You love your baby, you really do. But coming up with ways to entertain them constantly might make you want to beat your head against the wall. We’ve been there. After all, there’s only so much Parentese you can do with your babies all day before you go blue in the face. So, the next time you glance at the clock and it’s literally 10am and you’ve already exhausted your options, take a cue from us. Below, we’ve got the hacks and tricks to keep your babe occupied and busy, while you might actually get some stuff done yourself. Or at the very least, you might enjoy it. Only a few more years ’til they’re Ipad ready!

You might hate vacuuming or organizing your clothing, but some chores are amusing to baby. Showing them how to do simple chores like sorting laundry will help them develop those skills earlier, effectively encouraging them to learn while helping you clean. (Win/Win). Teach them how them to sort their toys into boxes, fold clothing, or throw away cooking scraps. Plus, it’ll be amusing and equally adorable to watch them pair matching socks.

We love a nice and tidy house as much as the next person, but with a curious baby crawling around, there are usually toys strewn about. Buy toys that will keep baby occupied for a decent amount of time, like large building blocks, or toy pianos. Maybe baby will even find their calling as a musician. (Hey, you never know).

Also, make sure baby has easy access to said toys, for your own peace of mind. Let them play for a while, and when they’re done, ask them to use their newfound chores skills to sort, organize, and put the toys away in an accessible place.

Put baby in their stroller and take a relaxing walk around your neighborhood. If you want to keep them occupied for longer, venture out past your neighborhood to a new location. Let baby interact with dogs along the way. Point out pretty flowers and trees until baby falls fast asleep, finally leaving you with your own thoughts. Maybe you even have time to listen to a podcast or a few tunes.

Teach baby about all sorts of vegetables, fruits, grains, proteins, and nutrients while you’re prepping your meals. Show them how to zip ziplock bags without air bubbles and close Tupperware containers tightly. If they’re a little older, let them help you pick out what they want to eat, making them feel like they’re a decision maker just like you. If you spin your tales just the right way, maybe you’ll even get them to like broccoli!

When all else fails, put baby on the phone with others for a bit, so they get to know the people important to you and so you can get a five minute breather. They should grow up with an understanding of all the important people in their life, especially if they live far away and can’t visit often. Grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles are important, and so is your found family. Your baby should know your best friend! Bonus, if you put them on the phone, you’ll have a few free minutes to think about yourself!