How much are you playing with your baby?

[coachlittlez23]

My baby is 3 months old (9 weeks adjusted age due to prematurity). We do tummy time, high contrast cards, listen to music, sometimes I told her while I dance, read books, etc. I love my baby. She’s great! And cute! We coo at each other!

But omg I cannot do all these things with her for her whole 1-1.5 hour wake window 6 times a day. It’s so boring for me and I’m becoming concerned that I’m serving the role of performer/entertainer which I don’t want to be. I told myself while pregnant I did not want to be a parent who is constantly entertaining their baby. Now that she’s here, I feel a sense of guilt if I’m not engaging with her. I worry I’m not helping facilitate her growth and development enough even though she’s showing all signs of appropriate development. My husband says she’s fine to leave in her play gym or bouncy chair as long as she’s calm.

We do go out with friends for walks and lunch dates 3x a week but she usually sleeps when I’m baby wearing or in her stroller/car seat (even if it’s supposed to be a wake window).

Realistically, how much time are you spending engaging and playing with baby?

 

[valentin]

@coachlittlez23 My baby, who is at a similar age, is not shy at all about requesting more entertainment if she wants it.

 

[immanent_escha]

@valentin Same, I let mine play independently and he shouts at me when he wants me to join

 

[triplet]

@valentin Mine does the pterodactyl screech

 

[mcarans]

@triplet Ours does this in the morning when he's happy. I'll go in to his room and suddenly think I've been transported to the Cretaceous period.

 

[pelipeli]

@coachlittlez23 you can engaged with her without performing. just talk to her. show her things. do chores and narrate them for her. mine loves to sit in his high chair (reclined for baby) and watch me cook as I explain what I'm doing. he has a blast.

 

[cornelius1988]

@pelipeli Also babies get engagement from the most random things cause everything is brand new to them. We have our swing near a window so our LO can see the sky, trees etc

 

[lindayanet]

@pelipeli My second also loves a mummy cooking show! Especially if her big sister (22 month age gap) is helping. I think my eldest is the primary source of joy for no.2, they will do tummy time together and my eldest shows off her favourite toys. We all have a great time

 

[bassgasmask]

@coachlittlez23 Leave them to play alone for a bit, unless they aren’t crying it’s good for them to play independently

 

[rorymoran]

@bassgasmask Yep! It is good for babies to experience boredom and have time to look around. Imagine if you were trying to sit quietly in a new place with your thoughts and someone got right in your face singing and dancing. It can be a bit much!

 

[alxlee1]

@bassgasmask Agreed with this!

Also, if you're like me and need "more" from just letting your baby play independently, remember that babies need time to learn how their body moves. They won't get as much practice if they're being constantly engaged. My LO learned to roll, blow spit bubbles, swing at toys, suck fists, all while alone in her playard with some toys.

 

[bassgasmask]

@alxlee1 Lol our will only suck her fist if we aren’t looking, the second we look she stops

 

[dykema17]

@bassgasmask My baby has learned to suck on his fists in such an exaggerated manner. It’s comical.

He’s either tired but can’t sleep or he’s hungry so everyone from the roof to the foundation of this house must hear about it!