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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
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 :)
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
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
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!
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.
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
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 ....... :lol:
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.
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......
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. :)
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!!!
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.
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!!
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
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
Thanks for your replies ladies
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!).
Approximately how much are they?
Agree 100 % on the coffee, or a hot chocolate!:D
It depends on what type of swing you get. you can get "take-a-long" smaller swings (there usually cheaper then the other type).
Why not take a look on ebay... i purchased a NEW Jolly Jumper with stand on the weekend for $80... The stands alone are $120 plus the jumper is $60.
You might get a bargin and if not you'll get an idea of what there worth and whats around. Could even pick up a nice used one
I bought a fisher price 3 in 1 (its a seat, rocker and swing) for $150. Though you have a rocker so its probably not for you. I'd say about $100. If you can, try to get an electric one. They're more expensive (I've only ever seen one...) but my swing eats batteries like you wouldnt believe, so they'd probably end up being more economical in the long run!
I could have written Leash's post! The swing was a godsend when Zeke was younger, I'd just move it so he could see what I was doing, and enjoy a coffee, and watch the dishes pile up too! :P I got mine off Ebay for a reasonable price, all we had to do was go pick it up!
I found the bouncer worked better once he started to kick (which meant he could 'rock' himself more) and only if I put it on tile or wood flooring, it doesn't move at all on the carpet. I prefer the bouncer now, as it's more easily portable than the swing, which I find quite heavy.