dumb question re playtime

benniferbaby

I keep reading that I need to start paying attention to LO's "schedule" ...when he naps, feeds, and when his wakeful times are, including play time. He is 7 weeks old, and there is plenty of awake time, but what exactly is meant by "play time" ... he pretty much just looks around at stuff (I often can't tell what he's focusing on!), and I bounce him and rock him, talk to him, maybe we do a little tummy time if he's not too fussy... is that playtime?

Sorry for the dumb question but I'm a FTM and have very little experience with newborns, so I'm relying on books, TB, and intuition.

IncognitoSuperhero

benniferbaby:

I keep reading that I need to start paying attention to LO's "schedule" ...when he naps, feeds, and when his wakeful times are, including play time. He is 7 weeks old, and there is plenty of awake time, but what exactly is meant by "play time" ... he pretty much just looks around at stuff I often can't tell what he's focusing on!, and I bounce him and rock him, talk to him, maybe we do a little tummy time if he's not too fussy... is that playtime?
Sorry for the dumb question but I'm a FTM and have very little experience with newborns, so I'm relying on books, TB, and intuition.

Ours is 11 weeks but at 7 weeks we'd play with him in his bouncy chair that has the toy bar. He usually talked to the toys and stuff. We also played with a stuffed animal that he seemed to like, we would put on music and he'd wiggle around on his back. And lots of face to face time talking and singing, making faces,and moving his arms and legs around.

IncognitoSuperhero

He also liked looking at things in his room, so we would just hold him up and like "tour" his room. Giving him time to check out each thing.

benniferbaby

Thank you. I guess we are close. I do all of this but he doesn't seem to care for any of his toys yet - no matter how much noise they make or how many colors they have., not even the one with the mirror! And I'm too chicken to put him in the exersaucer since his head is still a bit floppy.

mason15

First of all, I wouldn't worry too much about a schedule.  With my first DS, I found it was easier to do a routine(we did EASY from Baby Whisperer and are again.)  I hate when I read on here about how people are stressed about getting babies on a schedule this young b/c they're still getting used to the world.  ANYWAY, for "play time" we usually walk around and look outside, look at books, lay on the bed or floor and practice rolling, or I even read from my book or magazine just so he hears my voice.  I don't think we did the exersaucer until 3 mos or so with DS.