10 Ways to Entertain Your Baby at Home
When the usual toys and games aren’t cutting it anymore, try one of these activities.
By Jen LaBracio and Amylia Ryan | Fact Checked by Shannon Vestal Robson
Trying to find ways to keep your baby occupied on a normal day can be a challenge. Throw in something like a sick day (for you, your little one or your childcare provider) or a winter storm and, well…all we can say is we feel you and we’re right there with you.
If your regular arsenal of favorite baby toys isn’t cutting it, give one of these DIY activities a try. They’re quick and easy to set up, and most of them use items you’ll be able to find around your home. We can’t promise they’ll buy you hours of free time, but they’ll definitely help if you need to hop on a conference call or even just a few minutes to yourself.
A few tips to keep in mind:
- Keep it simple. The activities on this list are all very simple, and for good reason. Babies don’t need all that much in the way of entertainment. Exploring everyday objects and the world around them is often more than enough to keep a baby busy (and learning). Don’t overcomplicate things and stick to basic activities using whatever supplies you have on hand.
- Make sure it’s age-appropriate. All the activities listed here are safe for babies age three months and up, as long as you follow instructions. If the activity involves small parts (like rice, beads or small pasta) or inedible things (like glitter, baby oil or hair gel), make sure they’re completely sealed inside a bag so there’s no risk of baby putting pieces in their mouth.
- Don’t be afraid to make a mess. The last thing you want to do right now is clean up a mess, especially if you’re also busy trying to do other things like care for a sick kiddo or get some work done. Often, though, sensory-based activities that use things like water, sand or paint really capture little ones’ attention. Try containing the chaos by doing messy activities in a high chair and using a mat underneath.
- Box ‘em in. Baby jail for the win! Now’s the time to break out those playards or baby gates if you have them. Keeping baby contained (with a few safe toys or books, of course) will not only help you concentrate on other things, it’ll help keep your little one safe and give them some time to work on playing independently.
- Give yourself a break. Swore you wouldn’t do screen time until two? Just don’t have the time or the energy to do much of anything today? Cut yourself some slack. Parenting is hard; sometimes simply making it through the day is an accomplishment. If today’s not the day you feel like putting in the extra effort to entertain your baby, then so be it. Do what works for you and don’t worry about it. (We love you, Ms. Rachel.)
1. Sensory Bags
We love sensory bags because they’re easy, fun and completely mess-free. (We especially love that last part). All you’ll need is a gallon-size plastic bag (we recommend doubling up in case the first layer rips) and whatever you have around the house to put inside. Baby can play with them sitting up or in a high chair, or you can use some masking tape to secure one to the floor for tummy time. Here are a few of our favorites:
And here’s what you’ll need to make these:
2. Pots and Pans
It doesn’t get much easier than this. Take out a few pots and pans, lids and some Tupperware along with a few safe kitchen tools (things like a spatula and a wooden spoon both work) and watch your baby go to town. If you have the space, try cleaning out a drawer or cabinet that’s within reach of your little one and giving them free rein—they’ll love the independence and being able to take items in and out as they wish.
3. Busy Board
Also called busy books, sensory books or sensory boards, these activity bundles let your baby explore all different types of textures and hone their fine motor skills. They’re perfect for capturing your little one’s attention, and they’re very safe since everything is glued or screwed into place.
Busy boards can be as simple or as complex as you want them to be and the options to DIY are endless.
Don’t have time or energy to make your own? Here are some of our favorite pre-made options:
4. Sensory Bins
Sensory bins are a bit messier than sensory bags, but we think they’re worth it. They’re super simple—all you’ll need is any large plastic bin and a couple baby-sized scoops:
And something to put inside. For babies three months old and up, we recommend these items:
- Water
- Dry pasta
- Dry cereal
- Sand
- Whipped cream
Just don’t leave baby unsupervised with sensory bins. You’ll need to make sure nothing is going in their mouths.
5. Finger Paints
I know, I know—finger painting is messy. But we have a hack! Assuming you have a tiled shower or tub, bring some washable finger paints there and tape a large piece of paper up on the wall. Your baby can go to town and you can hose everything down once they’re done.
6. Baby Tissue Box
Ever watch a baby take tissues out of a tissue box? One by one, until there aren’t any left and your tissues are strewn all over your living room floor? Make them their own! It’s quick and easy using an empty container and bits of fabric you have laying around, and babies love them. Here’s how to make your own baby tissue box toy.
Don’t have any scraps of fabric at home? There are some cute pre-made tissue box toys for every style:
7. Shakers
Babies love to shake things and make lots of noise. You can fill just about anything (water bottle, toilet paper or paper towel roll, plastic eggs) with whatever you have lying around the house (rice, pasta, etc.) and let your little one explore all different types of sounds. Just be sure whatever you’re using is sealed tightly so your baby can’t pry it open.
8. Pom Pom Drop
This one is great for older babies and young toddlers who have already mastered sitting up. It’s fun and helps little ones build fine motor skills along the way. All you’ll need is some pom poms, a paper towel roll and some masking tape or painter’s tape.
9. Popsicle Stick Push
This is another activity that’s better suited for older babies. You’ll need an egg carton (one made of styrofoam works best, but a cardboard one is okay, too) and some popsicle sticks to get going. This is super simple to set up, just flip the carton over and cut small slits into the bottom of each egg section and watch your little one do the rest. Babies love pushing the sticks in and pulling them out over and over again.
10. Toy Rescue
Think of this one as a baby version of a search and rescue mission. Everything you need you can find around your house–a laundry basket, some string and some of your little one’s favorite toys or stuffed animals–so the setup is pretty easy. Your baby will love trying to reach through the string to rescue their toys.
Jen LaBracio
Senior Gear Editor
Jen LaBracio is Babylist’s Senior Gear Editor, a role that perfectly combines her love of all things baby gear with her love of (obsessive) research. When she’s not testing out a new high chair or pushing the latest stroller model around her neighborhood, she likes to run, spin, listen to podcasts, read and spend time at the beach. In her past life, she worked for over a decade in children’s publishing. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and their two boys, Will and Ben.
Amylia Ryan
Associate Editor
Amylia Ryan is the Associate Editor at Babylist, specializing in the topics of health, wellness and lifestyle products. Combining a decade of experience in writing and editing with a deep passion for helping people, her number one goal in her work is to ensure new parents feel supported and understood. She herself is a parent to two young children, who are more than willing to help product test endless toys, books, clothes, toiletries and more.
