How much do you play/practice milestones?

IrishCoffee7

Maybe it's because DS is pretty strong and usually ahead for his age.  Or maybe it's because I'm a working momma and when I'm home I always feel like I have so much to do. But while I do tummy time here and there on the weekend or my day off, and I always read a couple books at bedtime, I don't feel like I spend as much time actively encouraging his development as some of the moms on here.  There just aren't enough hours in the day sometimes!

In my defense I know his grandma REALLY works with him a lot on Monday and Tuesday, and his babysitter has a couple other kids so it's not totally one-on-one, but she's really focused on their development as well.

Anyone else feel this way? Anyone feel guilty for relying on CCPs to work with LO on this stuff?

Or the real question that's eating at me...am I a bad mom?

MJN9510

I dont feel guilty.  I just try to work with her as much as I can.  Usually after dinner, i sit on the floor with her and practice sitting up or practice getting on all 4's on her tummy.  And then again on the weekends I work a lot with her.  You arent really relying on the CCP's, you are doing the best you can do.

LolliLately

So not a bad mom!  You chose CCPs that care and help - that makes you a good mom!  I think my son thinks mommy is all weird on my days off because I try to fit so much in.

NoCode10

A lot. We're working on rolling over right now. As a SAHM I have lots of time to practice with A, but it's different for moms who work, you know? You're not a bad mom as long as you're doing the best you can.

detokiet

First: you're not a bad mom. 

I never really did tummy time with DS. I started to around Christmas (he was 3 months at that point). His sitter was doing tummy time with him daily and I didn't even realize she was. It just never occurred to me to ask or mention it. She just brought it up one day because when I came to pick him up, he was napping on his tummy. She'd put him down for tummy time to get him to tire himself out and when she checked on him again, he was sleeping.

When we're home with him, one of us is usually playing with him (helping him practice sitting or standing, etc), or cuddling, or whatever. Some days all I want to do is hold him all the time. Which is probably why I have such a hard time getting him to take naps in his crib and not on me. 

It breaks my heart most days that I have to be at work and not with him, because I would rather be with him. Unfortunately, it's not in the cards right now. 

LittleGus

Since we're on this topic, can you ladies share what you do to encourage development?  I SAH and have time - but just want to make sure I'm not selling DD short.  Basically we do tummy time when she can stand it, I'll roll her over and hold toys for  her to grab.  I stand her up and "walk" with her, and sit her in the highchair to "practice" sitting.

Am I doing enough?  What do you all do?  Dang sometimes this mommy thing is hard.

Mt2G1012

You are not a bad mom.  I feel like I should do tummy time more often but because she has always been great with hitting her milestones (holding head, rolling, sitting a little now) I haven't been as diligent.  So I totally get where you are coming from.  I know my DC provider and my mom work with her a lot on the 3 days I work.  We do tummy time for only for 5 minutes or so on my days off.

jkkg317

I do a little in the afternoons but mostly I let the sitter handle it, on my days off I really work with him because I really want to make sure if he is close  I have a good chance of being the first to see it. But in the afternoons it is time to wind down and working on that kind of stuff would more than likely piss him off. I do practice sitting a lot though since that doesn't involve a whole lot.

fotobird

Don't feel guilty for it! If he's learning the skills he needs, then that's what matters. It isn't a competition to see which baby reaches a developmental milestone first. I think it's very commendable that you're a working mama and still practice skills! Sheesh, I'm a SAHM and get worn out by playing, haha.

CourtneyR2N

I really don't focus on it much specifically.  We just kind of do different things during play time I guess.

BC&MM

You are not a bad mom for just wanting to enjoy your LO and not wanting to use every minute with them to do more work.

I enjoy my son every evening and weekend just having fun. And if while having fun, it is developmentally helping them the great, if not, you are building memories.

My son has awful acid reflux and torticollis. You can barely lay him down on his stomach or his back ever. And maybe he won't sit ahead of the curve, but he is happy, healthy and I enjoy my time with him.

historychick79

On weeknights, I sort of let DS take the lead. If he has a lot of energy, then there's tummy time, jumperoo, 'walking' and sitting practice. If he's tired, we look in the mirror, read a book or two, and just cuddle and sing. It's hard because we get home around 5, he cluster feeds and gets some cereal/stage 1 food, needs a bath every few nights, and he's usually in bed by 6:30. Since DH doesn't get home until 6:15, I'm usually trying to balance time with DS with some dinner prep, changing into comfy clothes, prepping his bedroom and getting bottles cleaned/prepped. I'm finally figuring out I need to prep meals ahead and skip bottle work until after DS is asleep. On the weekends, I try to mix it up each awake period with something high activity and something quieter. DH and I pick and choose together what house work and errands we want done and how can we tag team so no one gets too stressed. There simply aren't enough hours in the day, and you do what you can.

acesup

youre not a bad mom! i know what you mean though. its better that they work on these things with CCP then not at all. i have to work so i have no choice but to leave her and its impossible for me to work on these things with her for as long as i would like to. but i know that her daycare does lots of tummy time and reads with her and works on her reaching and grabbing things - im happy as long as i know that she is getting what she needs. 

emilydholmes1

I feel the same way sometimes. I'll go an entire weekend and not put him on his tummy for "tummy time" because I literally just forgot. But as long as we are engaging him, laying on the floor with him, playing with him- I think he's going to be just fine.

Jen3016

I think you are doing great! Its hard to balance time at home with LO and doing what "needs" to be done with them.  I tend to forget to do tummy time every single day, but when I do, I still notice changes and improvements.  My BFF told me once to not stress out about LO hitting milestones, because one way or the other, they will learn to do everything, they will just do it on their own time.  I find it hard when I see her getting close to reaching a milestone, because then all I want to do is practice it with her!!  She gets a little frustrated with me sometimes!