Hellobee Boards Topic: Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:56:44 +0000 littlebittyhouse on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-580334 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:15:12 +0000 littlebittyhouse 580334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ i feel like a weirdo! I legit barely put him down. Maybe because I knew I'd be going back to work?? edelweiss on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-580311 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:09:27 +0000 edelweiss 580311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ i think i'd go crazy if i had to keep him entertained for all the time he was awake, as limited as it may seem. i just came to that realization today, so that i can let go a little and stop pressuring myself to interact with him all the time, and just let him be. it was affecting his sleep routine because i felt like if i couldn't entertain him, he should be sleeping, and i think i've been trying to put him down for naps and bedtime too early. if if just let him chill out a bit, i think we can both relax more! meredithNYC on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-580263 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:57:17 +0000 meredithNYC 580263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think this is fine! As others have noted, it's a good idea for children to learn independence. I was like this with my LO and still am. Although she is only 9 months old, she is a pretty independent girl, which allows me to get things done around the house. I really appreciate that I'm able to do that. sarac on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-580250 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:53:08 +0000 sarac 580250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ From the very start I did not believe in constantly playing with my daughter. She has always had time with me, time near me but not being entertained by me, and time to hang with herself. At 17 months she's gone through clingy and not clingy phases, but is in general really self entertaining despite being VERY attached to me. ladyfingers on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-580191 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:40:48 +0000 ladyfingers 580191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @hilary: Substitute Grey's Anatomy for Live with Kelly and Michael and you have my life. Also, when would I Hellobee if I was constantly interacting with my child? ;) pinkcupcake on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-580124 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:23:11 +0000 pinkcupcake 580124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I constantly held/played with LO when she was an awake. She's a year now, and I feel like she doesn't really know how to play independently since someone was always with her. hilary on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-579913 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:33:28 +0000 hilary 579913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I let my little one chill sometimes and play others. A balance of both is good because who wants a kid that has to be entertained constantly? Plus then who's going to do the laundry and the watching of Live with Kelly and Michael on the DVR? Oh wait, that's just me. Dandelion on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-579894 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:30:09 +0000 Dandelion 579894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yeah, ds sat in the bouncy chair or swing quite a bit. I'd turn it for him to see something interesting, like one of the pets or something colorful to interest him. It's good for them to have some time to theirselves. :) buffalove on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-579874 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:27:02 +0000 buffalove 579874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I definitely let DS hang out by himself when he was that age, especially if he was happy to chill out. sera_87 on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-579858 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:24:38 +0000 sera_87 579858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yep, I do this now, but didnt at 3 weeks. He's crawling around now so I just put him down and keep an eye on him. Andrea on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-579827 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:20:35 +0000 Andrea 579827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I feel guilty doing so but I remind myself that they need independent play time, too. I don't think I did it enough with my first and she was clingy for a really long time so I am doing it a lot more with my second now! hilsy85 on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-579788 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:13:08 +0000 hilsy85 579788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Exactly like @mrskc said. Also, if I hadn't had some time to myself to do the dishes or just stare into space/not have to talk to anyone (including baby) I would have gone insane! littlebittyhouse on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-579782 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:11:58 +0000 littlebittyhouse 579782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ i mostly wore him in the moby when he was that little so i would talk and sing and just plain stare at him when he was awake! ladyfingers on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-579771 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:09:15 +0000 ladyfingers 579771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrskc: He does seem to really dig the owls hanging over his pack n play, though I'm sure he sees them more as waving blobs than anything else. ;) googly-eyes on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-579768 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:08:56 +0000 googly-eyes 579768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Sometimes I left her in the swing sometimes or on the floor on a blanket. Lots of times I was taking pics of her at around 3 weeks old! The amount of independent time she got increased as her wake times got longer. mrskc on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-579760 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:06:56 +0000 mrskc 579760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I definitely would just let him lay on the floor sometimes. You can't entertain them all the time. Plus, I think some independent play time is good. Although a newborn doesn't do much playing. But it's good for them to kick their legs and move their arms. ladyfingers on "Do you always hang out with your newborn when they're awake?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-hang-out-with-your-newborn-when-theyre-awake#post-579750 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:05:05 +0000 ladyfingers 579750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO has a few awake periods each day, but sometimes I just let him chill in his pack n play, making noises to himself. Of course if he starts to really fuss or cry, I'll get him, but I feel guilty letting him just hang out by himself sometimes! He's only 3 weeks old, so when awake I'll do tummy time or talk to him or walk him around the house, but there's only so much I can do with him. Am I a bad mom, or do other people just let their newborn hang out sometimes as long as they're changed, fed, and seem OK with it in general?