How much do you play?

apritchett50

Do you pretty much play/talk to/mess with LO the whole time they are awake? I try too and she is always up for it. But DH is always quick to mess with her for a few minutes then put her in her swing. I'm like she needs to be stimulated while she's up and alert and he thinks she needs time to herself. I think he's just lazy and/or just doesn't know how to really play with a baby. He's great with toddlers but I think he gets bored with her bc she's still a baby. So usually we end up in an argument because I think he should play with her more and he disagrees. So what do you guys do??

bkeane619

My baby plays a lot on her own. I'm busy with the toddler.

lefnc82

I don't use the swing that much, mainly if I need to get stuff done or sometimes it helps if he's super cranky. Otherwise I play and talk to him, when I get home from work I'll just lay him on a blanket and play with his toys or just wiggle his legs and arms around, he loves that. DH stays at home so he's gotten much more comfortable playing with him, it took a bit for him to figure out how to play with him though.

apritchett50

bkeane619 said:

My baby plays a lot on her own. I'm busy with the toddler.

I forget there are people out there with more than one child. I can't even imagine how it is with a new baby!

sarah_norton

Our little will play on his own with his kick n play alot. He also likes to lay on the couch next to us and play with little toys he can grab and look at little books. He'll sit in his rock n play while I'm doing stuff in the kitchen. He likes to watch while I make dinner, etc. we only put him in the swing if he's super fussy or its time for a nap (sometimes those go hand in hand)..lol

dlphndoc

We just put our swing away because we weren't using it very often and she seemed to not like it any way.

We play a lot but not constantly. I have to spend time with my son too and get things done around the house. She like to be a part of our daily activities though. She plays with my son and I in the playroom, plays in the living room in her exersaucer, I wear her while doing house work, etc. I think she gets plenty of stimulation.

Inn2

Mine is an attention hog and even with piano, he wants an audience! We play a lot, but he can handle around 20 minutes of alone time, twice a day, for the most part. He isn't a fan of his swing, now.

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Arod1087

She rarely plays alone. If she can't see me she freaks out. So I get about 40 of independent play all day and the rest she is with me and I entertain her.

ballygirl

We play a lot. In the morning they will amuse themselves on the play may for up to a half am hour at a time but later in the afternoon they seem to need much more attention. There is usually at least one if them who needs attention so if I'm alone with them I am usually playing or carrying one all the time.

asilwhite

Deft 1/2 and 1/2 when he's awake. He likes to play by himself on his playmat grabbing at toys and "talking" and I also play/interact with him too.

Some of his cutest moments have been when he's been playing independently and he's so intent on a toy. It's like I can see his brain working, I love it.

spanx21

LO only wants to be played with for so long, then he wants to play by himself. IMO its a good thing to teach independent play. I love to watch LO from the next room playing with his toys or on his mat! Its adorable!

muffyvonmuff

DS loves his jumper and would stay in it longer then I let him. But I too get annoyed when I hand my husband the baby and then 5 minutes later he puts him down. I make passive aggressive comments about it like "I'm gonna shower, should I hand him to you or just skip the middle man and put him in his jumper?" I've recently started to read him books every night and DH got on board with that which makes me happy.

slh6363

My LO is pretty content on his own for short periods of time. He has become so alert and naps have lessened significantly so it would be pretty difficult to entertain him every waking moment. He enjoys sitting in his bouncy seat and just looking around as long as we are in the room with him. We pretty much alternate between us laying on the floor playing and him playing on his own. He likes to be under his activity mat too so will do that on his own for a bit.

apritchett50

Thanks guys! I think I'm going to stop stressing so much when she's getting a little play time by herself. I hate being a FTM mom sometimes!

carawasa

apritchett50 said:

Thanks guys! I think I'm going to stop stressing so much when she's getting a little play time by herself. I hate being a FTM mom sometimes!

I get it! I feel guilty when I leave her alone to play.. Sometimes she looks for me when she is playing..she won't cry at all but I just feel bad. Sometimes when I am getting ready for work I'll leave her to play and go upstairs (I can still see her from the bathroom) I just feel like the worst mom when I do that haha..I think it is the best for the though.

CousinVicki

our 'playing' involves talking to him, we rarely use toys at this point.  however it seems he has just recently gotten much more interested in looking at objects so i will probably start pulling some out.  mostly i talk/sing to him and he watches DS 1, which is a great awesome distraction. he also sometimes lies in his crib and looks at his mobile which he LOVES.  i don't feel guilty, i sometimes think just chilling out is good for them and he seems to like it. they don't need our mugs in their face 24/7.

Jalee85

DD loves her play may and her jumparoo. So 1/3 of the time is direct playing. When she is on her mat. She is pretty much solo. When she is in her jumparoo I will talk to her and jump with her to keep her entertained at times.

SHAWNACPA

I dont use the  swing very much. But now that I am back to work, if I need to get some things done around the house and she isn't ready for a nap, I put her in her bouncer seat with her lamaze toy.

taylormarie923

I try to get down on his playmat with him twice a day.  He likes to lay there and look at the toys while I read him stories.  I put the kick and play mat in his crib and will lay him there to wash my hands after diaper changes or do something quick around the house.  Sometimes when I come back to get him, he is happily playing away or just laying there quietly content.  At those times I will leave him be until he yells for me.