Wake time activities

OnWayto3 · June 2015

Curious to know what you do with your newborn in those fleeting moments of wakefulness... Anything other than feed? I feel like that's the only time LO is awake-- when I'm sticking a boob in her face!

dezpez07 · June 2015

Same here! I've read some activities to do with newborns is to sing to them, read, or just talk to them. Also making funny faces at them and exposing them to different soft textured items like a soft blanket or a satin, or silk scarf since touch is a big sense they use right now. Other then that like you said the boob is in her face!

virginiaunicorn11 · June 2015

We put him his bouncy chair, or do tummy time or "massage." He likes looking at a painting in our livingroom or out the window at trees. I know he can't see much, but he must like the light contrasts because it transfixes him.

mindaa · June 2015

Yes, need to remember to do the fabric touch thing.
I feel like wake time is spent soothing, so he doesn't freak out. Currently the best way to do that is to put him in the k'tan and bounce/dance around.
Was nice to have my parents here, as they were really good at singing and talking to him - I just can't keep up the monologue for the many hours we spend together.

karaelaine1991 · June 2015

Reading, tummy time, rocking while singing nursery rhymes... I want to take more walks with her, but I worry about her overheating, plus I've got my school stuff to worry about. Can't wait til LO is my only responsibility!

lany07 · June 2015

We have an activity mat that my son loves. It's very bright. I also read to him.

amabarne · June 2015

Talking to him!! The more you talk to LO, the more likely LO is going to start developing speech on time. They will also progress quicker than if they're in a silent world. Easy way to do this is to narrate everything you to!

Also, fun fact. The actual term for baby talking is called "motherese".

NotISaidtheCat · June 2015

Hubby and I talk with him a lot, and DD likes making funny faces and telling made up stories. He likes looking out the window and being outside, and so far he really enjoys soft, sort of dreamy/romantic music (like the South Pacific soundtrack).

jesscmv · June 2015

kes166 said:
Reading, tummy time, rocking while singing nursery rhymes... I want to take more walks with her, but I worry about her overheating, plus I've got my school stuff to worry about. Can't wait til LO is my only responsibility!

I was worried about over heating too since we are taking our twins to the beach in August. Our pediatrican said that babies can actually regulate their body temperature better than us. Obviously don't leave them in the sun for hours with out coverage, but that made me feel better about it

esampson1983 · June 2015

Reading books
Tummy time
"Play" with toys- working on localizing sound, turning head, reaching/ grasping for object; exploring different textures/ sounds
Singing songs
"Games"- so big, peek a boo, kiss the baby
Talk to him- about our schedule for the day, if someone is coming over, different things about the house, narrate what he is doing

I have also been happy because DH has observed what I have been doing and will do the activities with LO if I am busy when he is awake.

My LO is 5 weeks now and it amazes me what he is doing even in 5 weeks. He is already showing preferences in books and toys. He is really trying to hold his head up and can do so for a few seconds before it gets too heavy to keep up. He also shows a receptive understanding of the words eat and milk. His reach is looking more purposeful. He will also visually track me like no other... He knows his mama!

aj1327 · June 2015

I do tummy time, tell him stories, or sing silly songs. I also rub his hands, feet, and belly.

queequeg09256 · June 2015

I had to look up the little piggies but I've done that with my lo plus reading and today we put on toddler radio on Pandora and sung all the songs. Thank you Google for reminding me of all those nursery things I totally forgot.

virginiaunicorn11 · June 2015

we used his mat/gym thing for the first time today and he LOVED it! especially the squeaker toys

dancegurl1118 · June 2015

I find it so hard to do anything. I talk to her all day but I feel like she's either fussing to eat or asleep or half asleep. There's like 10 minutes in between where I put her on her activity may or put her in the rock n play and she looks around. As soon as she's near me or my chest she wants to eat regardless of time.

