What do you do with your newborn when he/she is awake?

My DD is 3 weeks old and has about 2 stretches of the day when she is awake for 3-4 hours at a time... What do I do with her during this time? I tried some tummy time today, which was good, but it only took up about 10 minutes. She like to lounge in her boppy with the pacifier, or stare at her crib bumper, but I feel like I should be doing something with her, stimulating her in some way...any thoughts?

Re: What do you do with your newborn when he/she is awake?

singing, dancing, reading to her, put her on the playmat, go out and do errands, take walks (obviously not in this weather, maybe the mall now...), just hang out and look at her

Re: What do you do with your newborn when he/she is awake?

DS is never awake for that long of a stretch. I do tummy time, talk to him, read him a book, show him toys, etc. I also put him in the swing or bouncer if he's in a good mood. Sometimes, when I'm eating, he just sits in the car seat/snap n go and stares at toys or lights. At night, DH sometimes takes him while he plays the keyboard. DS seems to like the music.

Re: What do you do with your newborn when he/she is awake?

lol we do baby aerobics...i lay her on the floor on a blanket and stretch her lil legs and do lil leg lifts, and her arms, and put her on her belly and stretch her out gently alot..i think its good for them ;) plus shes been cramped up for 9 months lol...my dd likes it, we count to ten each limb we do..my ds helps (hes 10) we do this 2 or 3 times a day..i also get her in her swing when shes in a good mood..but it tends to make her sleepy, or i just hold her and cuddle with her..and read to her and sing to her..im thinking of getting a sling (which i wasnt going to get originally) so i can do errands while i hold onto her..

Re: What do you do with your newborn when he/she is awake?

i sang to DS a lot, and held up toys to see if he would look at them. i also danced with him a little after i changed his diaper. he HATED tummy time so that was a wash until recently. he was happiest if he was just being held, so i did a lot of that. i was lucky because i was able to walk outside with him, but when it got too cold i was at the mall almost every day!

Re: What do you do with your newborn when he/she is awake?

I made my dd help with laundry, dishes, and of course move furniture.

I know it seems like you should be doing something with your child but just looking around is stimulating enough.

Re: What do you do with your newborn when he/she is awake?

LOL, i hear you..i have a routine now..she gets up and i change her, feed her, take her upstairs to the crib and put on the crib fish aquarium, then i turn on her mobile and she laughs..then we try toys, the floor mats with the hanging toys are great-she looks up and is finally starting to push around the toys..i also walk her around the house, she loves to look around(or she will scream at this point, lol) then i put her on her back and talk to her and play...she gets sooo fussy so i have to switch stuff around like every 10 minutes or so...otherwise, i am in trouble! My DD cries so much it is crazy!!!