redshoe lisa

a bit belated, but i realized I never said thank you for this -

redshoegirl:

LOL it really is embarrassing to post this, but this was the most useful one for me, because it actually describes the "playing" - I use quote marks because with a baby that young, it's really just interacting with them, not what you or I would really consider playing. A lot of other sites basically just say, "ZOMG you have to play with your newborn or they'll be illiterate psychopaths!!!11!1!!" but don't actually describe what to do, which means that you're left in a sleep deprived, hormonal state sobbing, "OMGAAAAAWD I'M RUINING MY BABY ALREADY!!!!"

...

Heh, I wondered the same thing before the boys were born. One of the things to keep in mind is that this really depends on the age of your baby. By the time your baby is Libby's age, you've been with them a lot and you have a much better idea of what will interest them, what kinds of things you can offer them, etc.

When they're first born, you're just frantically throwing whatever the hell you can their way, desperately trying to find SOMETHING that will work. Don't get me wrong - it's always a learning curve and they'll always surprise you, but for example now I know that Dash is most attracted by things like musical toys that make noise while Will really likes ones with multiple textures that he can turn over in his hands and put in his mouth. And there are more general things too - for example, most babies are attracted by light and dark contrasts, so something like the sun shining through tree leaves will fascinate most of them. But you really do learn as you go.

i felt so much better after reading this!!  so - thank you!!!