Ideas for Playtime

Sounds like you're doing a good job to me! You could go get more playmats for a scenery change for her (and you). My little ol' opinion is that you need to do both...spend quality time with her and let her be by herself for you to do your things. That way she won't depend on your for her entertainment. I'm sure a lot of people have already said this to you, but it's true what they say about enjoying the infant stage. Pretty soon they'll be talking back and never sitting still (like my 2 1/2 year old).

If I had to do it over again, I would have tried to get all the neat baby toys...different bouncers, playmats, jumperoo,... And don't worry about your house being messy all the time. That's one thing that really bothered me when I had my son, and I had to learn to let it get dirty so I didn't waste my time cleaning when I could be holding him. :)

I agree with Jennifer. One of the best things I did for my almost 2 year old, is teach her how to play and entertain herself. Make no mistake about it, I did my fair share of holding her, and just staring at her when she was little, but I also utilized all the toys and gadgets I could to help her learn to play by herself. Don't expect her to stay put for very long periods of time, but don't think you have to race to her rescue the second she THINKS she is bored where she is.

A couple of great suggestions (IMO) is to get a Bumbo seat to help her learn to sit up early (just Google Bumbo seat). And don't forget to give her interesting, high-contrast things to look at wherever she is sitting. (I even put them in/around my DD's crib, so she would have something to keep her mind occupied when she woke up. It helped her NOT lose her mind immediately, and seemed to help her fall asleep by herself easier, too.) Here is a link to a site with FREE downloadable/printable images...

http://www.envisagedesign.com/ohbaby/infstim/graphics.html

Of course, it is very important to spend that one on one, bonding time, too. So don't feel guilty about soaking up every second you can while she is still little. Same old saying, I know, but it really does go by so quickly! I miss all those baby phases, but love every new stage my DD hits! Enjoy it while it lasts! Even try to memorize that sweet baby smell, because it too fades. :(

You sound like you are doing a fantastic job of mothering! Lucky baby!! :)

Hope that helps!

I always worried/wondered if I was giving my baby enough stimulation or what the heck I should be doing with her at this age! I read your other post about the fact that she sleeps a lot, and all I can say is you are soooooo lucky! My baby never slept at all during the day (she still only sleeps about a total of 2 hours during the day), so I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what to do with her. Sounds to me like you are doing a great job. It is good to interact and give her sometime on her own. Sing her songs, read her books, let her sit in the bouncy, play on her mat, go for walks. My baby really liked looking at baby einstien flash cards at this age. Everyone thought I was crazy, but she would stare at the pictures. I think it is never to soon to read to her and show her pictures in books.
Have fun with it and dont stress too much. This time will pass so quickly!

It's hard to think of it this way, but everything is new and in that sense, is stimulating to your baby. One thing I found to be a life saver was a sling. I would wear my baby around the house and just do my regular things. Babies LOVE this because it's a different perspective and is fun. Or I would put him in his bouncey seat and talk to him while I was cooking. I'd let him see what I was doing and smell what I was making. They learn by not just watching, but engaging the other senses as well (touch, hearing, smell, etc). That's the limitation with videos.

When you think about it, babies didn't used to have bouncers, exersaucers, etc and they grew up to be very intelligent. Now I have all these things too, but they're not a replacement for human interaction imo. What your baby needs, and especially now, is love and interaction, touching, holding, etc...

M.,

I was reading in Baby Minds (a book I would recommend), that a good "game" for that age is to get a small bell or something that makes noise (even a rattle that isn't too heavy), tie it to a wide ribbon. Drape the ribbon over something (like the top of her swing or if you have a toy bar over your boucner) so that the noise object dangles and then tie the other end to your daughter's wrist or ankle. After a while, she'll realize that when she moves her arms or legs, the bell rings. Apparently, this is great fun for a 2 mo old! After a few days of putting it on the same limb, tie the ribbon to a different one (like, if you start with her leg, move it to her arm). This is supposed to help with their problem solving skills.

