25 fun indoor activities for your 8-10 month old baby
If you’re looking for easy ideas to keep your 8, 9 or 10 month old baby happy and entertained, then you’ve come to the right place. Sometimes coming up with activities can be difficult – especially on those rainy days where you haven’t gotten any sleep. So to make it easier for for you I’ve gathered the top 25 indoor activities and games that my little one loved doing when she was this age.
Some days my daughter loves her toys, and some days she is just plain old bored of them all. I try to rotate them, so she doesn’t get tired of them too quickly. Usually this works wonders, and she’s great at playing on her own for a while each day, so I get a chance to do a few practical things around the appartement. Or just sit down and drink a cup of coffee (or three). For the rest of the day she does however prefer someone to play with or someone to initiate a new game for her, and that someone is usually me as I’m the one home with her.
We both love going out for walks, to the shops or recently to the playground while talking about everything we see and do (at least that’s what I’m talking about. I really have no clue what she’s saying even though she is always jabbering away). Sometimes however the weather, our health or my mood is just for staying indoors and on those occasions we have to think of something else to do indoors.
Playing is fun for babies and children, but it’s also essential for their development. It’s how they learn about themselves and the world. Though I truly believe in the importance of child-driven, unstructured play (you know, fancy talk for kids being kids without any adults meddling all the time), I still think that the best toy for a baby is it’s parents.
- Save these ideas for when your baby becomes a toddler: 20 fun, no-toy indoor activities for your toddler
- Related: 21 fun indoor activities for your 4-6 month old baby
I know it can sometimes be difficult to come up with new and fun ideas on what to play with your baby. Especially after a long night with little sleep. That’s why I decided to make a list of all the things my little one and I have been playing.
25 indoor activities your 8-10 month old baby will love to do
This is a list of what my daughter have enjoyed playing in the last 1-2 months. Some of the activities take 1 minute, while some can go on for hours. Some require a prob or two, while others require none. Some of the games my little one plays on her own, while some she needs me or her dad to be fun. One thing they all have in common are however that my daughter have loved doing every last one of them.
1. Sing.
A classic, but how my baby loves it when we sing, especially if she knows the song. Then she’ll join in (though her lyrics are a bit of) and try to imitate us if there’s any gestures like clapping or throwing her arms in the air.
2. Play with “new” stuff.
I’ll give my little one new stuff to play with once in a while (or just look at, chew in and then shake). Simple stuff like spoons and other kitchen utilities work wonders. Just make sure that what ever you hand your baby that it’s safe. Some babies already have a mouthful of razor sharp teeth they’ll bite into anything, which means there’s a danger of biting pieces off and trying to swallow them.
3. Chase after a ball.
I try and keep a few balls away from my daughter’s other toys. Mainly because I don’t want to trip and fall over them, but also because she gets so excited when she gets to play with one of the “new balls” and can spend a good amount of time chasing after it, picking it up and then chasing it again. It’s one of the toys that’s always in rotation.
4. Read and point to stuff.
We’ve recently started looking at books together. We did try it a few times before, but on those occasions she’s was not ready and more interested in exploring the books by chewing into them. But one day this changed, and she’ll gladly sit on my lap and look at the pictures in the books while I talk and she (sometimes) points. She especially likes this awesome book with animal sounds (except the cow. That one is scary), but in general books with sounds are a huge hit.
- Want more ideas? Check out these 25 ideas for fun indoor activities for your 10-12 month old baby.
5. Play peek-a-boo and hide under a blanket.
A favourite of ours! It can always help bring a smile to my baby’s face if she’s been a bit frustrated with me not letting her play with the plastic bag she pulled off the table.
We mix it up a lot. Sometimes we do play peek-a-boo in front of the mirror, where I hide behind my daughter. Sometimes I make a new face whenever I pop out. Sometimes I wear my hat (which she loves) and then take it off. Sometimes a stuffed animal pops out instead of me. Sometimes one of us is hiding under the blanket and she has to pull the blanket off. And sometimes we just throw the blanket in the air and both hide under it and giggle. The possibilities are endless!
6. Dance and romp around.
I’ll pop my daughter into my arms and we’ll dance around like 2 people gone nuts. I’ll swing her from side to side, throw her in the air, jump up and down with her and so on. Sometimes we dance to music, sometimes we just move around to my wonderful home made songs which I usually make up on the spot. It’s always a success and laughs are guaranteed. Even when she’s in a cranky mood. You can play any music you desire, but we definitely prefer upbeat music and children songs.
If you need some new music inspiration you can try Amazon music unlimited free trial or simply give Youtube a visit – or just turn on the radio.
7. Crawl all over Mom or Dad.
This is a great game for 5 a.m. in the morning when my body is telling me, that I should be sleeping, but my little one has other plans. The game is simple: I just lie down on my bag on the floor and let her crawl all over me. That I can manage at 5 a.m. I just have to stay awake enough to keep her from pulling my hair. I’m not completely certain why this is so much fun, but as long as she’s happy, I’m okay with it.
