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Things to Do with a Baby Under 12 Months Old

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Things to Do with a Baby Under 12 Months Old 1If you have a baby (newborn to 12 months), it can be difficult to come up with “things to do” since your little one may be somewhat unresponsive and rather sleepy (which makes him a rather boring companion) or a bit loud and sometimes demanding (which makes public outings a bit frightening). So, what to do?

Heather Gibbs Flett and Whitney Moss are two moms who have answered that question for you…in their new book, The Rookie Mom’s Handbook: 250 Activities to do with (and without!) your baby (Quirk Books, 2008). 

This square-shaped, smallish book with fun illustrations and activities numbered from 1-250 is exactly the kind of book that a new mom would pick up and use. The activities are short, concise, and are categorized by baby’s age (1 month to 12 months). 

I found the activities to be fun, practical, and perfectly “cataloged” so that new moms can feel confident about little outings and activities with their baby. This handy little power-packed book would make a perfect baby shower or “new mom” gift.

And not only is this book truly fun and helpful, you’ll also be supporting two mom bloggers if you purchase the book. Yep, that’s right…Heather and Whitney are bloggers too. In fact, I read their blog – RookieMoms – before their book…and I love that too.

Bored with Baby? Buy a copy of The Rookie Mom’s Handbook. Order from Quirk and use the code ROOKIEMOMS to get 25% of your order.  

NOTE to Heather and Whitney (and Quirk Books): I would love a follow-up book: “The Rookie Mom’s Handbook for Toddlers: 250 Activities to do with (and without!) your 12-24 month-old.”  I so need that book right now…

WIN IT! One winner will receive a copy of The Rookie Mom’s Handbook: 250 Activities to do with (and without!) your baby by Heather Gibbs Flett and Whitney Moss. To enter, leave a comment on this post prior to Friday, June 20 at midnight (don’t forget to follow the rules). * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address. 

*UPDATE* The winner is #54 Susan C. Congratulations!

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Comments

  1. I would love this book as my little one is 5 1/2 months old and we are trying very hard to keep her interested, busy and interactive. This book would be a great help!!

  7. This handy little power-packed book would make a perfect baby shower or “new mom” gift.

  9. ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
    A book of short concise activities full of fun illustrations. Categorized by baby’s age (1 to 12 months).

    ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

  12. Why is Grape Nuts cereal called that, when it contains neither grapes, nor nuts?

    If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?

  14. I need all the help I can get, as my 1st baby is due this October!

  18. I am first-time mom adopting a baby from China and this book would be great for me!

  19. I love this book idea and although my current little one is over 12 months, I have another little one on the way that I’m sure this would rock to have!

  24. This sounds like a really great book! I do agree that it’s hard to think of new things to keep baby happy. lol

  27. What a wonderful-sounding book! I’d love to give this to my niece who is a brand-new mom!

  31. This would be GREAT. My son is the perfect age to try out all of the things in the book. We love to get out and about and figuring out what to do is the fun part – what a nice way to get more ideas.

  34. What a great book idea! I wish I had it when my 2 were young! I think it would be a great gift for my sister-in-law who is due in Sept. with her first! Great giveaway! Thanks for offering!
    ~Tanya
    the4moyers(at)msn(dot)com

  37. My kids are older but I would love one for my SIL. With one baby it is easy to get out there and do stuff. With 2 it is a little more challenging but still possible!

  38. Yes, I feel like I should be doing so much more. He just sits around and smiles! Thanks for the chance!

  40. I really love the idea of this book. I have to admit, I’m kind of a second time around rookie! I have two girls that are closer in age that are a bit older. There is a five year gap between the youngest of those two and the new baby I had in January. It feels like a whole new world! While it’s true with the love and so many other things that it is like “riding a bike – you don’t forget” there are other things I do sort of forget and would love the refresher on. I feel that even more now that my time and attention are shared. I want to be sure this new sweet baby is offered as many stimulating, fun, bonding, learning experiences her oldest sister was being the first and having our undivided attention even though now there are the needs of three to meet. Our hearts are there and ready to do it. I know with some good planning and great ideas like it sounds these ladies have, it will be a great running start! Thank you so much for the chance!

