Playing with Baby

[seerealsky]

As my husband and I entertained our daughter as she sat in her Boppy, I started to wonder what other parents did to play with their babies. FTMama, I am generally curious to know if there's something to do that I haven't thought of yet or just haven't figured out.

Mina is 3 weeks 4 days, and most of our playtime seems to encourage her developing skills and coaxing smiles out if her. We do a lot of talking to her, and place her in the Boppy--she is lifting her head in the tummy position and looking around a lot sitting "upright". She also likes her swing, but it only entertains her for about 10 to 15 minutes at most before she's ready to move on. Obviously we do a lot of holding and cuddling.

How do you play with your babies?

[serunatu]

I sing nursery rhymes, read books, write the abc's on her belly, show her those flashcards some one linked on here, do "work outs" with her arms and legs, and tell her what I'm doing as I do them. She loves tummy time!

[serunatu]

Feb 2, 2015 23:31:53 GMT -5 bdblz said:

I'm forever convinced I'm not doing enough to play/stimulate LO and therefore doing permanent developmental damage to him.

We do tummy time until he starts screaming (he hates it, unless lying on my chest), and spend time on his playmat, but he still doesn't seem like he recognizes or is focusing on anything. I talk to him and ill read him a story at bedtime, but I feel like I'm slacking big time. LO is 7 weeks tomorrow.

I know what you mean. I feel bad because a big portion of the time I'm just trying to get her to sleep.

[nanamama]

LO is almost 8 weeks. We sing songs every morning while getting ready. I got CDs at my baby shower of my favorite kids tapes from when I was little. (Wee Sing Silly Songs/Bible Songs) so I play that on my phone and we sing along. I talk to her a LOT and we show her different toys and sparkly things and things with lights. Doing more tummy time. Lots of coaxing smiles.

[beckyrosen]

I do tummy time worth LO, I try to talk to her whenever she's alert and I'm doing random things (like cooking or cleaning). I also sing in a weird voice to her (like pretending it's her singing) or I talk to her and have her "talk back" (again, my voice). I have fun playing with her in this way, and also when I sing to her I move her arms or legs like she's dancing. I hope she doesn't grow up thinking I'm crazy lol.

Eta: she's 8 weeks

[birch113]

I have the same concern. I'm always worried that I'm over- or under-stimulating him. I show him the B&W pattern/object flashcards, sing songs, read books, so tummy time and PT exercises (for torticollis), I've introduced rattles and music toys this week, lots of walking around while holding him - he likes to look at the pictures on the wall and out the window, and lots of taking to him and trying to coax smiles. Yesterday was the first day he don't hate the swing, so hopefully that will be able to go into the rotation. His naps have gone to crap, and I have to pump every 2-3 hours and, you know, pee.

[erien22846]

Other than the typical playmat, tummy time, reading, singing, dancing, etc. that have already been mentioned, I dangle toys in front of her eyes for her to track back and forth.

[amyface813]

Feb 2, 2015 23:42:03 GMT -5 rshamos4eva said:

LO is 8 weeks and it has become more fun to interact with him. Tummy time, play mat time, reading, singing, and talking to him. We also play Dance Party USA, which is where I hold him and we dance around the room to music. Not sure if he likes the last one, but I do!

We have dance parties too but the movement usually just puts him to sleep!

I talk and sing to him. Play music for him. We play "the mouth game" where I make faces and he tries to copy me. He doesn't seem too bored...

My nieces were playing tea party with him yesterday and putting spoons and cups up to his mouth. He would open his mouth for them. It was like real life baby doll for them.

[liljsmomma]

We read to LO a lot, sing random songs and nursery rhymes, lots of time on the play mat I usually put a couple if her bears in either side so when she turns her head there is something to look at! Play peek a boo she looks at me like in insane! I talk to her a lot she hates tummy time but we so it everyday! And her swing! Sometimes I feel like I'm not doin. Enough because I'll just out her in her bouncy chair and turn in the fan so I can clean or shower or just take some time for me lol!!

[things]

Read, talk, sing, make faces, play peek-a-boo, "share" music with her, and watch Arrow, The Flash, and other awesome shows.

[nolanova85]

Oh man. I am constantly worried I'm not doing enough. We do the brill kids flash cards, read books (though LO doesn't do that well just being still with me reading unless it's bedtime), tummy time, activity mat, and dance parties. I figure he's only up for usually 1 to 2 hours at a time so I try to play with him for those entire windows (eating usually take 10-20 minutes of that time), but sometimes I start to run out of stuff or just get plain exhausted. I try not to just sit with him and watch TV but it happens from time to time. Youtube also has some good infant stimulation videos. I like ones by Hey Bear. I'll put those on the smart TV and prop him up close enough to see.