I think my kids are bored?!

Noah and Sophie turn 8 months on saturday! Lately DH and I feel woozy... although it is getting easier in that we have a routine, now they seem to need to be entertained a lot and went from virtually STTN to doing it sporadically. I have no clue why. It doesn't seem that they are teething but who know, i'm the one who wrote a mass email to everyone I know that I saw teeth at 3.5 months :laughing: needles to say NO teeth as of yet.

Noah and Sophie seem bored, I wanted to see if we're missing something.

We have an exersaucer, swing, bumbos, musical toys, blocks, squeezy (noisy) toys, mixing spoons (they LOVE these), gym mat, toys for sitting up, laying down, books and i'm sorting out my DVD player to get them some baby einstein videos PLUS a rubber mat area with soft obstacles for crawling on. What the heck else can I do? We go for walks for at least an hour a day but i've avoided malls and such with them. We have yet to socialize with other kids but they are starting to notice eachother.

Any advice?

from a pooped mother of TWO!!

 

LOL! Too funny!

What about story hours at the library or a book store? I know our local library has story hour starting at 6 months. Maybe you could look into something like that? Or a music class? We did a music class when the boys were 7 months old, and it ended around 9 months old. The one we went to, had a scholarship available, and we were able to get it. So we saved $150. But, the class was free for a sibling under 9 months old, so we ended up getting our $150 back and didn't pay anything! So maybe look into something like that? Or gym classes, etc...

Go to the mall-walk around. Lots to see! Lots to hear!

A toy that has been a huge hit around here are the Laugh-N-Learn Home/Kitchen. My boys have loved them, and Annabella as well. In fact, my boys are almost three and they STILL play with them!

 

Same boat over here!! But we are at 6 months. I set a large blanket under a shade tree at the park. My crawler crawls around in the grass and is super happy to explore. My social sitter loooooves to watch the other park goers, people playing soccer, kids at the playground. We also get together with a twins/triplet playgroup... But that's much more to keep us moms sane!

 

Our guys refuse to be in the jumperoo or exersaucer anymore, but they love to crawl UNDER the exersaucer - they crawl in and out and laugh hysterically at each other at least once a day. :laughing:

Do you rotate toys? I have a ton of toys (mainly thanks to MIL and Mom) - every day I go through a put one or two away and get one or two others. That really helps.

We have one or two daily Einstein time(s). The first is between their mid-morning bottle and lunch, which lets ME eat lunch. In the evening, if they are fussy, we either go for a walk (if the weather is good) or show them another Einstein video. They really love them and in breaks up the day a bit.

I also have baskets set around 3-4 places in the "safe zone" with stuff they can pull out and mess with as much as they want - board books, some toys, etc. They feel like they are getting into stuff, but they're not really!

It also helps that I have two patient dogs that they love to follow around (not that I am suggesting you get a dog).

On weekends, DH is home and we always take the boys somewhere - on Saturday we usually visit family, and on Sunday we go to church (they love to play in the nursery). Most Fridays my mom comes, too, and we take the boys out to the mall or wherever. That also helps break up the week.

As far as the not sleeping, I hear you! The last two weeks have been awful for us - Mike is up to 5 teeth and Gabe is up to 4, and they just seem miserable and aren't sleeping or napping well.

 

My guys are 7 months and I definitely think they get bored at home. They love going to stores b/c there is so much stimulation - bright colors, other people to look at, music, etc... They also like visiting with other babies/toddlers. My guys interact with each other, but totally get all lovey with other babies in a way they don't with each other. I think they're like "oh, you. I see you everyday." While it's tiring getting them into the car, into the stroller, into the car, into the house, it's so worth it. We all end up being very happy to get out of the house.

 

Oh my goodness....I could have wrote that post!

One thing that I have started to do is to go to the mall at lunch time with the twins and my toddler. We set up shop and people watch. There is an ice rink in the mall as well, so we watch the skaters (usually seniors, so its not allll that fun...but its something different). Another thing that has caught the attnetion on Miss Olivia are the stairs. So, I walk behind her as she climbs the stairs for and hour (litereally) and then I pull her down, and then she does it all over again. Gavin still doesn't move, so I just hold him and he is extremely content. My toddler goes to the top of the stairs and says "come on libby, you can do it!".

Um....do you have all of your toys exposed for them? I put away toys and bring out some toys and then when they are sort of done with those toys, I will put them away and get out the other toys...it changes thigns up for them and gets them interested in something new for however long that will last.

Have you tried doing a craft with them?! I bought a huge canvas and finger paints (non toxic) and I let them go to town (but still don't let them put their hands in their mouths) and eventhough we have only done it once....it spices things up for them. Thats all.

What about getting them a little bit more of a "mature" toy. We have lots of dump trucks and Woody and Buzz toys that the twins love to play with. They are beyond their "simple" toys.

Obviously i'm just throwing out ideas here....but I think that as much as routine is VERY needed with twins, its good to switch things up once in a while. Not sure about the not sleeping through the night (Olivia has been up 3 nights in a row at 5am) so i'm at a loss there. I'm convinced she is just stuffed up....but still, its hard to deal with! Maybe your babes are going through an early growth spurt?!

 

Do yall have one the activity tables? I know at that age both of mine LOVED those things. And I second just getting out and walking around the mall or stores with them. Mine loved just riding in the stroller looking around at that age.

And I agree with PP of rotating toys out. That way there's always something new and exciting.

 

We have one of those square LeapFrog tables - I got it on craigslist for $10 (rather than $45 at Target). They LOVE it - especially now that they can pull up and stand there with it by themselves. Definitely worth having!!

 

We started storytime/singsong time at the library around that age. It was all free and if they aren't crawling around too much yet, it is perfect time to go. Once they are really on the move it gets hard to rein them in

My girls really got into those stacking cups, they sit for hours playing with them. Putting them in and out. I stack them, they push them over. Hiding object under blankets for them to find.

We also got the activity table to pull up on. They really like that.

Try to get together for a playdate with another twin mom or singletons. Even if the kids don't really "play" together, they can at least play with someone elses toys. That is a treat for them. And maybe nice for you too.

I also rotate our toys so not everything is out at once. It makes them think something is new when they haven't seen it in awhile

Try pulling the cusions off the couch or get a bunch of pillows for them to roll around on/crawl around on.