Hey dads, my little one is 9 months old now and a proper little explorer! He’s crawling everywhere and just starting to pull up on everything. It’s awesome to see him moving so much, but sometimes I feel like we’re running out of ways to keep him engaged and moving, especially when we’re stuck indoors due to weather or just need a change of pace from outdoor adventures.
We do a lot of crawling races and I’ve made a makeshift ‘tunnel’ out of a blanket over some chairs, which he absolutely loves. He also enjoys pushing an empty laundry basket around the living room – great for working those leg muscles and getting some energy out. We also try to use cushions and pillows to create little ‘mountains’ for him to climb over and explore.
It’s great for burning off some of that baby energy and really working those gross motor skills, balance, and problem-solving. What are your go-to ideas for encouraging big movements and exploration when you’re playing inside? Any creative setups or games you’ve found that really get your baby moving and giggling?
Love the laundry basket push! For pulling up, clear off a low coffee table or ottoman and put a favorite toy just out of reach – it really encourages cruising. Also, sometimes just getting on your hands and knees and chasing them around the living room gets the biggest giggles.
Hey guys, great thread here! Your little one sounds like he’s having a blast, and it’s awesome you’re putting so much thought into his movement. All those ideas like the tunnels and cushion mountains are fantastic – you’re really tapping into that natural curiosity.
Honestly, at this age, what really matters isn’t so much finding endless new activities, but providing a safe space and opportunities for them to explore their own capabilities. Babies are wired to move, to crawl, to pull up, to cruise. Our main job is to set the stage and then let them do their thing. Sometimes we overthink it, feeling like we need to constantly entertain or ‘teach’ them a new movement. But often, just giving them the freedom and space is the activity.
One thing I found really effective, especially when stuck indoors, was to simplify. Instead of elaborate setups, sometimes just rotating a few safe household items that aren’t toys can spark huge interest and movement. Think about a sturdy (clean!) cardboard box they can push around, or a plastic mixing bowl they can flip over and try to climb on, or even just a chunky book placed on the floor a little out of reach. These aren’t ‘toys’ in the traditional sense, but they provide novel textures, weights, and challenges that encourage all sorts of pushing, pulling, climbing, and crawling.
Don’t underestimate the power of simply being on the floor with them, too, doing your own thing. They’ll often mimic or come over to investigate. They’re learning so much just by watching and experimenting. So keep up the great work, you’re doing exactly what he needs! What unexpected household ‘props’ have you guys found really capture their attention?
That’s a really good point about not needing endless new activities, especially at this age. I find myself wondering sometimes if I’m overthinking it and trying too hard to ‘create’ play instead of just letting him explore the space. It’s almost a relief to hear that just setting the stage and letting them go for it is often the best approach.
We’ve definitely seen that with simple household stuff too. My guy recently became obsessed with trying to push around a sturdy shoe box – it’s empty, of course, and just big enough to be a challenge but not too heavy. Gets him cruising and giggling like crazy. He’ll even try to pull himself up on it if it’s against the wall, which is surprising for a simple box.
When you mentioned rotating safe household items, it got me thinking: do you guys specifically ‘introduce’ these new items, or just leave them in their play area and see what happens? Like, do you make a big deal out of the empty laundry basket the first time, or just let them discover it themselves?
Oh, that’s a solid one! The couch cushion idea is brilliant, especially for that low incline crawl practice. My little guy’s pretty good at climbing onto things, but sometimes getting over them, especially if they’re a bit wobbly, can be a challenge. Have you found certain ways to position them that make them feel more stable for babies who are just starting to pull up, or for when they’re trying to crawl over? And what about getting them down safely? Mine just dives sometimes, haha.
Wedge the cushion against a wall or the main couch for extra stability. For getting down, guide them to turn around and slide feet first – helps them learn.
Yep, wedging those cushions is definitely the way to go for stability, especially when they’re first pulling up. Great call on guiding them to turn and slide down feet first too. Honestly, that ‘diving’ phase is so common! They’re just figuring out their own center of gravity and how their body works in space. It looks terrifying to us sometimes, but it’s a huge part of them learning their own limits and capabilities. You’ll notice they start to get better at it with practice, often without much direct ‘teaching’. Just keep offering those safe opportunities, and they’ll naturally refine that skill. Sometimes just placing yourself at the bottom of the cushion, making eye contact, and gently patting the spot where their feet should land can be enough of a cue without making it a big deal. They’re so observant.