Baby Entertainment Ideas

Cressy

As a retired librarian I would say find out what’s on in your local library for children on the day you look after him. There are often rhyme times, baby bounce sessions ( usually aimed at one year olds and under. Even at that age he will enjoy story time. These sessions are usually very relaxed and free! And if there’s nothing on that day, a trip to the library where you can read books together is a lovely thing to do. And you can follow that with a trip to a cafe for coffee and juice.

Ah, that's perfect, thank you!

As a retired librarian I would say find out what’s on in your local library for children on the day you look after him. There are often rhyme times, baby bounce sessions ( usually aimed at one year olds and under. Even at that age he will enjoy story time. These sessions are usually very relaxed and free! And if there’s nothing on that day, a trip to the library where you can read books together is a lovely thing to do. And you can follow that with a trip to a cafe for coffee and juice.

rubysong

Enjoy your time with the baby. I went one day a week to look after mine from 8 months. I used to take a basket of odds and ends they could explore. Just household things, which were clean and safe. When they got a bit older I took thin chopping boards in different colours and we went through the toy box putting all the green toys on the green board, blue on blue etc. They didn't need language to understand this game. Playdough is easy to make with recipe found on line and we spent hours with that and a selection of cutters/rolling pins etc. Trips to the park were fun too.

Perfect! Thank you! 😊

CoolCoco

6 month old will probably have 2 naps a day at least, so factor that in. Get out and about at least once in the day. As others have said, why don’t you check out the baby classes nearby, there are a lot about - rhyme time, sensory, baby yoga etc that could give your day a focus, get a few a baby toys from the charity shop to bring out and pop him on his tummy on a blanket to explore them. CBeebies has a tv programme called Baby Club which has a nursery rhyme and story and gives ideas of activities with little ones.

Good ideas, thank you! 😊

annodomini

You can't be entertaining him all the time. His mum will tell you the daily routine he follows and he will certainly have at least one sleep each day. My DGGD has been an avid people watcher from an early age, so a visit to a park and coffee shop will fill some of the time. Above all, make sure you talk to him and point out anything of interest - ducks on the pond. Play peek-a-boo games and clap hands which he will soon pick up. If he has a baby chair, he might well just enjoy watching you working in the kitchen and listen to you talking and listening to music. Treat him as a companion and within a year, he will be 'helping' you to cut out pastry shapes.

Perfect! Thank you!

Witzend

I used to do a lot of singing or nursery rhymes with Gdcs when they were babies. They did seem to enjoy it! Plus, as older babies/toddlers, ‘This little piggy went to market’ on their toes always went down well, ditto ‘Round and round the garden, like a teddy bear….’ on their hand.

But just a walk in the pushchair or pram to anywhere with stuff going on - cars, buses, people, dogs, going round the supermarket…. As someone once put it, all this is very interesting to a baby or very young child, to whom so much is new. Anything like a horse, a rabbit or ducks on the pond was especially interesting.

From around 8 months with all of them, they also loved the ‘baby’ swings in the park.

If you have a local library that does ‘rhyme time’ for very little ones, that’s usually a hit, too.

Thank you for these lovely ideas 😊

M0nica

Use things you have at home for play. Saucepans, wooden spoons, plastic boxes.

Take him swimming, once he reaches aabout a year. Both mine were swimming confidently by the time they were 2, when i sgned them up for classes. Many leisure centres also have baby and carer water play classes from about 6 months.

Really good ideas! Thank you! 😊

Imarocker

Water play, finger painting, first step jigsaws (charity shops are good for this) and loads of books (charity shops again). We used to make fairy cakes from packet mixes when they were little. To confirm, my mother took my DD to a mother and baby group daily for 18 months. Sign up for something like Monkey Music once a week?

Great ideas! Thank you

Sago

At 5 months it’s all about fresh air and food!
There will me mother and baby groups and baby sensory is very good.

Thank you! 😊

BladeAnnie

Do you have a library close by? Even small libraries have a children's area with toys, and may even have baby and toddler story sessions on your day. You can then take a book or two home to share - never too early to start a love of books and reading. My 4 year old granddaughter has loved books from an early age and she really enjoys me taking her to the library 📚

Really good idea! I love reading!

Knitandnatter

Congratulations on becoming a grandmother!
It would be advantageous to have some suitable toys to keep at your home, that would avoid transporting those along with baby every week. Also have a supply of his nappies, baby cream etc, the same as this mum uses at home, just in case mum forgets to bring them along.