  44. We’re having a new baby in February, and I ditto your request to have a book for 12-24 month olds!!

  46. Enter me please. We’re new to parenting (7 weeks now) and could really use this.

  47. This would be the perfect book for me! I am so backward around babies as it is, and when I become a new mom, I’d love to know what I could do with my little one.

  48. I would love to win this so much for dear friend who is new mom..thanks so much :)

  50. I would love to win this book. I’m expecting my first little one this winter!

  52. What a great book for new parents. Would love to win for my brother, who is a first time parent to our adorable little Gracie. I’m sure this would help him a lot.

  56. My son is 15 months old and this would definately help me with some ideas on what we could do to have some fun! Also it would benefit our baby girl due in September, so this would be a well used book!

  57. I’d love to win this for my wife. We have a baby due in October and I think she would love this.

  60. My daughter has a two month old baby boy. Whenever I call her and ask her what she’s doing her answer is always “holding the baby”. I think she would have fun with this book.

  61. What a wonderful book! I would love to give this to my brother and his wife, they are first time parents and I know they would love this! Thanks!

  62. My boss’s wife just had a baby and I could really use some brownie points. Thanks for the chance.

  63. I’d love to win this for my sister, seems I’ve won two of your giveaways for her already :) Thank you so much!!

  69. This book may be a little early for me being aimed towards 12-24 mos. But it is always good to read up early!

  73. I have a baby shower on June 28. I am going to have to add it to my list for presents. Thanks,

  78. wow this would be such a great help. sometimes your mind just can’t outthink the little ones

  79. This would be great. I get in such a rut trying to find new things to do then I start getting bored right along with my little one.

  84. This sounds like a great littel book that my daughternlaw could use, She is a mommy of one and one on the way!

  89. My son and his wife are expecting their first born this summer. This would be a great gift!
    gkstratos @yahoo.com

  95. This would make such a great baby shower gift! Or, a perfect meet-the-baby gift. Once that newborn arrives, the parents will be sure to realize there’s not much to “do” in the beginning.

  97. i love practical books with easy to implement ideas. this sounds like something that would help me out a TON.

  99. I’d love this for a friend who surprised us by delivering her first baby yesterday – lucky Friday the 13th! I could have used a book like this the first 12 months, so I’m sure she’d like it. By the way, I’m with you on the request for a follow-up book for the 12-24 months group!

  101. The Rookie Mom website has saved my sanity more times than I like to admit out loud with my 5 month old, so I would love to see which ones the Rookie Moms themselves picked as their best ideas. The book’s already in my Amazon shopping cart waiting for a little extra cash to appear in my wallet!

  103. This book is a great idea, and I agree that we need the follow-up books too. They need to get writing, because Blondie will be three soon…

  104. What a great idea for a book! I always feel terrible admitting that I don’t know what to do with my son. He’s 9 months old, so there aren’t many “games” to play, at least not that I can come up with! We do the same things again and again. Which is fine for him, but a little dull for me!

  107. This sounds like a very helpful little idea book, and, like you & many other commentors, I could see a whole series, including toddler & pre-schooler editions!

  108. I would love this book for our next child (when we have one that is). I am with you and could use a toddler activity book!

  109. Before I got to the end of your post I was thinking to myself – now what to do with a child that is between 1 and 2 years old (like my 16 month old). This would have been helpful to have last year! But I do plan on having more kids so maybe for the future?

  110. I would have loved this when my daughter was an infant. Maybe I’d pass it along to my best friend who just had her first. Or maybe I’d just keep it for myself for the next go-round.

  111. What a genius idea! My son is now almost 19-months old so I could use a toddler version as well. But a 1-12 month version would work nicely as a gift or for myself for baby #2…someday…

  112. What a great book idea! That first year is so hard to know what to do…it seems like all your days are spent nursing…diapering…and sleeping. What a great baby gift idea!

    My daughter is 23 months so I am also in desperate need of the toddler follow-up book!!!

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