Are you constantly stimulating your baby when he/she is awake?

I feel like I'm ignoring him if I give him his own time - if I'm not talking to him or kissing him or playing. But I don't want him to get used to ALWAYS being stimulated - I want him to amuse himself too....

Re: Are you constantly stimulating your baby when he/she is awake?

Re: Are you constantly stimulating your baby when he/she is awake?

Well...CONSTANT stimulation isn't all that great either. They need time to learn and figure things out on their own too but I know how hard it is. When I was home with Jake I felt like if I wasn't playing with him every minute of the day, I wasn't stimulating him enough or that he would think I was ignoring him.

But everything is new to a baby so they find stimulation in alot of things... like watching you cook, hearing you talk on the phone, etc.

Once, I noticed that he was perfectly content to sit in his stroller and watch me cook in the kitchen.

Little by little I was able to give him some more alone time where I wasn't in his face. And I noticed that that's when he learned how to squeal. And he got such a kick out of trying out his voice.

But it's even harder for me now because since I'm back at work, I hardly get to see him as it is so when I'm with him I want to play with him constantly!!

Re: Are you constantly stimulating your baby when he/she is awake?

That's how I was in the beginning... constantly playing with her, talking to her, tickling her, you name it, but I read somewhere that it's just as important to give them alone time to learn on their own so now I'll put her on her exercise mat and sit next to her, but I won't interact as much. Or I'll put her in her bouncy seat on the windowsill and she'll watch the outside in total fascination. Though I still do play with her a lot and interact with her one on one because I just love it

Re: Are you constantly stimulating your baby when he/she is awake?

You will see that as they get older you will be happy that you gave them their alone time so they become used to it. I started putting Jack in the pack and play for little bits of time and now at 1 year old I can put him in there for an hour and he will play, read his books and just relax. It is great time to take a shower, relax or get some things done. And they need it too!

Re: Are you constantly stimulating your baby when he/she is awake?

I feel like I should be constantly talkign to her and stuff but I think sometimes she gets tired of it. The other day I was holding her and was talking away at her -- and she started getting fussy. I thought maybe it was her diaper, changed that, still fussy. More food? Nope, she wanted nothing to dow iht it. I put her in her bouncer and blam! She just quieted down and sat and hung out by herself for a little while. I was like " my baby girl doesn't want me!" but I think she was just sick of hearing my voice, lol.

Re: Are you constantly stimulating your baby when he/she is awake?

When Nick was little, I felt the same way - but whenever he would stay put somewhere I would take advantage and get something else done! Don't feel bad about that - it is good for them. (even if it is going on the computer Now that Nick is older (13 months), it is so different - he wants nothing to do with DH or I - he wants to play all by himself all of the time!