Keeping One Baby Occupied
Mamas, please weigh in!
I spend a lot of time on the floor with Christian. I’m not very fun, but I do. We have about seven hours during the day when he’s awake and A.J.’s at work. How much time can you really fill with stacking blocks, rolling balls, blowing bubbles, and even reading books?
Add the occasional outing and that still doesn’t add up to very much. I know he needs independent play time as well, which doesn’t last long (not surprising at this age), and he usually isn’t too fond of me doing necessary tasks like washing dishes or folding laundry.
No siblings means I’m his social life, and sometimes I think he’s bored.
So I’d just love to hear how you balance independent play and cooperative play, and I realize all babies’ temperaments are different, but what does/did your day look like for your baby?
I’m typing this post while Christian’s awake… which has only happened a handful of times since he’s been born… so I better end it here!
Ahhh, being the only source of entertainment. Been there. I think Q was well past the 18 month mark before independent play really sunk in with him. We spent a lot of time outside and at Mimi’s when he was younger. We still have our share of “bored days” when he’s just can’t quite grasp entertaining himself in ways that don’t include dumping his powder everywhere or smearing rash cream all over his room. That’s when we get out, if at all possible, and get a change of scenery. Even a drive in the car helps! Now that he has baby sister to occupy (or torture, depending on who you ask) I’ve noticed a huge change in his behavior. For the better! Except for the times I find Sprig wearing cereal bowls on her head, my constant need to say “Be nice to your sister!”, and plenty of interventions when he attempts to pull her out of her bouncy seat… it’s actually working out.
I don’t have any advice, but Christian’s facial expression cracks me up! I used to nanny a little girl one day a week – I did spend practically the whole day playing with her. I wish I could remember some of the things we did to fill up the time, but I’m drawing a blank . . .
Hi Anna, I really had two “onlys” so I can relate to your situation. I just remember including Ann in pretty much whatever I was doing – folding, cooking, whatever. Eventually, Christian will learn to “help” while you stay busy with your tasks. It’s hard when you feel like they “demand” all your attention. I wouldn’t feel like I have to give it to him 24/7. You and Ann adjusted and are doing quite well today 
He’ll be in a new stage before you know it!
1 With Hannah we would sit on our front porch for sometimes a whole hour and watch cars go by (pick a good busy time of day if you don’t get a lot of traffic on your street). I would name the colors of the cars as they would go by.
2 We would also go on walks almost everyday. We would either walk our route around the neighborhood, or just walk the mall.
3 Mommy and baby movie time with a baby einstein mozart was a good time too.
4 I would fold and sort laundry with Hannah on the floor. It would take at least twice as long, but we would play peek-a-boo and do it together.
5 Music/Dance time
6 Read board books. Teach Christian to turn the pages for you
Hope this helps!!
Based on your post and multiple comments, it seems to me the most effective and logical solution to your problem is to have more babies! 
I never was there! One of the perks to twins! Sounds like you’ve got some good ideas here, though!
I’m interested in these suggestions too! Great question!
Today, Noah & I spent 20 minutes under the dining room table (our cave) and played with one of the hippos from his Noah’s ark. I would set it on the lower bar of one of the chairs, he would knock it off and giggle & giggle!
Most days, I have an ipod playlist going in the background & we dance together whenever an upbeat song comes on – and Noah giggles some more which I love!
can’t help you here…Elijah has always been abnormally independent for his age, in terms of being able and willing to play by himself for long periods of time. which sounds like a blessing, and it is in a lot of ways–but it also is hard. he makes it too easy for me to ignore him and disengage. something I still struggle with after almost 3.5 years. a high-needs baby who wants mama’s attention 24/7 would be trying for sure–but from my perspective there is a different kind of blessing in that.
have you done much babywearing? at his age, you should be able to comfortably stick him on your back in a carrier like an Ergo and be able to get a LOT done in terms of laundry, dishes, housework–and could narrate to him what you’re doing. if he’s not used to being worn, you might have to start with very small periods of time and work up to longer stretches. but that could be a win-win…you get work done and aren’t so bored; he gets to be close to mama
I like Brenna’s train of thought.
And Amy’s suggestion of babywearing is helpful, too. With Christian’s build, that counts as a work-out as well. Hehe
I say include him as much as possible. If you’re cleaning the bathroom, give him a [clean] sponge & let him “wipe” the front of the tub. If you’re folding laundry, give him a few socks or the laundry basket & let that occupy him as long as possible. And instead of picking him up to go from the family room to the bedroom, tell him where you’re going and let him work his way there… of course, he’ll start crying half the time but maybe you could get down on hands-and-knees and peek around the corner of the hallway & turn it into a game.
Man- it’s been a LONG time since I had an only. I sold Ebay then, so I must’ve done *something* clever to keep him occupied while I listed…
So when’s Christian gonna have a lil’ bro?! 
Cora has actually always played well independently…our struggle has been sleep. She’s not good at napping. I usually just let her trash whatever she wants and clean up after her…that keeps her happy and busy:)
It sounds like you’re doing a great job! Just don’t let mommy guilt bring you down, the kind that says you need to be playing with him every second or else he’s being neglected or something! I will say that once he has a sibling, you will see these worries will become less as they can entertain each other and that is so nice, especially on days where getting out of the house is hard!:)
When my oldest was an only, I would make “play stations”… a blanket on the floor and toys on it that were not usually in that area of the house. For example, the blocks out of her room in our living room with music playing was a good time for a while. Or, a blanket on the kitchen floor with bowls and spoons. One of my friends got either desperate or crazy one time and dumped powdered sugar on her kitchen floor to simulate being at the beach and put sand toys in it. That is too much of a mess for me but I did admire the creativity! Even now, I am fond of throwing a large sheet over the kitchen table and making that a fort while I cook dinner. When worse comes to worse, I lay on the floor and pretend to sleep. Mine somehow, through the grace of our Lord, find this HIGHLY amusing and love to cover up Mommy and bring her stuffed animals and rub her back… all the good things in life. Have a wonderful, blessed day.
My days got so much better once I began a structured routine. She knows that when I read my Bible in the morning she can color. And if she doesn’t want to color she has to go play. It took her awhile to learn, but once she did she realized that it IS in fact “Mommy Time.” We then workout “together.” Afterwards, I shower with the door open and she plays on her own. We read together after lunch and then she has her nap. Repitition is amazing!
We have 3 girls (3 and under) so being entertain is not a problem here anymore, but I remember when having just our firstborn and needed to be her playmate all the time!!!
what I did is put a pack and play around where I would have spend most of my days and doing laundry, folding, cooking etc and talk to baby while she played with her toys alone, she just like being around me (she still does)