What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

Like... eat breakfast and brush your teeth!

I feel so guilty when Sasha seems wide awake, and I need to put her down so I can take care of myself. I feel like when she is up, I need to play with her since she still does spend most of her time sleeping.

And actually, when you do play-- what do you do with them? I try to have a few things around to stimulate her, but I think she is too young to really enjoy-- would love to hear what other people do.

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

I switch him around his gadgets. Usually start in the floor gym for about 15 minutes, then the glider for 15 minutes (sometimes he doesn't wanna go in there unless he's tired though) Then I put him in the bouncy seat, then the swing. (which he didn't like until about 4 weeks) You can also get a baby sling or carrier and carry her around. That's what I have to to do when he wants nothing to do with his gadgets.....lol
After we go through the whole repertoire of gadgets he gets tired and falls asleep.

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

I would rotate him in his swing, the bouncer, on the playmat, the soothing motions glider, and the newborn to toddler rocker!

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

Since DH is still home from work, after I feed her in the morning, I have breakfast and take a shower. I don't know what I'm going to do when my help leaves because she hates to be put down and will scream and scream. We did however, just hire a nurse for the next 3--4 weeks, so hopefully this will help eleviate that problem and she will get used to getting put down sometimes.

To stimulate her, at this age there is not much you can do. I do a little bit of tummy time with her, as she has very good neck control for a newborn. I show her, her toys even though I have to hold them right up to her face so she can see them! We sing silly songs to her, put music on, etc...

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

When ds was not able to go into the jumperoo i used to put him in the high chair.. when he was really young i would just have it reclined fully... he loved it... gav him a whole new view... when i was trying to shower i would put him in the bouncy seat in the bathroom... but he was very congested as a baby so that helped him... now i just wait for dh to get home in the am from work

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

When I have to shower I put DS in his swing or bouncer outside the bathroom so I can see and hear him. When I'm doing something around the house he also loves to be on the play mat or his bouncer seat.

For play time I resort to the same sort of things, showing him his different toys and having them hold them, he loves anything that lights up and plays music or talks. We bought a bunch of nursery rhyme sing a long CDs that I sing to and dance around the house with him. DS loves the mirror so I hold him in front of that a lot too. We have a fish tank which fascinates him too. DS loves to be walked around the house and shown everything. I think the sillier you act the more entertainment they get

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

Honestly, if she will sit for you in something (swing, bouncer etc) - TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT!!!!!!! DS would only give me a few minutes at best with these things per day - lets just say until DH got home I was a wreck most days!

ETA: For "playtime" i would read to him and also he LOVED the sassy mirror toy - he could play with this thing forever with me from when he was a few weeks old - it was his favorite toy for a LONG time!

Message edited 2/28/2009 6:20:40 PM.

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

I put DS in the boppy, the swing or in his crib (with mobile on)

to "play" with him, i read to him, sing LOTS of songs and nursery rhymes, count his fingers and toes - Lots of talking



I also put him on his gym/playmat
every week he stays a few more minutes before wanting to get off

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

I would do stuff with him where I could see him. (I'd move the bouncer or exersaucer to where I was.) Then I would explain everything I was doing. "I'm taking the big dishes out of the dishwasher. OOH!! Look at these, they are white. We eat meals on them. ETC."

I made up many songs about the most mundane things. Once he could really see me, I noticed I began doing dances with my songs. I would put on an entire Broadway show during a shower. Hmmm. He never gave me a standing ovation.

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

Take advantage of this time and use your swing, seat etc.....The next year will go by so fast and once she's mobile you'll have NO time to do this stuff!

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

From about 4-6 weeks on, she loves her Rainforest bouncer. I can usually leave her in there for 20 minutes and she will be entertained. Sometimes after she is done with that, she just falls asleep in it for another 15-30 minutes. I also put her in her crib with the mobile...that doesn't work as long and sometimes doesn't work at all. The swing works if she is kind of sleepy, but not if she is looking for entertainment.

When I'm playing with her, we often just "talk". She'll sit on my knees facing me or I will hold her facing me and we smile at each other, talk/babble to each other, I sing to her, make up stories, make animal sounds, try to teach her new sounds, etc. At 6 weeks she learned to say "oh" and she looooves to say that. She looks so proud when she says it and when you say it back. She'll often initiate a conversation by saying "oh", and it developed into longer "sentences". she'll say it long, like singing it, then a lot of quick ones, wait for you to say it back. it's really cute. We also play on her activity mat. Sometimes I'll lay down next to her. I've made up names for the toys on there and we'll play with them. We also sit in front of the mirror sometimes. I also bought this sit and spin thing for more tummy time. It looks like a lady bug. She wasn't crazy about it at first, but she is starting to like it more. We also just walk around the house and look at different things...out the window, different paintings, pictures on our fridge, our fish tank, etc. I read her stories when she is kind of tired, but not over tired. Sometimes I read picture books like the eric carle ones (baby bear baby bear what do you see, and others from that author), and I've also read her some older books like nancy drew. I read her those when she is falling asleep in her swing to expose her to some more words, but when she doesn't need visual entertainment. She also recently learned to hold a rattle. I would play with them with her when she was laying down, and help her hold them. Now she can hold them on her own.

HTH!

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

This will be your life for the next several years :)-

i try to keep him engaged with toys/books when I am able to actually play with him

If I need to take a shower etc I hate to say it but I use the TV...hey, mommy needs a shower, to pee, get dressed etc

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

Bouncer. I'd move her around with me (into the bathroom for a quick shower, into the bedroom to get dressed, etc.) Play music for her and talk to her. She would play with the toy bar.

When she outgrew it I'd put her in the pack n play for a few minutes with the hanging mobile.

Don't feel guilty, it's important to take care of yourself. A few minutes here or there with her in a safe place she will be fine.

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

Like all the girls suggested, the bouncer/swing/play mat, etc., but I will add that I wore her in a sling a lot and then later in the infant carrier on my chest. I could clean and do laundry, send emails, etc. while wearing her and talking to her.

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

Yes, mostly the swing does it! That'll work at least for a shower and other necessities....

Re: What do you do with your newborn/infant when they are awake, but you gotta do stuff? And a Q about playtime.

when i needed to do things for myself while ds was awake i would put him either in the swing, the bouncy seat, or on me in a sling/carrier.

in the first couple months there was no real "playtime", but i talked and sang to him basically constantly to stimulate him. as he got a little older (like, 2 months and after) he started loving the dangling toys from the bouncy seat and the swing, so we would play with those a lot. then at 4-5 months he started LOVING the activity mat, so that became a staple play item.