the swing or bouncer
-Put him on his playmat with the hanging toys
-Take walks in his stroller (with the cold weather you can go to the mall)
-Read him stories
-Have him touch different toys so he can experience different textures
-Sing to him

That's about all we used to do aside from lots of cuddling.

ETA: You can also try putting him in a baby carrier and doing things around the house. I think watching you folding some laundry is just as entertaining as anything else!

Message edited 11/30/2010 2:37:05 PM.

Re: How do you keep a baby occupied all day

i think anything you do is interesting for young babies. running errands, chores around the house, playing on an activity mat, singing songs to them, going to the store, going for a walk. I would switch positions and locations (even if just different rooms in your house) fairly frequently so that he gets a different perspective.

Re: How do you keep a baby occupied all day

For the first 3 months I only took walks and took DS to stores and stuff. After that age he was more interested in toys and GTGs. He slept A LOT (during the day) for the first 5 months I would say.

Re: How do you keep a baby occupied all day

I was bf at around 2m, so I spent a lot of time staring at the tv while ds gnawed at me day and night. But as soon as we swithced to formula, wow its like we were free. He was in the stroller(bassinet), all day, rain, shine, wind, it was late spring so we were lucky.

But I know we did a lot of other things, I coulndt remember I found this old post, but you can adapt it to 2m, instead of 4m

http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic.aspx?ID=562068&Highlight=play

Re: How do you keep a baby occupied all day

Thanks everyone!

I know it's a tough time since he is so young and it will get easier once he is able to do more.

Re: How do you keep a baby occupied all day

DD loves her activity mat and bouncy seat. i talk to her, take her for walks. She loves staring at herself in the mirror too.

Re: How do you keep a baby occupied all day

Nick Jr.
Swing
The play Mat
Sing and do pickaboo
showing toys that light up and make music.

MY DD just turned 2 months too, theres not much to do since she still sleeps most of the day and night

Re: How do you keep a baby occupied all day

I felt the same way last winter. I brought DS to the mall a lot - he LOVED to see the displays and clothes that hung above him in the stroller. I would just walk aimlessly for hours until I was too tired to do it anymore. I would also sit and stare out the large window of our house and watch the world go by. He loved it. I also went to the movies with him. There are theaters that play movies for moms with babies. Here's a link

In a month or two, your DC will be old enough to sit up with support and play in a whole new way. It'll make things MUCH more fun!