What does your "play" routine consist of?

[Deleted User] · January 2015

DS is 10 weeks tomorrow and has been on a eat-play-sleep routine. Sometimes I struggle finding activities to keep him entertained during his alert times. Here's how a typical play cycle of his goes:

Activity gym until he loses interest
Tummy time for a few minutes until he starts fussing
Shake some rattles and crinkly plush toys in his face
Peekaboo
Sit him on my lap and read him a book (he also loves watching TV in this position. Kid is obsessed with the television!)

What do your play routines consist of? Also, how long does playtime last before you put your LO down for a nap?

lrobi13 · January 2015

We do a bunch of the same stuff but I also let him sit in his bouncer and he loves grabbing at the toys on there. I have also started to encourage him to kick his feet.

I also take that time to show him black and white picture books. He has a soft one that I let him hold and try to get him to enjoy the pictures.

vrj0522 · January 2015

We do the things you do and we also do a bouncer in which she kicks and bats at the toys. We have french doors in the back so I'll put her bouncer by the door at times and open the blinds so she can look outside. I bring her to the kitchen and have her in the bouncer just watching me while I make dinner or lunch sometimes. We also do singing and music time, in which I sing to her or we dance together. Her wake times vary throughout the day but usually are no longer than an hour or so after feeding; we also do the eat/play/sleep routine.

MrsSinner402 · January 2015

Ours is more eat, sleep, play. She zonks after eating and when she wakes up we have about half an hour of play before she's hungry again. We do her playmat (she's just now barely noticing the toys), she loves sitting in her chair and playing with (read: grabbing and trying to eat) her stuffed monkey, and she also loves tv.

Emerald27 · January 2015

When he wakes up we nurse and change diaper, then I prop him in front of me on my legs and DS1 and I talk to him and make him smile. He goes in the carrier or I just hold him and walk around and get stuff done. Several times a day we do brief tummy times.

I use the playmat while I'm getting dressed or doing something with DS that is difficult with the baby carrier. I also have a bouncer that I put LO in when I shower or use the bathroom.

All that said, most of the time LO just goes with the flow and hangs out in the carrier while I do stuff. He doesn't get much play time at this point.

ETA: LO loves books! We read the Sandra Boynton books and he smiles and giggles.

ANGnJON · January 2015

We also do the same activities as the rest of you lady's. Play mat, tummy time, read books, time in the carriers although they fall asleep every time. The twins max activity time is usually very short about 15-20 minutes before they get fussy. Their favorite activity is definitely nursing though, lol

MuffinMom14 · January 2015

Nicb13 said:

I don't exactly do play time with the baby, unfortunately. Guess I'm a shitty mom. I'm super busy with the toddler and everything else so DD is just sort of along for the ride. She does have a play mat that she likes or she sits in her Bumbo seat and watches everything around her. DS likes to try to entertain her while she's on the ground. I guess he "plays" with her.

Same. And I don't have a toddler. I feel like our "play time" is me doing whatever I can to make her happy and not scream. Oh, you would like me to make faces at you? Alright. Oh, you would like to lay in your changer and talk to the ceiling? Cool. Oh, you would like me to press the stuffed bird 987 times in a row so you can hear the same jingle over and over? Alright, I guess so. I have tons of toys and black and white books. I feel like once we get to the third book, she's like "NO MOAR. I WILL CRY NOW."

My favorite time is running on the treadmill while she watches me with a glassy expression, silently, for an hour. I feel like she's bored, but I figure she just bitch at me if she was. She seems happy when I run, so I'm not understanding why this hasn't turned into some personal version of Speed where I have to keep moving on the treadmill at all times to shut her up, leading to rapid weight loss a la Biggest Loser. I mean. I don't know if the sound reminds her of when I ran on the treadmill or what, but she literally stares into my soul for an hour straight.

staryb · January 2015

Playmat and bouncer like pps said. When I put her in her bouncer I'll give her a small toy or two to snuggle or chew on. I'll also play with some of the toys she's too young for in front of her. She has a couple of musical stuffed animals and I'll make them "dance" in front of her and I sing a long with them. I take her hand and have her feel different textures. I read to her and let her study the pictures, usually have her propped in her boppy for this. I put her in her crib and let her watch her mobile. Tummy time until she fusses.

We don't do everything every time so she hopefully won't get bored too quickly. We do sleep/play/eat most of the time. We play either until she shows hunger cues or she yawns.

She also really likes to watch videos of herself. If I play a video I recorded of her on my phone and let her watch she gets really excited. She jumps and grabs at the screen. I'm not sure how good this is for her but it's adorable, she talks to herself and smiles and laughs a lot. If she's getting fussy it almost always distracts her and puts her in a pleasant mood again.

DreadGamerWife · January 2015

We use the bouncer, play gym, swing (doesn't put her to sleep but she likes talking to the mobile during quiet awake time), activity center (with a blanket against her back since she has really good neck control but no bouncing yet) and lap time. During lap time, I read to her, pull her up into a seated position, prop her up on my legs in a sitting position to "chat" (on a recliner so I can recline back and have her at a 75% upright angle). I also use the baby carrier and she loves to look around while I walk either around the house or outside. Also I started putting her in the high chair when I am in the kitchen and we "talk" about cooking and what I am doing. Sometimes, she plays with a rattle or hanging toy that we attached to the high chair.

