Intro and question about play-time with an infant

[sep509bride]

Hi all!

I've mostly been a lurker lately, but I might be officially joining you all in the near future as a SAHM, and I have a question that's on my mind.

I have two girls, ages 3 years and 7 months. When DD1 was born I worked full-time while DH was in school. He graduated last summer, just before DD2 was born, and I cut back to 3 days a week. Since then we've been talking about if it might work for me to SAH completely, and have been considering finances and all the other angles. With the past three months of illness after illness for the two girls (I feel like I've called in more days than I've actually been able to work), we are leaning in the direction of me staying home for the next few years until they're a little older. 

Ideally we would like to keep DD1 in preschool 2-3 days per week, but DD2 would stay home with me until she is preschool-aged. My question is, at 7+ months old, how do you know that you're doing enough with them, developmentally? With DD1 in daycare they seemed to always be doing art projects, sensory activities, etc. I'm not a naturally crafty person, and on the days that I have the girls home I'm usually trying to catch up on errands and things around the house. Play-time tends to be geared toward the 3-year-old's interests (and demands ), so I feel like I don't know how to play with just a baby anymore!

Thanks in advance, ladies! (And gentlemen!)

[ooohburn]

I've had this same worry! The only thing I try to do is to have him play less with the talking/musical toys and more with blocks, stacking rings, etc more. I make sure that I read him a few books a day and that I sing to him but other than that, I dont think there's a whole lot you can do. We go to Kindermusik and storytime but other than that, it's just play time at home and going to the park for walks.

I mean, think about babies 100 years ago. Moms didn't have time to sit around doing sensory activities with them and they turned out fine

Were they really doing that many activities with an infant in daycare? I kind of figured that the infant room at a daycare consisted of naps, feeding, tummy time, reading, and time in the jumper. I assumed the more structured activities waited until they moved up to the toddler room.

[sep509bride]

ooohburn, a lot of the day is taken up with napping, feeding, etc, but they do seem to spend a lot of time singing along to songs like The Wheels on the Bus or playing with spaghetti noodles in a big tub, etc. They send home a lot of cute Pinterest-type pictures made with their hand prints and foot prints. Otherwise I think you're right that a lot of the more structured activities don't really start until the toddler room.

[lo95]

I relate to this worry. As a teacher I'm used to lesson planning and so to have no lesson plan for my own kid and day drives me nuts in a way. But honestly, I've tried painting in a bag with DD and she doesn't get it.
I've tried baby sign language and she doesn't get it. The things that seem so good leave me frustrated. What she does love is "cruising"/walking any chance she gets, getting out of the house to look at anything/everything, and laughing. So I try to do as much of that as I can. But the guilt feeling is real.

[cam]

Welcome. I'm sure you are doing plenty with your LO. Others gave good advice.

[ashiscute]

Welcome! I have a 7 mo plus a 5 yo and 3 yo. Playtime is def centered around the big kids here but I don't see that as a negative. I think at this age they need to hear you speak, touch things, move around on the floor, etc. Everyone is different but all that sensory stuff is just a bonus at this age.