Interacting with LO

SapphireDreamRock

What are you doing to stimulate/interact with your LO during the day?  I try to interact with my DH often throughout the day (although I want her to sleep as well because I know she needs it).  Things we do:  I hold her, walk around with her, sing, and read to her.  We attempt a couple minutes of tummy time a few times a day, and play on her mat, she is starting to focus more on the hanging toys. She also has a swing that I'll put her in, but only for 20-30 minutes a day. 

I know it isn't good for her to be over-stimulated either, and that she needs to spend lots of time sleeping, but I've found that when DH sleeps most of the day away, her nights are REALLY rough.  As in, she slept a total of 1 hour last night, broken up into approximately three 20-minute intervals.  She was crying the rest of the time.  I could calm her down every so often, but then she would get herself all worked up again.  I am BFing, and last night she was so worked up she wouldn't latch at all.  I ended up supplementing with formula in the early morning, and she fell asleep within minutes.  This is the 3rd rough night we've had, starting with our first night home (day 4), one night last week, and last night.  Every other night she's done pretty well eating and sleeping.  Yes, she's fussy and cries, but not like those nights.  I know she is getting used to the world, (she's only 2 weeks old), but I'm hoping that if I can keep her a bit more stimulated during the day, she will sleep better at night.  On her better nights, she'll sleep a couple hours, wake up, eat, cry (for maybe an hour, sometimes less or not at all), and repeat.  I'm glad we've had a few tough nights, so I can appreciate the good ones, but would love some suggestions of things I can do during the day that might help her sleep better at night.  

Thanks in advance!

mac&chip

I think I'm doing everything you're doing. LO's favorite thing is to look at black and white patterns, and that can keep her attention for awhile. She also likes it when I play with her legs/do leg exercises or even a little infant massage.

Good luck!

goldenleaves

When she's awake I talk to her, sing to her, tell her stories and basically narrate my life!

tmjmeister

goldenleaves:

When she's awake I talk to her, sing to her, tell her stories and basically narrate my life!

This! and some leg exercises. 

MollySm

Mostly I sit her on my legs facing me, and then mimicking her mouth motions and talking to her.  She also loves a mirror!  I've had the same problem where if she doesn't sleep enough during the day, or if she sleeps too much, it leads to difficult nights!  We're working on finding a happy medium.