Here's some information on the book - Baby Minds, Brain Building Games Your Baby Will Love: http://www.enotalone.com/article/4545.html (it's an excerpt from chapter one). I wish I had found this book earlier. They have of fun things to do with baby. I didn't get it until my daughter was 8 mo old, but it's been great getting to better understand what she's capable of at each age and what would be stimulating and fun for her. It's written by the same authors who came up with baby sign language (through their research). It's a very interesting read. I got my copy at Half Price Books.

There is nothing wrong with putting your daughter in a bouncer, a swing, etc. and going about your business. If you continue to play with her during her entire waking time, as she gets older she will expect you to play with her all the time. Put her in her bouncie seat and move her from room to room with you. Put in a video and let her watch Barney or Baby Einstein (they love the music and the bright colors)while you fix dinner or fold clothes. Let your daughter play on the floor so she can develop her muscles. She You will know when she is bored and wants to be moved. Trust me, the more one-on-one time you have the with them, as she gets older the more difficult it will be for her to let you go. Give her some independence.

Hi M.~

First of all. You can never have too much playtime with your baby. It is not possible to spoil your baby by picking them up or playing with them too much. They love this. At this developmental stage their favorite thing in the world is you. The best type of play you can have with them is one that involves you. Sing silly songs, massage her toes, interact with her face. The best type of play is face to face play. Babies are drawn to the human face, especially that of their mother. They will continue to vocalize and socially smile when you reinforce it. They also love looking at contrasting colors. Tummy time is so so important. Play with her on the floor on a blanket and maybe put a mirror next to her so she can look at her reflection. Babies at this age are learning how to adjust to life outside the womb. This is not something that they do by themselves. It is completely okay to let your baby experience the bouncy chairs, swings, etc. They are taking in the world around them. With that said, attachment is a huge part of this stage of development. Playing with them is another way of helping them building lasting strong attachments. I totally recommend slings, baby carriers, etc. Always watch for signals that your baby has had enough playtime. If they are fussy, looking away from eye contact, real extended with their extremities then reduce their stimulation in their environment and give them a break.

HI there -

I have a 2.5 yr old and a 3 month old and I have found that a good blance of both letting them do there own thing and playing with them worked for us. My oldest is able to go off and play on her own and doesnt need constant attention but at the same time enjoys our interaction. ONe of my favorite things to do with both of them is to go for long walks with the baby facing out in the bjorn (front carrier and bundled up) and talk about what we see in the world around us. The fresh air and exercise does wonders for all of us! Lastly, dont worry so much! You are doing a great job and your kiddo is getting everything they need whether you planned it or not! Keep up the good work!

R.

Before you know it, she will be playing on her own! So when my son was this age I played with him a lot. The house work didn't get done all of the time and cooking was put on hold until my husband got home. It gets a little tiring, but I feel like you are really creating the basis of your relationship during this time, so play! That being said, don't feel guilty when you need to walk away and put her in a swing. It happens.

I also really like the baby sling idea. If you don't know anything about slings, I'm sure you could do a search on baby slings and Dallas and find a short class. I took one at Destination Maternity on LBJ.

M.,
when my son was that age. I got him in the high chair with pillows and put things in front of him. like a tennis ball, leaves, my cat. just for him to feel each texture. he would laugh and grin at stuff that he did and didn't like. of course everything goes to the mouth so i go toys like water bottles with food coloring. dont take for granted the small things. look around your house to get a reaction. a different feeling
L.

I had a bassinet on wheels and rolled my first around the house with me. With my second, we used the high chair a lot. When I was in the kitchen I took the tray off the high chair, reclined it, and sat him in it while I did kitchen stuff. You don't have to really be "in her face" a lot. Her main stimulation will come from your voice and your touch. You can rotate her around to different things every 15 minutes or so. Bouncy chair, swing, crib, play-mat. You could sit her bouncy chair or high chair next to a window where she can look out. My son always looked thoughtful and calm when I did this. While she's sitting around, you can stay near her and do whatever you want -- email, knit, scrapbook. You could play music during all that or sing to her or just talk to her and narrate what you're doing. Sit her in your lap and flip through the pages of a board book. Talk her for a walk (just bundle her up properly) or run an errand.