How can I play with my infant?

[Sonya]

DS is 7 weeks old and I admit I don't always know what I should be doing for him! I sing to him and he has black and white pictures up next to him to look at, I talk to him and tickle him. When he's awake I'll put him on his tummy and let him work his neck muscles (never leaving him alone!). Sometimes I just hold him and we stare at each other. He's not interested in toys yet, doesn't have any motor skills.
Most of his awake time I sit him in his boppy or his bouncy seat so he can look around, but I feel guilty when I leave him to get stuff done. Do I need to be there entertaining him all the time he's awake? (about 2 hours at a stretch) I feel like I'm running out of things to do with him, he's not really very responsive yet.

 

[binny]

how about doing Wheels on the bus with him? you sing the song and move his little legs around, wave his arms etc.



Sounds to me like youre doing a lot allready!

 

[binny]

and no I dont think you need to be there for his every waking moment ( I mean in his face lol) you need to get things done too. How about a swing? My kids loevd the swing. I would move it where I could see them when I was doing dishes or whatever and they just gurgled and laughed to their hearts content! Also when he is a little older an excersaucer was great. We also had a boucy seat that had a vibrating base. they always loved that, most of those had toys attached to them so you buckle them in, set them where you want them and let them stare at the toys or reach for them when they get to that stage!

Good luck!

 

[FOJMO]

It's never too early to count with him/her. I remember when our DD was just a baby, and I'd put my fingers up and count 1-2-3-4-5 and then made some nonsense sound to make her laugh.

Who knows how much they absorb even before they know what you're talking about.

The same goes for reading...

 

[piratesmate]

Binny has great comments. (I've always thought she sounds like a GREAT mother!) She's right - you are already do a lot, but if you want more ideas . . . .

How about adding an unbreakable mirror next to the changing table. I had one that wrapped around the railing & DD was fascinated with looking at herself from the very start! (Yes, she's still hung up on looking at herself every time she passes a mirror - at 12!)

I also used a "Snuggly" & carried the kids with me - SOME of the time - while doing chores. I just talked about - whatever! I guess I was lonely.

I made up a song (a DUMB song) using DD's name & sang that a lot...always making up new verses. She responded to that & it comforted her for a long time.

I also did a bunch of things where I'd move their arms, legs, hands for them. Like "This little piggy", "So big" or just clapping their hands or feet while singing. Both always just liked to be with me & talked to.

You can read to him - even if it's 2 pages at a time. Stuff like "Pat the Bunny" will let you move his hands to the book to touch it - or some very colorful Sesame Street books would be good/fun.

Oh man! DS is getting married on Saturday & I'm already thinking "grandmother"! I knew I shouldn't have responded to this thread!

Relax, have fun & enjoy every minute!
Deb

 

[Bunchkin]

Lots of good suggestions so far.

To entertain while I'm cleaning or cooking and the like when my babies were really little I would keep them close by in their bouncy seat and sing, count, make up silly rhymes, carry on a sily conversation.
And as they got bigger they would be moved to the walker.
I also did the same thing in the bathroom while I took a shower.

I also played peek-a-boo, and this little piggy. And I would exercise their legs while I sang the Bicycle song by Queen.
Babies also enjoy their little bodies messaged. I would lotion up my hands and gently rub their legs, then arms, back and chest and those little feet too.
I would also help them hold a rattle in their hands and gently shake it.

We also have a few musical, light up toys that they seemed to like too.



Enjoy your little one!!! Pretty soon he'll be playing with toys all on his own. The time will just fly by right before you.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

When DD was an infant I would sit in my glider with my feet on the footstool. I would put DD sitting up on my lap and just talk to her and make faces. She loved that. Played peek-a-boo, sang songs, etc.

Also DD loved Tummy Time or sitting in her boppy. Do you have a sling you could carry him around in? Don't feel guilty about not entertaining him 24/7.

 

[Mishetta]

Yes, Binny had some great suggestions. The swing was a true Godsend for my boys. They both loved their swing. They would just be so content in it & also fall asleep in it!

