Think My Baby Is Getting Bored with Me

Go let him run and run and run outside. It's probably what he is in need of. Once you tired him out, he'll want mommy to lay on as a pillow. Go to a playgound and let him climb. Go to the library and let him do as he pleases. He won't sit still for a book while there (at that age) but he will have fun exploring. Let him play with rocks and dirt. Show him how to dig in teh dirt with a stick. He'll love it. And you'll love watching him do it. Then it will be bath time - where you will connect again.

You got some great ideas. In addition to the ones below, I suggest:

1) story time at the library and check out some new books while you are there
2) Turn on some music and jam with some instruments (tupperware and spoons make great instruments)
3) Play with a ball
4) Put him in a laundry basket and push him around the house like he's riding a train
5) Give him some crayons and paper and let him create!
6)Take him to a playground -- he'll love to swing and slide and watch the other kids
7) Take him for a walk, to the Zoo, any place new. Kids love to see new things.
8) Go OUTSIDE -- great for everyone. Lots of new things to explore, fresh air, etc.
9) Fill the tub with water, put him in there and play, play, play. Kids love to play in/with water.
10) Get some sidewalk chalk and let him draw outside. Fun, washable and being creative is great for development.
11) Look for flowers that are blooming, leaves coming out and show them to him.
12) Look for bugs/worms outside. My daughter loved to dig for and collect worms in a bucket at that age.

Just about anything can be a learning experience for a child this age. Songs, stories, books, walks, bike rides, playing on the swing, etc. They do also need some down time to play on their own...some good toys for learning can be found in just about any store but Discovery Toys has them and will tell you specifically what age group and what type of learning the toy encourages (no I am not a DT rep just a mom who has seen them). I also like the Preschool Prep Company's learning DVDs (colors, shapes, letters, numbers, and site words). For my daughter, I got these wonderful things call Smart Sticks by Hooked on Phonics. She has had them since she was 1 yr and loves them (she's now 4). They teach, in a fun way, letters, numbers (English & Spanish), colors and shapes (also English and Spanish). They can just listen, push for response, answer a question, etc.

You can also point things out while you are walking or driving (what things are, what colors, shapes, letters, numbers, etc that you see) or in a catalog or book. As he gets older it can become a game of "I Spy" and can be more complicated as he learns. This is something we did with my daughter and she can now even tell you what way to turn and what road we are on.

Physical activity is very important (but you can also engage his mind while his body is moving).

My 10 month DD will lose interest in anything within 5 minutes. I can take her outside and let her play on the front lawn, with NO toys, and she will entertain herself for hours. I sat out there with her one time for 3 hours. I read a book while she played in the grass. It's funny.

What about community events, baby gym, the library, or a playgroup? Might be good for both of you to get out some and 14 mo. is not too young to visit a library or museum.

I forget how old DD was at the time, but I took a stroll with her around the neighborhood talking about things while she was in the Bjorn and a neighbor commented. I said, "Have to start somewhere."

Don't worry mama! You are doing great. So much learning happens on their own through non structured play. I believe we are doing a disservice to our children if we think we have to keep them constantly entertained and involved in structured play. Don't overwhelm yourself with thinking every moment needs to be intellectually stimulating. Talk to him, snuggle with him, read to him, sing to him, go for walks and jaunts to the park and library. So much learning and growth happens when the learning is not structured. When kids are bored they will learn to entertain themselves.

Buy a book at Amazon called "Slow and Steady, Get me Ready." It will give you a specific, easy, and age-developmental activity to do with him.
Get outside. Take walks, keep a nature notebook. Talk to him. Have him "help" you in the kitchen. Read him books. Lots and lots of books. They hardly need toys at all by this age... what they really need is to learn about life.

at that age is when my son began to just want to be outside, no matter what the weather. Take him on a walk--he'll be dazzled by leaves, cracks in teh sidewalks, birds chirping, splashing in puddles, everything! let him stomp all his little boy energy out and enjoy the fresh air :)

The neighborhood kids loved cardboard boxes. All sizes. They stacked them, crawled in them, pushed pulled, drew on them. They would line them up like a train, they would act like their were ships.. We would place them together then tape them into a maze and have them crawl trough them.. with little "windows" cut into them. Endless fun.

Trikes, wagons, puzzles, blocks, playdo, trucks, small cars.. ...

The best play time, as so many moms have already mentioned.. just playing outside as much as possible. Sand box, swings, wading pool, shovels, buckets, water cans..

My 14 month old son loves the outdoors - can you take your son outside during the day? Walks of any description (warning - they will be slow as you have to walk at his pace), playing at the park, climbing, swinging, sliding, sandpits, digging dirt, walking on different types of surfaces and slopes ... all things my 14 month old adores.
He also likes seeing other children - is there a playgroup near you? Although babies don't really play together at this age, they do seem to enjoy seeing other babies.
At home, he also loves clapping games and dancing.
It's also good to give your son some time to play on his own (while you keep an eye on him, of course) so he can develop concentration. We are so tempted to jump in to their play, but it doesn't allow them to focus for long.
Oh, one more thing ... do the toys he has allow for a range of creative play options? Kids don't learn from all those plastic 'press this and make that happen' toys and they quickly tire of them. Look for some of the basics - stacking rings, blocks, balls, ball ramps, musical shakers, the good old saucepans and mixing bowls, putting lids on things (okay, not yet screw top lids but my the type of lids that just rest on top of something). Hope this gives you some ideas ...
PS - one more thing, my 14 month old loves to help around the house. He empties the dishwasher by bringing me all the plates one at a time (yes, the china ones), the glasses one at a time, etc. I don't let him touch the cutlery. He also has a feather duster and a small broom he loves to clean with. He empties the washing out of the washer into a laundry basket ... and he seems to think all these chores are such fun!

Yep, I pretty much agree with everyone. Forget "educational" and go with traditional toys. A 14-month-old needs to develop creative thought. He doesn't need to know his ABC's! What good is reading if you have no experiential background?

Let him figure out how to relieve his own boredom. The best thing you can do for him is to be "somewhat busy". Otherwise, he'll turn into one of those horrible tweens who's constant lament of "I'm bored!" will drive you absolutely bonkers.

As a teacher, I'm here to tell you that his teachers will be eternally grateful if you let him learn to make his own fun. He'll be more independent and self-reliant.