rklinge0 · June 2015

I like to put her on her play mat. She finds that if she moves her hands the toys make sounds. I like to do tummy time and she enjoys eating her hands then. Another thing we are working on is rolling on to her side, she can do it on her own( sometimes) and then working on rolling over. I sing to her about silly things. We read books and just touching her feet, belly, hands, and back.

krystleshel · July 2015

Thought it'd be good to bump this up! LO is so active in the mid mornings & loves to look outside, listen to books, & look out the windows.
We also do some tummy time on dad's chest when he gets home. She practices lifting her head & pushing her little feet against his hands causing her to scoot up his chest! Great bonding & exercise.

janat1717 · July 2015

My playmat has shipped!! Making a play space away from the bed in another room as right now the bedroom has been the only room secluded from the dogs and I need to get out of it!! One of our dogs will run over the baby, he has like no awareness

aliciaspinnet · July 2015

LO loves to be walked around the house looking at everything. He especially loves anything with contrast and strong patterns. We have a wall with photographs in black frames and he's fascinated by it. I talk to him and tell him the names of everyone in the pictures whilst he looks.

virginiaunicorn11 · July 2015

A friend made a mobile for LO with origami horses of all colors. We have nowhere to hang it, so I hold it over him while he's in his bouncy chair. He LOVES it!! Especially the black horse. We practice tracking it, moving head side to side and up and down. I tried to work on getting him to touch and reach for it, but it's too soon for that.

zxxiv2 · July 2015

@aliciaspinnet Omg! I give tours of the house too! I tell her what room we are in and what it's for and all of the items in it and even a funny story about something in that room. She loves having everything narrated to her!

aj1327 · July 2015

Our LO loves funny noises and facial expressions. He'll try to mimic them. He also loves red things and looking outside. I also sing lots of songs to him. Right now I'm working to get him to track things. He'll also try to reach out and he had a big stuffed Clifford that he likes to knock over

slr1229 · July 2015

LO seems to do a eat, sleep, wake schedule instead of the eat, wake, sleep.

dirtymartini · July 2015

We introduced him to his play mat around 4 or 4.5 weeks. I thought it might be too early for it but he absolutely LOVES it. Now at 6 weeks he's getting more and more interactive with it. He does tummy time for about 5 minutes at a time and doesn't mind it too much . I also read to him, talk or sing, and walk around the house- he loves looking out the window.

lovethatcolosun · July 2015

LO is fascinated by her big brother and all the noise he makes. That kid is always talking, singing, or making sound effects. Constant source of entertainment.

krystleshel · July 2015

slr1229 said:
LO seems to do a eat, sleep, wake schedule instead of the eat, wake, sleep.

This weekend/week mine has done eat, wake for 10-15 minutes, sleep about an hour/hour & a half, wake 10 minutes before she shows hunger cues. Then we start over. She's happy during both wake times generally.

delujm0 · July 2015

slr1229 said:
LO seems to do a eat, sleep, wake schedule instead of the eat, wake, sleep.

Me too. A lot of times if I try to wake her after eating she LOSES IT and refuses to sleep again for HOURS. I let her have wake time whenever she wants it, I just try to keep her up for 60-90 minutes between naps, eating time included.

janat1717 · July 2015

So the Montessori mobiles and the b/w flash cards are a major hit with the LO.

ecleggett · July 2015

I talk to her alllll day, and she started smiling at me! When I need some time to get things done but she's awake we lay her down under one of those play mat things, she can't reach the toys yet but she will lay there and kick around and coo! I can tell she's playing! Daddy wiggles toys at her, reads to her and talks to her too! She responds! You can tell she likes hearing his voice. Never too early to play!

virginiaunicorn11 · July 2015

Today I put LO in his bouncy chair on the counter and just went about my business in the kitchen. He chilled right out, took it all in for about 30 minutes, then passed out. He had been fussing, and nothing was working.

We've also been listening to baby songs on Spotify with him, singing and doing the hand motions. It's cool to see him react more positively to "favorite songs".

Want a personalized experience?

Wake time activities

Re: Wake time activities

Choose Another Board

Search Boards