8. Use an obstacle course.
Every once in a while I’ll lay different objects on the floor for my daughter to crawl all over and under. And to practice standing with. She especially likes the foldable foam mattress, but our couch pillows, her big foam elephant from bObles, our coffee table and some big tin containers are also a hit. And of course Mom and Dad (see no. 7 on this list). Tunnels are also starting to become fun. I use a blanket and place it across our coffee table and our couch (or similar places). Next time we get a big cardboard box I think I’ll try and use it to make an even more awesome tunnel.
9. Look at stuff from Mom or Dad’s hip.
I know, sounds boring, but if I pick my little one up and carry her around the apartment she gets excited by all the new and strangely thrilling things she can suddenly see and touch. Like the light switch, books on the top shelve and even her own socks. As long as it has been out of reach before, it is interesting. And then she also enjoys helping me make coffee and anything else in the kitchen that I can do with one hand. I would recommend wearing a ring sling or baby carrier if you plan on doing if for an extended amount of time as even the tinniest baby will start to feel heavy after a while.
10. Imitate Mom and Dad and get them to imitate her.
It’s so much fun when my daughter starts clapping, cringing up her nose and blowing air of it, putting her arms in the air, shaking her head and saying “aeh” just because we are doing it or she wants us to do it. When she realises that we are imitating her she’ll laugh so sincerely that you can’t do anything but love her a bit more.
11. Bang on big containers and boxes.
My daughter loves to drum away and bang things together if they make a sound. So whenever we have a box that’ll make a new sound, we’ll let her play with it (if it’s safe of course). Blocks, spoons, and melamine cups are great drum sticks, while old tin containers, cardboard boxes and the table are great drums.
12. Try to walk and stand.
This is a rather new thing my daughter has starting doing. She has to be the one who initiates it though she still needs our help with the walker or if she want’s to get from a to b and there’s no furniture in between. The trying to stand she does on her own, but she does appreciate us clapping after each attempt.
13. Explore containers, cupboards and drawers.
This is a game my little one came up with on her own. I first became aware of it when I all of the sudden heard this wonderful music coming from behind me where she sat banging a pot into the floor. Now I sometimes let her open specific containers or drawers in which I know everything is safe for her to play with. I love how she comes speed crawling towards me when I open a specific cupboard and how excited she gets when she starts pulling stuff out.
- Related: Best kitchen set-up for curious babies and toddlers
- Related: 10 daily activities for your 2-3 month old baby
14. Pull thing off own head.
This is a rather short game, but it’s great at getting my baby interested in a new item or toy. I’ll just put a ring, a homemade baby bean bag, a stuffed animal, a sock, or whatever I have within reach on top of her head and she will giggle like crazy trying to look at it and to pull it down. And after a few minutes she’ll usually be playing with whatever fun item she found on her head.
15. Grab stuff on Moms head.
For some reason it’s a hit with my little one when I wear my hat. She just has to pull at it. The same if I put a towel over my head after a shower or if I put some of her tights on my head and shake my head. She screams with delight and just have to pull at it. I love doing this simple game when we need a good laugh.
16. Look out the window onto the street.
I love doing this myself and we are very fortunate to live in and apartment with a huge window that goes from floor to ceiling and overlooks the street. This means my daughter can both look down on the street on her own or with us. Sometimes I’ll catch her lying on her stomach and starring down on the street, following cars or cyclists with her eyes. It’s not a busy street, but it’s not that quiet either, so there’s a lot to look at. Sometimes we’ll sit next to each other and we’ll talk about the stuff we see.
17. Play with the mirror.
I know I said that the I believe the best toy for a baby is its parents, but I do think that the baby in the mirror might be a close competitor. My daughter just loves watching herself in the mirror, both the one she can’t reach in the bathroom and the floor mirror that’s made specifically for babies to get them to lie on their tummies. But while she loves those, she simply adores the big mirror we have, where she can sit on a stool (with me sitting behind her, making sure she doesn’t fall off) and touch her reflection with both her hands and feet – and sometimes her entire face. It can keep her occupied for ages, especially when mirror Dad or mirror Mom appears.
18. Ride a blanket.
My baby girl loves it when she gets to ride a (big) blanket by having me pull her around the living room on our slippery floor. She’s not old enough to be able to sit up without falling over, so I make sure she is on all fours before I start pulling. I think it’s safe to say that giggles are guaranteed.
19. Blow bubbles.
Which baby does not love bubbles? I know a lot of people prefer to do this outside, but I’ve never found it to be messy, so we do it inside in the living room. I have to admit that it’s me who blows the bubbles, while my little one stares in amazement and tries to grab them.
We play this until my daughter becomes more interested in the container with the bubble water than the bubbles themselves. You can find a recipe for an easy to make bubble solution with ingredients you already have at home here.
