Entertaining an 8 week old

[Sammiejane]

Show her herself in the mirror
have you got a bouncer or something similar or the pram even, take her outside when you hang the washing, put her in the kitchen when you cook and talk to her

I will think of some others

[Je$$_84]

My DD was was and is a very curious and alert baby. I would use the rocker, play mat, highchair (ours reclines) talk to her, read, she loves listening to music, watching the cot mobile, just looking at different things.

I would use the carrier and that way she could see what i did, the pram was great not only for walks but also as it had different toys hanging off it. just change things around all the time

[Beach Mama]

Isabelle loved her play mat that had hanging toys down from it and a mirror and crinkly bits as she got older. At other times we would put her in her bouncer with toys hanging off that.
HtH!

[~clover~]

I was going to suggest a cot mobile. They also like to look at the leaves in the wind. DS is fascinated with them still.

[nic]

We had the same and found that if we put DS in his cot with his mobile, he would settle down. We just walk up there every few minutes and wind it back up. He absolutely loves it now.

I have also sat him in his rocker with me in the kitchen while I cook or do the dishes. Sometimes it works great, other times not so great.

Our little man also absolutely loves Nickelback...I kid you not. His fav song is Animals. Some weekends we can sit him in the loungeroom with music on the TV.

We have just started to put him on his play mat, so he can lay there and watch everything above him (one of those rainforest play mats with the animals above them) He might only stay there for 5 minutes, but eventually he will get better and stay there for a bit longer. He was initially like this with his cot mobile.

Nic

[SamiH]

Hi

I am gunna throw something else into the mix - she's not overtired or over stimulated hence the crying = only way to let it out??? I had a cot mobile with DS and it just made him overstimulated and then he couldn't get off to sleep etc ...

If you are already reading/singing/interacting with her - a few toys to look at etc is great if you need to prepare dinner or just eat lunch yourself - but her tolerance won't be very long at this age.

Good luck!!!

PS remind me of what I have written in 2 months time .......

[~Kim~]

What Sami said about the overstimulation...I had to take mine away.

Have you got a carrier? I just used to wear Darcy. SHe wanted to be with me, so it worked great. She hardly ever cried in it.

[mbear]

We have a fisher price swing thing, and whilst it was predominatly in the lounge room, if i needed to put washing away or do something in one of the bedrooms, i would take my baby inthe swing into that room. Sometimes a different room, different surroundings, different colours, is all they need......

[Kristin27]

I agree with the over stimulation, I did that with DD early on, left her in her play gym too long and it was too much for her! Then it took me longer to settle her for sleeps. Ah well we learn these lessons!

I think sitting her in a bouncer looking out a window at trees or watching you do whatever is entertainment enough at this age. HTH.

[Daydream Believer]

It definately not over stimulation, thats why I think she's bored.

We have a carrier it works sometimes, the play mat thing will work for 5-10mins.
I havent tried the rocker in 2 weeks I might get it out & try again
Most of the time we sit quietly on the couch & read or have 1 toy to look/play with

She likes Kisschasey though

Mbear - our house only has 3 rooms we fit in, the lounge/kitchen, the bedrrom & the bathroom LOL Its a shoebox!!
I think I will have to get one of those swing things coz she likes to be rocked or for you to be swaying when you hold her but for some reason doesnt like the rocker

Thanks for your help ladies!!!