We all know that having a baby is no easy task, especially if you are a work at home parent. If you are lucky enough to be able to work at home all day with your baby, you may find it difficult to think of things that will keep your child amused all day, the last thing you want to do is put them in front of the TV and leave them there. You want to give them things they can play with that will keep them engaged and build their cognitive skills, memory and capability straight from the off. Here are 7 things to do to keep your baby occupied all day while allowing you time to do some work.
Let Them Help You
If your child is awake, they are often interested in what you are doing, why not get them involved? What might seem like a menial task to you, may well fascinate your baby. Even if you are just cleaning up or putting on dinner, pop them in a location where they can see what you are doing so they feel like they’re involved.
Plan a Weekly Trip
It doesn’t need to be an over the top experience, but a weekly trip where you can both get out the house will keep you both interested and active. Why not take your baby to the park or the zoo? New situations will help with development and being outside and active can help you too.
Read
It may seem common sense, but read to your baby. You can do this as part of your own break from working. This can help stimulate language acquisition early on and can also act as a soother. Your baby doesn’t necessarily need to see pictures, just the reading alone can help stimulate learning and keep your child happy and content. You could also get away with a reading a book that you want to read, just involving your baby in this can often be enough to keep them interested and engaged with what is happening.
Sensory Time
You don’t have to leave your home to engage in sensory activities. You can purchase lights, soft pillows and soothing music and do it all in the comfort of your own home. Sensory time can help develop learning and acquisition and the new sensations will keep your baby busy for hours at a time, or until they are hungry or need a nap. This is the perfect opportunity to allow you to do your work.
A Baby Activity Table
A baby activity table is ideal if you want to be able to keep an eye on your child, but not have to supervise them at all times when they are using it. There are multiple different functions on an activity table, such as pianos, things to twist and pull. There are a plethora of different types on the market, some you can sit your baby in whilst others your baby will have to learn to balance to use. All will keep your baby occupied for hours whilst they make noise and learn what all the different buttons do. See more at babygadgetlab.
A Baby Gym
A baby gym is your go-to if your baby is still very new, you can lay your baby on their back on the mat, and they can play with the items that are dangling above them. Keep adding and taking away the toys that dangle to keep your baby amused and you might be able to sit down for a while or do your work!
Encourage Movement By Playing Movement Games
It can be really difficult to motivate some babies to move, especially if they are grumpy. TO encourage movement, place toys around them just out of reach. This will help get them thinking about moving and how they are going to do it. You could also incorporate tummy time into this, where you place baby on their tummy to help strengthen their neck and back. You will need to keep constant supervision of your baby whilst they’re on their stomach, as they may get stuck and become frustrated and tired. Encouraging movement can also help tune the fine motor skills that are needed to pick up items.
Final Thoughts
It may seem like a daunting task trying to come up with ideas to keep your newborn amused, especially when people are so quick to criticise anyone who uses screen time as a method of having 5 minutes to themselves. Don’t not use screen time as a measure of entertainment so you can have a quiet 5 minutes, but don’t automatically default to it. Our 7 methods of keeping your baby amused are simple and easy to do in your own home and will keep your baby amused for hours as well as developing those skills that they will need later on.
