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LucyP
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| Posted: Oct 29 2007 at 8:39am | IP Logged
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Our daughter is 6 months old and I am desperate for ideas of what to do with her. Basically she likes to be held, is not keen on a sling, and grizzles on her back or front, her rocking seat or her bumbo or her bouncer.
I just don't know what to do with her as holding her all the time or moving her every 5 minutes is not possible.
What games can I play with her? Endlessly waving toys in her face gets old for both of us, and as she can't sit unaided and hates all the aids she can't watch her big brother play or join in with him. I don't want to resort to battery operated toys to distract her but it is getting that I can't see any other choice. I do sing and talk, tell her what I'm doing etc, and give her safe household things when I'm in the kitchen but she tends to drop these and start grumping again.
Please help!
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: Oct 29 2007 at 8:58am | IP Logged
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Well, she's not too young for peek-a-boo or for "beeping" her nose. (Adult noses "honk", btw.) You can start reading her some board books with lots of sound effects.
Maybe there are ways her big brother can join in with her. Maybe while she is spread on the floor he can get down with her to play with rattles and such. I don't know how old he is, but if you can find some of those big puffy cars (that she can't choke on) he would probably enjoy zooming them around in front of her face. This would be a good time to get her belly time in (very important to build neck and abdomen muscles), and you could prop her front arms and chest over a boppy pillow to help her see better.
I don't know if you can afford one of those floor mats where the rattles and mirrors dangle down. My first one liked that a little bit, and she was more clingy and needy than my second. And I know you don't want to go electronic, but we weren't above using the occasional video with our first little baby just to get 30 minutes of piece. We used some of the Baby Einsteins while she sat in her bouncer with the vibrations on. This is how I managed to take an occasional shower.
I wish you luck with this. Part of me says that you may need to let her cry it out a little bit because you really can't be expected to hold her every second of the day, especially when she won't make any concessions. But, then again, if she's anything like my first, sometimes trying to let her cry it out may make her angrier and harder to calm down later. And a word of warning, if she is already this ornery, you may have a "spirited" child on your hands. You might want to get prepared.
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MarieC
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| Posted: Oct 29 2007 at 9:54am | IP Logged
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Does she do any better in the sling when outside? If so, I'd take lots of walks outside with her in it just to get her used to it and then maybe she'd transition to it indoors as well. If she hates it outside, I guess this suggestion is pretty bad!  to you!
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organiclilac
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| Posted: Oct 29 2007 at 11:30am | IP Logged
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What positions have you tried wearing her in? Ds really liked the forward-facing position in the sling at that age (they kind of sit cross-legged). Or perhaps another sort of carrier would be better?
Ds also liked playing in water at that age - messy, but it would keep him entertained for forever. I would sit him on the middle of the kitchen floor with a dishpan with a few inches of water and towels EVERYWHERE and let him go to it.
Or you could pile all of your pillows on the floor and let her crawl around - another big hit here. Or make a tent with furniture and sheets. We really started reading a lot at that age too.
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Lisbet
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| Posted: Oct 29 2007 at 11:33am | IP Logged
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Have you tried carrying her on your back in a wrap?
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DominaCaeli
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| Posted: Oct 29 2007 at 11:38am | IP Logged
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My daughter sounds a lot like yours--she was very difficult to entertain during those not-yet-crawling months. She did like flipping through board books, and having me point out things on the pages. She also liked my dancing with her. I laid her on the floor and played a lot of "Wheels on the Bus," moving her arms and feet.
If she tends to drop toys often, do you have any that you can attach to her? We had a couple with velcro bracelets that were useful during that period.
Does she mind the high chair? My daughter didn't like the swing or bouncy seat, but she did like her high chair for short periods. I would seat her there during our mealtimes with a basket of objects by my side and keep handing her something "new" while I fed my son. I also let her eat a lot of those Gerber puffs--they're pretty choke-proof, and she liked the challenge of putting them in her own mouth.
Lots of walks, maybe? How does she feel about the stroller?
And a few thoughts on the sling issue: we went through a rocky slinging period when my daughter was 5-7 months old. She still wasn't steady enough to be in an upright position, but she was too big and wiggly to be comfortable in the cradle carry position. Once we got over that hump and her head was stable enough to be able to sit comfortably upright, she went back to loving the sling again. So you might try a different position with her, or you might wait it out a month or so and then try it again, once she has some neck strength. She's also new to the sling, and it does take some babies time to adjust to it. So you might keep at it.
I'll be praying for you and your new little one, Lucy!!
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mellyrose
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| Posted: Oct 29 2007 at 2:02pm | IP Logged
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Lydia is 6 months old today -- and my day consists of carrying her around. I keep telling myself that she'll continue to grow and before I know it she'll be crawling and walking and running. She naps during the day for maybe an hour or 2 every third day (but she sleeps a consistent 7-8 hours at night). I consider myself fortunate that she lets me sit down -- if DH or anyone else holds her, she wants them to stand up.
My boys do entertain her for brief periods of time. She recently figured out how to arch her body just right so she can flip out of her swing, so that's no longer an option.
I'm not helping much am I? Just know that you're not alone and this too will pass. She does let me carry her in the sling, but prefers facing out. If I can put her down for 10 minutes every few hours, I consider it a good day.
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doris
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| Posted: Oct 29 2007 at 6:40pm | IP Logged
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That sounds very wearing. It's still very early days (I need hardly say!) so maybe she will settle down soon.
My children have all been pretty high maintenance, though, I must say! This may sound funny, but I used to sit my eldest in a cardboard box with cushions all round because she wanted to sit up and wasn't able to -- so that box was perfect and I'd vary the toys inside.
Also -- anything that isn't a toy -- old cleaned out bottles, make up cases, little bags -- all went down very well. I've also heard the suggestion of making up a 'treasure box' with different fabrics, 'interesting' things to look at like a plug and chain, rocks -- obviously that would need close supervision!
Mine all loved to sit in the high chair and watch me working in the kitchen, for example. We also did a lot of walking (them in pushchair, me stoically pushing away!).
It will get better! Praying for you.
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happymama
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| Posted: Oct 29 2007 at 10:19pm | IP Logged
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Lots of cold teethers, too? Maybe she's grumpy because she's teething?
And I know you're "absolutely NOT supposed to use them," but all of my boys loved, loved, loved their walker at 7-8 months (and were all out of it and walking well by 9 months.)
"Wee sing for baby" CD to listen to?
Time spent outdoors sitting on a blanket?
Prayers for patience coming your way!!
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LucyP
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| Posted: Oct 30 2007 at 5:48pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for all the advice, ladies.
I am thinking of trying a wrap for back carries.
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Red Cardigan
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| Posted: Oct 30 2007 at 7:12pm | IP Logged
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HappyMama, my girls loved their walker too.
My s-i-l used something called the Exersaucer, which is sort of like a walker except that baby doesn't go anywhere, so it's a safer alternative.
Lucy, hope you find something that works! 
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Topic: Any ideas for Playing with a baby
