Now what?

adiaz132003 · July 2016

So DS is 6 weeks tomorrow and I'm noticing he's having more wake hours. I wasn't noticing how fast time is going by that I'm still in the mindset that he will only eat then sleep with very little alert time. No wonder he never wants to nap. So today I let him stay awake a little longer and he's taking waaaay better naps which should hopefully equal better quality sleep at night. My question is, as a FTM, what the heck can I do with him while he's awake? It's that time where he can't play with toys and things so he kinda sits there but he gets bored and cranky. What should I do to entertain him while he's awake and are there different levels of entertainment? I don't wanna overstimulate him as we get close to when a nap should be.

purplefan1 · July 2016

On the floor for tummy time, sit him in your lap facing you and talk to him, read books, sing songs, dance, go for walks, put him in a carrier and tell him what you are doing as you go about your day.

peaceinnature · July 2016

Put a blanket on the floor next to a window or outside under a tree and just lay him down and let him watch the light patterns and shadows. Also DS loves to watch the curtains in our bedroom, which have a high contrast pattern, move in the breeze.

rlbrooks84 · July 2016

I like to run errands with my LO especially if I can live my boys at home. I just strap her into my carrier and sometimes she's awake and sometimes she sleeps. My boys also like to talk to her and sing to her, but since she's your first those are things you can do with her. I also second reading to your LO and tummy time.

AmberLiz99 · July 2016

My lo is only 4 weeks, but she already likes focusing on books while I read, or different toys, or on the face of whoever is talking to her. Going on walks and running errands, switching between tummy time, play mat, your lap, bouncy seat, carrier, etc all while having a running conversation of whatever you are doing. Singing is good too.

With my first I had these black and white animal picture cards that would always calm him down. He loved looking at them

26pointrunningfor2 · July 2016

This is a great question, and great answers (thanks for asking and responding)! I have been wondering the same thing as a FTM with no previous experience with newborns!

WVUPetunia · July 2016

Our 5 week old loves the Kick and Play Piano Gym.

She swats at the toys (maybe not intentionally, but it's cute), looks in the mirror, and kicks the piano; it keeps her entertained for a pretty long time (for a 5 week old).

RMLandy · July 2016

We have a little gym she will lay under and look at with different toys attached. Now that she can turn her head easily I put toys around her or sit beside her and read books. This lasts for 15-20 mins tops, then I have to hold her and chat, walk around, etc. until she gets sleepy.

Lizbeth86 · August 2016

I'm coming back to this bc i think my LO is a few weeks younger than you ladies'... (she's 6 weeks old). So she is a super easy baby, but I feel like she doesn't really have quality awake time. She hates tummy time, she won't sit with me while I read or talk to her, she wants me to walk around with her and then she falls asleep. She can do 15-20 minutes in the little activity gym (on her back), but then she fusses and the only thing that calms her down is some kind of motion that puts her to sleep (me walking around with her, the swing, a stroller ride or car ride, etc). She's not deeply tired because if I put her down in the bassinet she'll wake up.

So, I feel like she spends her awake time fussing to be put into motion until she falls asleep again. Her night time sleep doesn't seem to be affected by how much she sleeps during the day, but I feel bad that our calm times together are when she's asleep. Am I expecting too much from a 6 week old?

purplefan1 · August 2016

@Lizbeth86 I worried about the same thing. That I wasn't doing enough. But I think that just our touch is a lot for them. Holding them, soothing them, walking with them so they can see different rooms, that is all huge stuff for little people. My girl is 8 weeks on Friday and has been having a lot of clingy time. She wants to be held a lot and snuggles all the time. (People can stop tell me I'm spoiling her. She is fine). So while I hold her I talk to her a lot. I tell her all about the day, fun things, people in our family, etc. Studies have shown that using a lot of speech with babies and about all different sorts of things helps build their vocabulary, helps with speech, and increases their school abilities. So I justify lack of "playtime" with "brain building" time. And any time she seems like she wants to play, we do it as long as she wants. She also seems to want to sleep a lot (growing is hard work!) So I let her sleep.

huskypuppy14 · August 2016

@Lizbeth86 I thought the same thing at 6 weeks but like @June2016BabyW said talking and smiling and reading are still "playing" with them. My baby is 9 weeks and he is just starting to smile at us. He still doesn't really sit still while we read but everything you do counts. And I never not let him sleep. If he wants to sleep he can sleep.

annaf2011 · August 2016

I agree with @June2016BabyW and @huskypuppy14. I used to feel like all of S's awake time was spent either eating, getting changed, or getting ready to fall back asleep again. At 6 weeks old, simply talking to the baby, or showing her a simple picture to focus on are hugely stimulating for her. S will be 8 weeks on Saturday and he still can really only handle 20 or 30 minutes at a time of being actively engaged. Beyond that, he wants to be snuggled and chatted with as he starts to get sleepy. We also like to play music while doing a more passive activity like looking out the window.

Knottie13257900 · August 2016

I have the same concern!! I feel really guilty when my 2 month old baby spends most of the day sleeping...I feel like I should have more fun things for her to do. But we play for like 10 minutes after she eats and then she's pretty much ready for a nap. Glad we're not alone.

Lizbeth86 · August 2016

Thank you, ladies! I'm glad it's not just me : ) I felt like she was sleeping out of boredom because I wasn't doing enough of the right activities with her ; )

vintagevix2016 · August 2016

I don't know why I hadn't looked at this thread sooner because I've wondered the same thing! I felt like a bad parent because I didn't have all kinds of things for him to do or do with him. I feel better after reading all the responses! My guy is a kicker (like metalhead, double-bass drummer, kicker) and purnplaymat has a section that makes a crinkly sound if you hit it. Welp, you should see his little legs go, he seems to love it! He can only handle time on the mat for about 15mins. I try to start with tummy time but it isn't his favorite and he doesn't last long before fussing. I read to him too. He only seems to focus on it if I really go big with the character voices. Otherwise he is perfectly content looking at all the shadows and patterns in the living room. We still go for walks in the stroller too. I also liek to pull different fabrics from my closet and drawers for him to feel. The added bonus is remembering long forgotten clothing that I still have! I also play some tunes for him and sing. He's the only person in the world that will smile when I sing

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