The exersaucer is another great invention. My DS #2 played in it until he toppled it over on himself! I guess he exceeded the weight (or he was just too rough with it) & he was thrashing back & forth in it giggling like crazy. I was right there when he went over too! He laughed even harder when he went over...of course that incident took 10 years off my life!!

Sonya, it sounds like you're already doing a great job! Really!

 

[Poohnatic]

I got a NoJo sling to carry my younger son around as I did things. That kept him happy, because he was always close to me. I wonder how much that made a difference in my two kids temperments.

Excersaucer when your son is around 4 months old is a great thing!

Sing all you can, or have music playing when you're tired of singing. One day, he'll sing them back to you in an adorable little boy voice (I get mine in stereo, both kids sing "A bushel and a peck" to me all the time)

It's okay to not spend every waking moment with him....he may protest at first, but if you give him (and you) space, he won't expect mom to be his entertainment, he'll find some of his own. (Like those toes, they taste soooo good)

Enjoy that time when he's little, it goes by way too quickly.

Suzanne

 

[jfulcer]

Hey, there's 5 Harry Potter books you could read aloud.

Seriously, children love to be read to, even at that age. Any books would be fine, IMHO - they are so young all the know is the sound of your voice yet...

 

[mtemm]

I remember saying the same thing last year. Found this book and it gives awesome suggestions for each stage! check it out.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...6491994/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/104-4749264-9883144

 

[Pembo]

Do I need to be there entertaining him all the time he's awake? (about 2 hours at a stretch)

NO! NO! NO!

Be greatful he'll just lie there and look around while you get things done or rest yourself. Of course don't just ignore him all the time either. But I know too many parents who think they are their kids playmates. I let my kids explore on their own and play with them some. I think it's better to get them started on something and then step back and let them play and discover.

At 7 weeks, the black & white book is good. We had one of those gym things for the babies to lie under and look at. Soon he'll be batting at the toys on it. Give him tummy time. Like others said, sing to him, talk to him, read to him, play music for him. My kids all watched my soap with me . A favorite book I used with all 3 kids is Games Babies Play. I don't remember the author. It was wonderful.

Enjoy!!!!!!! They are only little and still for a short time. Soon you'll be asking us how to get him to be still! (DD is 11 mo and a machine.)

 

[December99]

These are great suggestions and I don't have any to add but I just wanted to say - HE'S 7 WEEKS ALREADY!!!!! Seems like it was just a week or so ago that we found out he was finally here!!!!! YIKES

 

[Sonya]

Yep December99, time does fly, doesn't it?

Thanks for your replies, I've never been around babies and I want to make sure I'm doing what I should!

 

[Kermit]

I agree that it sounds like you're doing enough, but there's always more you can do if either of you are bored. Reading is fun and important. You can read anything to him. Read a magazine you want to read out loud, and talk about the pictures. Jacob really likes Dr Suess or anything that rhymes. He prefers to watch my lips and not the pictures.

Copy his expressions and sounds. Then make some of your own so that he can have a chance to copy. Jacob really loved to practice sticking out his tongue at that age. Now we're working on clapping hands, which he finds wildly hilarious.

Black-and-white 3D objects may hold his interest better than pictures. We used a stuffed panda that wasn't even meant to be a baby toy. We've had to take it away now since everything goes in his mouth. The panda "sheds" and gags the poor baby.

Wearing your baby is also a wonderful idea. We were never able to really use the sling since Jacob hated it, but I carried him everywhere I could. Snuggling with you is enough to stimulate his mind at this point, and when you carry him while you move, it helps him develop coordination.

 

[KimR]

A few more suggestions: My youngest DD (now 2) used to love it when I'd put on some music and dance around the room with her. She still loves it, as a matter of fact ! I started out gently and then as she grew stronger I'd add faster spins, twirls, and dips. With my 2nd DD I'd hold her and make up stories..with her as the star, of course! She didn't understand much at first, but eventually she began to request the stories every evening.

It's also good to just introduce him to the world around him...let him feel different textures, take him outside and let him feel the breeze on his face, point out the leaves on the trees, the dog barking, the airplane flying overhead, etc. Remember that little things we take for granted are fascinating to babies!

Have fun!

Kim