C seems to get bored easily so I rotated her activities several times a day. Now that she is in day care, it should be easier to keep her occupied on the weekends since she won't be around the same toys during the week days.

golfingdarwinfish · January 2015

We actually "play" a lot - if he's awake I am interacting with him.. He may not require it, but I'm home all day with him to be with him, so I figure why not. If I had another child I'm sure he wouldn't get as much playtime. We mainly play in ways that focus on motor skills and exposing him to as many words and tones as possible.

Activity mat - music, singing, introducing new toys
Sitting on the couch in boppy with back support with me talking to him and showing up toys & books
A lot of story time and looking at black and white books, he loves to stare at the pictures. Sometimes I'll show him different faces instead, both baby and adult.
I lay back with him on my legs so that we are eye level and put toys in front of him and sing to him, also try to facilitate grabbing by repetition. This is usually when he is the most "talkative". I'll also take his hand and run it across different textures.
Tummy time - at least 5min 3x/day
Swing or momaroo when he gets fussy
He also loves being up on my shoulder while I walk around the house, and so we often do "tours" and explain things to him

windwithfingers · January 2015

A lot of the time, our routine is eat, sleep, play. He almost always falls asleep while nursing when he's tired. Our play consists of activity mat (the one with the piano), being put in his carrier and walked around the house while I talk to him and tell him where we are, swing when he's getting really fussy, bouncy chair where he can grab at the toys I put in his lap, and we sit on the couch chatting with him leaning on my legs. Now that he's really started looking at things and trying to touch/grab, I'm going to start having him touch different textures and start seeing how he feels about his board books.

golfingdarwinfish · January 2015

Nicb13 said:

golfingdarwinfish said:

We actually "play" a lot - if he's awake I am interacting with him.. He may not require it, but I'm home all day with him to be with him, so I figure why not. If I had another child I'm sure he wouldn't get as much playtime. We mainly play in ways that focus on motor skills and exposing him to as many words and tones as possible.

Activity mat - music, singing, introducing new toys
Sitting on the couch in boppy with back support with me talking to him and showing up toys & books
A lot of story time and looking at black and white books, he loves to stare at the pictures. Sometimes I'll show him different faces instead, both baby and adult.
I lay back with him on my legs so that we are eye level and put toys in front of him and sing to him, also try to facilitate grabbing by repetition. This is usually when he is the most "talkative". I'll also take his hand and run it across different textures.
Tummy time - at least 5min 3x/day
Swing or momaroo when he gets fussy
He also loves being up on my shoulder while I walk around the house, and so we often do "tours" and explain things to him

Mom of the year!

@Nicb13‌

only if it's mom of the year for paranoia and fear!!!

I need my Xanax back! Or work.

[Deleted User] · January 2015

Nicb13 said:

SPurp13 said:

Nicb13 said:

I don't exactly do play time with the baby, unfortunately. Guess I'm a shitty mom. I'm super busy with the toddler and everything else so DD is just sort of along for the ride. She does have a play mat that she likes or she sits in her Bumbo seat and watches everything around her. DS likes to try to entertain her while she's on the ground. I guess he "plays" with her.

Same. And I don't have a toddler. I feel like our "play time" is me doing whatever I can to make her happy and not scream. Oh, you would like me to make faces at you? Alright. Oh, you would like to lay in your changer and talk to the ceiling? Cool. Oh, you would like me to press the stuffed bird 987 times in a row so you can hear the same jingle over and over? Alright, I guess so. I have tons of toys and black and white books. I feel like once we get to the third book, she's like "NO MOAR. I WILL CRY NOW."

My favorite time is running on the treadmill while she watches me with a glassy expression, silently, for an hour. I feel like she's bored, but I figure she just bitch at me if she was. She seems happy when I run, so I'm not understanding why this hasn't turned into some personal version of Speed where I have to keep moving on the treadmill at all times to shut her up, leading to rapid weight loss a la Biggest Loser. I mean. I don't know if the sound reminds her of when I ran on the treadmill or what, but she literally stares into my soul for an hour straight.

You are the funniest notch I've ever seen on here. "Stares into my soul"! LMAO

For real though, babies don't need much "entertainment", especially at this young age, and if they are bored or want to do something else, they will let you know!

---------ETA: quote fail--------

Ugh, really? I've been exhausting myself trying to keep him happily entertained his every waking moment! Or maybe you guys have more easygoing babies. Mine is super-fussy and barely lets me put him down without screaming his head off. He also doesn't love the carrier so I have a really hard time getting things done during the day. @-)

MrsSinner402 · January 2015

Nicb13 said:
I don't exactly do play time with the baby, unfortunately. Guess I'm a shitty mom. I'm super busy with the toddler and everything else so DD is just sort of along for the ride. She does have a play mat that she likes or she sits in her Bumbo seat and watches everything around her. DS likes to try to entertain her while she's on the ground. I guess he "plays" with her.

