My DD also only sleeps for about 30-45 minutes at a time. At 10 weeks, she was doing that every two hours right through the day. So she was awake for about an hour each time before it was time to start getting her ready for another nap.
At 10 weeks your son is discovering his body in lots of ways. Has he found his hands and feet yet? (he may not have - there is lots of variation in this) Give him things to look at and reach for, and things to kick at with his feet when he discovers them.
Let him play with looking at your face, and the different expressions you can make.
Encourage him to be vocal by imitating back at him the sounds he makes to you. He is already learning how to have a "conversation" in which one person says something, then the other person says something, and so on. Try to listen to what he has to say, and take it as a serious comment - he'll appreciate the attention.
Make sure you give him plenty of "tummy time". 10 times a day for 30 seconds to a minute is good, according to my MCHN. Put toys in front of him to reach for.
My DD was not able to play by herself at this age. She needed someone there. But it was possible to sit beside her doing my own thing while she was investigating the dangly toys on her playmat.
I wouldn't let any of my friends, even close trusted friends, mind my baby because she doesn't know them. It's not just about me trusting someone, it's about her knowing that person. The only person who has minded her so far, and that only for a couple of hours, is my Mum, who she sees every couple of days. Your experiences might be different, but that's how I feel about it. I'm too tired to go out at night anyway. Daytime coffees are good!
Hugs to you - that start to parenthood would spook anyone, you are doing well.
I agree with jasp, come and join our baby buddies group, you will get plenty of support there.
As for play with my 10 1/2 week old, we do lots of 'chatting' and things to help her discover her body and new sounds. Things like crawling/fluttering my fingers up and down her arms, legs, body and head (she cracks a huge smile with the fluttering fingers on her face) peek a boo, holding her hands and feet and moving then around (cycling motion with the feet, row row row your boat with hands) and having a handful of items that make different noises (toys, alfoil, baking paper, cellophane) and either scrunching them in front of her face or attaching them to her hands and feet and let her make the different sounds by scrunching, moving or kicking - baking paper with a little hole for her foot to go through is a winner at the moment!
Hi Im probably not much help cz I have a toddler and tbh preggy brain is sheilding me from those newborn memories (I had the child that would only sleep on me or in his car seat no in between for the first 6 weeks of life). Just erlax and work out what works for you. I didnt really play with DS as such I sang to him and talked to him nothing really that can be considered playing I guess.
Sleeping was whenever and however long he would and Id just nap with him if I was tired.
im another Cairns mummy and soon to have 3 newborns so if you ever want to chat just email me or PM me. When I had Aiden I had no family or friends where I was so I know how daunting it can be to feel isolated with a dependant. im always up for coffee or a chat if you need someone just to vent to.
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