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thread: Entertaining an 8 week old

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    SE suburbs, Vic
    1,377

    Question Entertaining an 8 week old

    What do you do to entertain an 8 week old?

    She seems to cry a lot at the moment & I think its because she is bored. Generally she's fed & changed, isnt hot or cold.
    We have tried reading, singing, music, etc but that doesnt seem to work

    Any ideas?

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Feb 2004
    Melbourne
    11,171

    Does she have some toys to look at? At this point she won't be able to hold them, but would like to look at them. Going for walks is good too, let her see the outside world

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Add Sammiejane on Facebook

    Aug 2007
    Melbourne
    2,654

    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

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    S/West Sydney
    1,794

    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

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jan 2007
    7,197

    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!

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Add ~clover~ on Facebook

    Sep 2007
    travelling
    9,557

    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.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Jan 2004
    3,903

    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

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    In a land of bubbles and trouble
    1,479

    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 .......

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Sep 2005
    In the middle of nowhere
    9,362

    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.

  10. #10
    BellyBelly Member

    Jun 2005
    Sydney
    2,121

    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......

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Jun 2007
    374

    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.

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    SE suburbs, Vic
    1,377

    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!!!

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Jan 2006
    8,369

    Singing, playing games where you sort of throw the baby around (like Down at the bottom of the deep blue sea or pretending baby is an aeroplane), dancing together, DS used to love sitting in his chair or in his carrier and watching me do things, tummy time was great and he was rolling over before 8w, I tried him with toys but not interested, he would rather I read him books (such as Narnia or Harry Potter - I needed something interesting!) and we cuddle and do jobs together.

  14. #14
    BellyBelly Member

    Feb 2007
    3,734

    i was going to say my ds loved music and if i would dance with him.
    also to sit inhis bouncer or swing and watch whatever i was doing - or in the carrier.
    also he LOVED going for walks in those days - watching the world go by, leaves etc etc and the changing light. enjoy!!

  15. #15
    Registered User
    Add Sammiejane on Facebook

    Aug 2007
    Melbourne
    2,654

    I will also agree with the cot mobile... ours is on the change table.
    CMHN told me very early on that cots are for sleeping not playing and a mobile is a play thing and doesnt help them at an early age.

    Also have you tried a sling? Sometimes i wouldwear MJ when i was doing the housework, that way she was with me and i was getting things doen

  16. #16
    Registered User
    Add Sammiejane on Facebook

    Aug 2007
    Melbourne
    2,654

    Oh and another thing that i just thought of, I bought MJ these lamaze hand and feet rattles, the hand ons velcro on like braclets and the feet ones are on soks, she loves them and when she was really young it encouranged her to move her hands and legs... the rattles are little bugs and butterflies so greatto look at... she still loves them i put the sock on her hand and she pulls it off and plays with it

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    SE suburbs, Vic
    1,377

    Thanks for your replies ladies

  18. #18
    2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    May 2007
    Brisbane
    5,310

    Sal, get a swing. It's the best thing I've ever bought! I put her next to our big glass doors and she watches the trees for a while. Gives me some much needed time out so I can have a (hot!) coffee (probably should use it to do dishes and allt hat, but coffee always seems so much more important! lol!).

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