Shut the hell up.

MrsSinner402 · January 2015

Nicb13 said:

golfingdarwinfish said:

We actually "play" a lot - if he's awake I am interacting with him.. He may not require it, but I'm home all day with him to be with him, so I figure why not. If I had another child I'm sure he wouldn't get as much playtime. We mainly play in ways that focus on motor skills and exposing him to as many words and tones as possible.

Activity mat - music, singing, introducing new toys
Sitting on the couch in boppy with back support with me talking to him and showing up toys & books
A lot of story time and looking at black and white books, he loves to stare at the pictures. Sometimes I'll show him different faces instead, both baby and adult.
I lay back with him on my legs so that we are eye level and put toys in front of him and sing to him, also try to facilitate grabbing by repetition. This is usually when he is the most "talkative". I'll also take his hand and run it across different textures.
Tummy time - at least 5min 3x/day
Swing or momaroo when he gets fussy
He also loves being up on my shoulder while I walk around the house, and so we often do "tours" and explain things to him

Mom of the year!

LOL this was my exact thought and I was about to quote her and say the same thing.

windwithfingers · January 2015

deezidee04 said:

Nicb13 said:

SPurp13 said:

Nicb13 said:

I don't exactly do play time with the baby, unfortunately. Guess I'm a shitty mom. I'm super busy with the toddler and everything else so DD is just sort of along for the ride. She does have a play mat that she likes or she sits in her Bumbo seat and watches everything around her. DS likes to try to entertain her while she's on the ground. I guess he "plays" with her.

Same. And I don't have a toddler. I feel like our "play time" is me doing whatever I can to make her happy and not scream. Oh, you would like me to make faces at you? Alright. Oh, you would like to lay in your changer and talk to the ceiling? Cool. Oh, you would like me to press the stuffed bird 987 times in a row so you can hear the same jingle over and over? Alright, I guess so. I have tons of toys and black and white books. I feel like once we get to the third book, she's like "NO MOAR. I WILL CRY NOW."

My favorite time is running on the treadmill while she watches me with a glassy expression, silently, for an hour. I feel like she's bored, but I figure she just bitch at me if she was. She seems happy when I run, so I'm not understanding why this hasn't turned into some personal version of Speed where I have to keep moving on the treadmill at all times to shut her up, leading to rapid weight loss a la Biggest Loser. I mean. I don't know if the sound reminds her of when I ran on the treadmill or what, but she literally stares into my soul for an hour straight.

You are the funniest notch I've ever seen on here. "Stares into my soul"! LMAO
For real though, babies don't need much "entertainment", especially at this young age, and if they are bored or want to do something else, they will let you know!
---------ETA: quote fail--------

Ugh, really? I've been exhausting myself trying to keep him happily entertained his every waking moment! Or maybe you guys have more easygoing babies. Mine is super-fussy and barely lets me put him down without screaming his head off. He also doesn't love the carrier so I have a really hard time getting things done during the day. @-)

This. My kid gets bored super easily and if I'm not entertaining him, he fusses. Luckily he loves being in the carrier, as long as it's front-facing.

sweetsurprise2014 · January 2015

We do the same activities as many of the previous posters. I also let him have 'mirror time.' He likes laying on the bathroom counter and making faces at me via the mirror. He also thinks it's hilarious when I make animal noises. So I do that a lot.

HappyCianci · January 2015

Emerald27 said:

When he wakes up we nurse and change diaper, then I prop him in front of me on my legs and DS1 and I talk to him and make him smile. He goes in the carrier or I just hold him and walk around and get stuff done. Several times a day we do brief tummy times. I use the playmat while I'm getting dressed or doing something with DS that is difficult with the baby carrier. I also have a bouncer that I put LO in when I shower or use the bathroom. All that said, most of the time LO just goes with the flow and hangs out in the carrier while I do stuff. He doesn't get much play time at this point.

Exactly this routine for us, too!

Klavanga74 · January 2015

We don't really have a routine going with play time but we do a lot of the things PPs have mentioned. One of her absolute favorites that will buy me 30 minutes sometimes is her mobile. DH insisted for months before she came that we HAD to get a mobile and I finally ordered one when she was a few weeks old (3rd kid gets totally shafted). She will lay there cooing, kicking, batting at it or just totally mesmerized. She LOVES it. She's pretty entertained by her brother. It's funny to watch her in the mirror when she's in her carseat and someone is sitting next to her (big brother or sister - the latter won't give her a second of attention, which breaks my heart) because she just stares at them like they are the most fascinating thing she's ever seen. It's really cute and keeps her occupied, but that's a little off topic!

Want a personalized experience?

What does your "play" routine consist of?

Re: What does your "play" routine consist of?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Want a personalized experience?

What does your "play" routine consist of?

Re: What does your &quot;play&quot; routine consist of?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Re: What does your "play" routine consist of?