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Stay at Home Moms
mom2be:)2008
member
What do you do all day with dc?
mom2be:)2008
member
Hi There 
I've recently joined the ranks of SAHM, well part time anyway. I am still working 3-4 days a week, but I'm home all day, because I work eves and nights.
Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what to do all day with my 11 month old.
I'm doing the basics obviously, feeding,diapering,reading books, playing, etc. Cleaning up the house here and there, but it stays pretty clean now that I am picking up every day. We usually take a walk every day to go feed the ducks at the pond in our sub. But I am not sure what to do with the other 4-5 hours. What kinds of activites can I be doing with dd to keep her busy? She doesn't walk, she's just learning to crawl. We're working on chunkier solid foods, so I've been trying to fill up time thinking of and making new things for her to try.
Sorry, I know this is a dumb question, but I just can't figure out what else to do all day.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: What do you do all day with dc?
Oops I meant the bumP not the bumB
I let the baby (13 months) play and explore the baby-proofed house while his big brother (4) plays independently. I don't even try to keep either of them actively engaged all day. Not only would it drive me nuts, but I think it's good for kids to be able to entertain themselves. I'm not saying I never play with them, but the majority of their play time is independent. KWIM?
We take walks when the weather is nice, and the boys like to "help" with the laundry. Occasional dance parties are fun, too. I just close the blinds so nobody can see me making an arse of myself! My 4-year-old busts the funniest dance moves while the baby bobs up and down.
between each nap:
- we read at least 2 books
- she plays on one of her activity mats for at least 10 mins with at least 3 of tummy time
- we "wrestle" on the bed. This is me having her sit or roll over or stand but all in fun
- we go outside and sit in the yard chair and watch the dogs play for about 3-5 min
every day:
- we go out somewhere to walk around. The drive is at least 7 minutes one way - and I am trying to lengthen the distances to get her more used to them. I have one of the few babies who DOES NOT sooth in the car.
- she sits in a booster chair or propped up in pillows while I do one of my daily chores.
once a week:
- at least once a week we do a playdate with 3 other moms and their babies.
- shortly, she will be going to a church run Mommy's Day Out program. This is to help with her socialization without me. And to allow me to get some of the heavy duty housework done. She is a light sleeper and vacuuming is neigh on impossible.
It sounds like I am really structured, but its not. I fell into these habits by following what makes HER happy on top of those things that need to be done, like tummy time or getting her used to car rides.
My DD learned to walk at 11 mos, so we got her a water table. We used it at least every day and it was a nice way for her to have fun and me to at least get outside. We'd take a lot of walks, too, and just let her toddle around and pick stuff up.
I know how hard it is to fill the hours. The older she gets, the easier it'll be.
Thank you all
I was really nervous about posting this because I didn't want anyone to get offended when I said I didn't have enough to do, I know that being a SAHM is a HUGE job, but it's also a 24/7 job and with at least 11 of those being awake hours for me, I need to find something to do with her.
There are a hundred big projects I'd love to get done around the house, like cleaning the garage or the basement or something like that, but those are not chores that fall into the take care of a baby and get this done category! With her being to young to do alot of things, it's hard for me to find things to engage her in, since she's not old enough to be engaged in much
To the mom that said "I don't spend the whole day trying to engage them" or something along those lines, I'm glad you said that, because sometimes I feel guilty if I'm just typing away or reading blogs or something, and dd is playing on her own, but I just can't play in babyland all day...it's just not that exciting
DD is pretty fussy if I don't hold her or sit right next to her, so that makes it challenging for me to just sit and read or something, so unfortunantly I end up watching alot of tv or something, which she is watching with me (uh oh!) LOL.
We take a loooong walk every afternoon. If it's raining, we'll drive somewhere indoors to hang out (supermarket, library, Gymboree free play time). Between eating and walking, her afternoon is filled up until nap time. And I burn some calories!
In the morning, I generally try to have one fun play activity that we do together. I get ideas from books in the library mostly. Like the previous posters, I try to give her free play time, too. She seems to go through phases of exploring things. Right now it's books -- paging through her books over and over and over. It's really best for my sanity if I let her have at it alone!
I know what you mean. When I only had one child and he was a baby... I actually got a little bored. Over time though, they start walking and talking (and making bigger messes) and you'll start finding your day getting busier and busier. Then they'll start being able to do more activities and stuff and your day will quickly fill up.
There's a thread on P&CE that caught my eye (something about mothers hiding behind their children on Facebook). The article is kind of far-fetched, but I agree with some of it, like this exerpt:
Our parents, I can?t help thinking, would never have tolerated the squeaky sneakers, or conversations revolving entirely around children. They loved us as much as we love our children, but they had their own lives, as I remember it, and we played around the margins. They did not plan weekend days solely around children?s concerts and art lessons and piano lessons and birthday parties. Why, many of us wonder, don?t our children play on their own? Why do they lack the inner resources that we seem to remember, dimly, from our own childhoods? The answer seems clear: because with all good intentions we have over-devoted ourselves to our children?s education and entertainment and general formation. Because we have chipped away at the idea of independent adult life, of letting children dream up a place for themselves, in their rooms, on the carpets, in our gardens, on their own.
DS has always been a kid happier outside of the house than inside, so we tend to be out all day. At that age we had some playgroups we went to, would go to the park and swing/play in the sandbox a lot, ran a lot of errands (the kid loves the grocery store), had a few classes (Music Together, etc.), and did outings like the Children's Museum, Public Gardens, etc.
I try to have an outing every day that I'm home. It's not always somewhere exciting - like the grocery store. But I know that DD is really not up for more than 2 stops on any trip (unless the third stop is a park!), so I try to space things out. Storytime at the library. Playgroup on Thursdays (which might be a park, chik-fil-a trip, or another library storytime). Target. Grocery Store. A different park.
Now that it's getting warm, you can play outside in the yard with the waterhose. Fill a smallish rubbermaid bin with water - one that's small enough she can basically just sit there with her feet in front of her - get out some plastic cups and just splash around. The bin is much easier for us than the plastic baby pool. I thought she'd be too big for it this summer, but she still loves it.
And I agree, if she's happy playing at your feet, there's nothing wrong with that!
What an EXCELLENT quote, it definitely applies to so many of us!!!
Call me lazy or unengaging but I certainly DO NOT spend every day (and never have!) entertaining Emily. At a very young age, she was put in a "rotation" from play mat to swing, to door jumper, to bumbo chair, to vibrating chair, to exersaucer, to pack 'n play to playmat to my bed so that I could move from room to room, doing chores, get in a shower, eat, make phone calls, watch TV and be online to make friends and get support. She seemed happy and I was happy and I think because of all this "independent" play time she received from a very early age, it's just sort of who she is now at almost 3 years old. She has her moments, of course, but she's so content to play, learn and explore on her own.
You are a GREAT mother, you obviously care about her well-being and taking time for yourself a few minutes here and there throughout the day is not an example of the contrary!
eclaire 9.10.06 diggy 6.2.11