20. Ride “the two big people”-swing.
We’ve just started doing this, but my daughter loves it. Her dad and I will use a sheet or a big blanket and place her in the middle and then grab an end each, making a hammock. And then we’ll just swing her from side to side. The first time she was a bit apprehensive, but the next time she enjoyed it and laughed aloud.
A small tip though: this game is definitely a bigger hit before eating than just after.
21. Help with the laundry.
This might not seem like fun, but apparently helping with the laundry can be the most amusing thing ever on a cold and wet Tuesday. It might take me a lot longer to get everything folded and put away, but my little one has a blast while I do it. She’ll examine every single item I fold, crawl through my stacks of shirts and bodystockings, and taste a least a handful of the bundled socks (and then shake them a bit afterwards).
22. Splash with water.
My little one loves water and especially splashing with it. She’ll start throwing her arms around the second she realises that she is going in the tub and seconds later I’m soaked with water (I’ve learned my lesson and now take off most of my clothes when she takes a bath). If you’re super chill about it, handing your little one a cup of water in the high chair and letting your little one explore, can be just as exciting – if not more! There just something amazing about making a mess – and water is more fun to clean of the floor than apple puree and mashed peas.
23. Shake home made noise makers.
Sometimes when we have a small and empty water bottle or similar see-through container I’ll fill it with something that will make a noise when shook. And then I’ll give it to my daughter to have fun with. I use items like rice and beans, but you can easily make them more advanced if you feel like it. Just make sure that the lid it screwed on very tight (maybe even glue it) and keep an eye out for your baby if you decide to give it a go.
24. Build towers and knock them over.
We sometimes use empty boxes or containers or whatever else we have lying around, but mostly her coloured wooden blocks are our go to bricks. We’ve divided the work load into two equally important roles: I build the tower and she knocks them over and claps afterwards. We do this until I can’t stand building anymore towers. She doesn’t get tired of it and can continue for hours on end.
If your little one has older siblings this is an obvious game to play together – the older sibling builds the tower and your baby gets to knock them over.
25. Tear up a magazine or cardboard box.
I know, maybe not the best thing in the world to teach your kids, but if something is boiling over or I really, really need to pee, it’s great at keeping my little one happy and entertained while I take care of business. I of course make make sure she doesn’t eat any of it, but if it’s from my union, then I know it doesn’t tear easily.
That’s the end of the list. If you still want some inspiration make sure to have a look at the 25 fun indoor activities for 10-12 months olds – the ages overlap so I’m sure you’ll be able to find more ideas on what to do with your little one on those pyjamas days.
Excellent! Will try the last few for sure. Thanks
So many great ideas, thank you for taking the time to write this out and share it! Can’t wait to try riding the blanket with my 9 month old- I’ve never even thought of that! You are a great mommy.
Thank you so much – I’m so glad you can use the ideas!
You lot are mental I think that kids need to go outside!!!!
If you knew how to read, which it seems you cannot. It says that this is for when the weather is gross and you can’t go outside. Calm down.
These are very helpful tips. I don’t know where you live where you have the luxury to take the baby outside whenever you want but where I live it’s common to go for 2 weeks in a row in winter with temperatures below -30°C.
And now with the lockdown its even more helpful.
Blimey. If you think these activities are mental then I feel for your children! Babies need other ways to experiment and learn other than being inside. Do you really expect mums to be outside 24-7!? And what do you think babies are supposed to do when the weather is terrible? I cannot understand why creating activities for your children inside is “mental”. Do you have some sort of learning disability or something? Judging by your comment.. I would say your the one who’s actually mental.
Hi, I found your article through Pinterest and I wanted to let you know that I haved added your link to my lastest blog post. “The best Guide to Baby Milestones” as I think that these games could help my readers and their babies.
Keep up the great work!
Alexa
Here’s a link to the article if you are interested https://happinessypunto.com/en/the-best-guide-to-baby-milestones/
Thank you for sharing – and for giving me a heads up about it:-) I’m so happy you like the ideas!
Thank you for these ideas . They will be so helpful .
Your more than welcome – really happy you can use the ideas!
hey i loved the activities…kitchen is actually the best place to get some. Thanks for sharing.Even i look out for ideas to spend with my toddler!!
AllThatsMom
I’m so happy that you loved the activites! And yes, the kitchen is a great place to find inspiration.
Your daughter is soooo lucky to have such a smart, loving mother! I’m a Grandma and hope to score some “fun” points with these fun activities.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I hope you and your grandchild will have a blast with these ideas.
I watch my 8 month old Grandbaby occasionally and these are some great ideas for me!
That’s wonderful! I’m glad you can use the ideas!
Thanks for taking the time to give a ftm ideas. I stay at home with my now 8 month old and we live where it’s really cold so these should all work, thanks!
Hi Cathy. I’m so happy you can use the ideas!