Raining today? We have fun suggestions for indoor activities that will keep your baby entertained

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When you’re stuck at home for the day with your baby, don’t worry about them missing out. ‘Babies don’t mind whether they’re indoors or out, at home or at a baby class. At home, they can learn and explore without external distractions and will love the one-on-one quality time with you,’ says baby and toddler development expert Sophie Pickles. (Find Sophie on YouTube and Instagram).

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What can your baby do at 6 to 12 months old?

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At this stage, your baby is likely to be sitting up, crawling and even taking their first wobbly steps. Their little brains are taking in everything around them; they become curious, and they even start to recognise themselves in the mirror. From making babbling sounds to saying their first words, their language skills skyrocket. (Read more about your baby’s milestones at this stage.) 

‘In terms of play ideas, anything that stimulates the senses will help your baby learn – and entertain them,’ says Sophie. ‘Reading books, singing songs, playing with toys or safe household objects – like a good old saucepan and wooden spoon – will help with their development. And of course, anything you do together reinforces that parent-child bond, which is always a good thing,’ she says.

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10 indoor play ideas to try today

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1. Splish-splash: Fill your washing up bowl with water, bubbles, and plastic cups. Babies will love to splash, pour, and feel the water on their hands. Make sure you have towels to hand and do not leave them unattended near the water.

2. Musical treasure basket: One of Sophie’s top tips is to create a “musical treasure basket” with items from around your house. Gather objects that make different sounds, such as a baby rattle, musical toy or empty water bottle filled with dried rice or pasta, and put them all in a basket or box. Sit with your baby as they pull each item out of the basket and listen to the noise the object makes. Comment on the sounds you can hear: ‘This makes a loud sound when you shake it. Shake, shake!’

3. Name that thing: Help build language skills by introducing your baby to different objects around the house. Point at the item, describe it and let your baby touch it. You can even try it with the family pet. ‘Look at the cat! She’s a furry cat. Lovely cat!’

4. Blow bubbles: Bubbles are brilliant. Not only do babies love trying to pop them, the mesmerising way they float makes them perfect for distracting and calming a cranky tot. They’re cheap to buy, and when the bubble solution runs out you can make your own refill with washing-up liquid.

5. Open and shut: ‘At this age, babies love to open and shut doors and containers, and to hide things inside,’ says Sophie. ‘This is driven by their desire to learn about object permanence and cause and effect, so try creating a hide-and-seek obstacle course for your baby. Gather some lidded containers (pans work well) or empty boxes from around the house and hide a favourite toy or interesting object in each one. Lay the containers out as a course and encourage your baby to move to each one, opening it to see what's inside. If your baby isn't crawling yet, place the containers around them in a circle to encourage them to reach and stretch,’ she says.

6. Paint a masterpiece: They’re never too young to play with paints if you’re there to help and can handle the mess! (Make sure they’re non-toxic.) Try painting their tiny palms and printing them onto some card and you’ll get a gorgeous keepsake out of it.

7. Sing your heart out: Put on your favourite tunes, grab their toy microphone and entertain them with your rock star performance. They’ll either be your biggest fan or your biggest critic (yes, your singing could end in tears!).

8. No-mess messy play: There’s a great way for your baby to experience the fun of messy play without the mess. Take some ready-mixed paints and squirt different colours into a sealable sandwich bag. Once sealed, encourage your baby to squeeze the bag and watch as the colours blend.

9. Soak in the tub: When the day’s going slowly, bring bath time forward. Add baby-friendly bubbles and bath toys to the tub for some watery fun!

10. Baby gym workout: Not every activity needs parents to be involved – you’re allowed a break! Baby gyms are a great way to let your baby play independently, and discover new sounds and textures in the safety of your own home.