Now for the fun bit .........

*Weather permitting how about a walk to the park to see the ducks (assuming you're near one)
*Consider a picnic, particularly as he gets older
*Could you taking him to a baby swim class?
*How about a local 'Mother' & Baby play group - doesn't matter that you're his nanny

I am sure other GNetters will add more suggestions.

Wow! Really good ideas, thank you. 😊

Visgir1

I know people think this is a No No but when all else fails it's raining and you feel rubbish.
YouTube.. Hey Bear designed for small babies /tots it's music and colours absolutely calm and delightful, they love it, it's short bites

Thank you 😊

Marydoll

We used to go out a walk with the pram, culminating in coffee at a local cafe. It was a great social event, because we bumped into other grandparents, whose children had been at school with ours. I loved those days and our bond with out DGD has just got stronger and stronger.

Enjoy!

Thank you, that's a good idea!

Enjoy your time with the baby. I went one day a week to look after mine from 8 months. I used to take a basket of odds and ends they could explore. Just household things, which were clean and safe. When they got a bit older I took thin chopping boards in different colours and we went through the toy box putting all the green toys on the green board, blue on blue etc. They didn't need language to understand this game. Playdough is easy to make with recipe found on line and we spent hours with that and a selection of cutters/rolling pins etc. Trips to the park were fun too.

Lizzybing

Good idea ! Thank you

Hope you can get up from the floor easily

I'm an older Gran and never looked that dignified when we all sang and did the actions to Ring a Ring a Roses! Atishoo, we all fall down 😁

6 month old will probably have 2 naps a day at least, so factor that in. Get out and about at least once in the day. As others have said, why don’t you check out the baby classes nearby, there are a lot about - rhyme time, sensory, baby yoga etc that could give your day a focus, get a few a baby toys from the charity shop to bring out and pop him on his tummy on a blanket to explore them. CBeebies has a tv programme called Baby Club which has a nursery rhyme and story and gives ideas of activities with little ones.

Good idea ! Thank you

Some good suggestions for now; the summer is coming so you'll be able to go out for walks as well as play at home. He'll still be needing a day-time nap presumably; we were lent a very good cot and I bought a new mattress for it.

You might find a baby and toddler music and movement group nearby. I used to go with DGD and it was great fun.

Enjoy yourselves, they grow up so quickly.

You can't be entertaining him all the time. His mum will tell you the daily routine he follows and he will certainly have at least one sleep each day. My DGGD has been an avid people watcher from an early age, so a visit to a park and coffee shop will fill some of the time. Above all, make sure you talk to him and point out anything of interest - ducks on the pond. Play peek-a-boo games and clap hands which he will soon pick up. If he has a baby chair, he might well just enjoy watching you working in the kitchen and listen to you talking and listening to music. Treat him as a companion and within a year, he will be 'helping' you to cut out pastry shapes.

I know people think this is a No No but when all else fails it's raining and you feel rubbish.
YouTube.. Hey Bear designed for small babies /tots it's music and colours absolutely calm and delightful, they love it, it's short bites

Fresh air and food at 5 months, personally I would not consider swim play unless the mother specifically asks you to, find out his/her routine other days and stick to that. Be aware it’s easy to overstep the parents ideas on baby care and cause problems.

Singing of nursery rhymes!

I used to do a lot of singing or nursery rhymes with Gdcs when they were babies. They did seem to enjoy it! Plus, as older babies/toddlers, ‘This little piggy went to market’ on their toes always went down well, ditto ‘Round and round the garden, like a teddy bear….’ on their hand.

But just a walk in the pushchair or pram to anywhere with stuff going on - cars, buses, people, dogs, going round the supermarket…. As someone once put it, all this is very interesting to a baby or very young child, to whom so much is new. Anything like a horse, a rabbit or ducks on the pond was especially interesting.

From around 8 months with all of them, they also loved the ‘baby’ swings in the park.

If you have a local library that does ‘rhyme time’ for very little ones, that’s usually a hit, too.

Use things you have at home for play. Saucepans, wooden spoons, plastic boxes.

Take him swimming, once he reaches aabout a year. Both mine were swimming confidently by the time they were 2, when i sgned them up for classes. Many leisure centres also have baby and carer water play classes from about 6 months.

Makes me feel a bit sad reading this, sorry to sound negative.

Make the most of your time with the GC when young, they grow up pretty quickly and although we did a lot for our son’s two, now at 19 and 16 see little of them, although they only live a few minutes walk away.

Ah well.