https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 16:58:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1814613 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 17:04:17 +0000 shortcake 1814613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs.lion: great article. </p> <p>I think some activity and engagement is good and too much (and too often) it can be way overstimulating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1782383 Fri, 25 Jul 2014 18:33:27 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1782383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a really really good article about what independent play looks like for babies. It might help some of you that are feeling any guilt about letting your babies (and young children) have uninterrupted play time! </p> <p><a href="http://www.janetlansbury.com/2012/11/7-myths-that-discourage-independent-play/" rel="nofollow">http://www.janetlansbury.com/2012/11/7-myths-that-discourage-independent-play/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1782284 Fri, 25 Jul 2014 16:49:40 +0000 anandam 1782284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm doing about the same you are (but less organized) and I also feel needless guilt when his awake time isn't getting my undivided attention (even if he seems perfectly content to watch me hang the laundry to dry or whatever). I guess we're doing fine :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780984 Fri, 25 Jul 2014 09:02:03 +0000 Alivoo01 1780984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think I really interacted or said much to my infant at all! I don't know if it was postpartum hormones or what, but I just stared at him all the time, speechless. In my head, I knew I should be interacting with him, but it couldn't come out! So weird!! So I'd just lay him in his boppy for a while or give him tummy time with the music, etc. and just watched. It wasn't until he was a bit older and more alert that I started singing/talking to him. He's 1 now and is super vocal and interactive. </p> <p>You're doing a fantastic job! As your LO gets older, you too will slowly find more things to do and it'll be more fun! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780777 Fri, 25 Jul 2014 08:13:29 +0000 NovBaby1112 1780777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This was one thing where I will do things differently next time. When LO was a newborn, I felt this huge amount of pressure and anxiety to constantly interact with her. I felt so guilty if I had to set her down for even 5 minutes so I could do something. It sounds like you are doing a great job balancing! Agree with others- some down time and no interaction is good for them, and I will def ease up on myself next time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780642 Fri, 25 Jul 2014 07:16:43 +0000 illumina 1780642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know it's hard not to worry, but honestly you are doing an amazing job and your errands etc. are probably really interesting for LO anyway! I mean, my LO is 10 months and there are days/weekends where she is just along for the ride and she does better on those days, even though she's in the Ergo ALL day, than days at home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780601 Fri, 25 Jul 2014 06:52:46 +0000 looch 1780601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A lot, not because I am so fantastic, but I was losing my mind if I wasn't doing something. My son's favorite "game" was soccer. I'd set him up in the boppy and i'd toss a small fabric ball at his feet and he'd wave his feet around. He thought it was hilarious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780579 Fri, 25 Jul 2014 06:43:55 +0000 Anagram 1780579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think I went out of my way to interact all the time. We went on a lot of walks and "play dates" (at that age, it was more like mommy meet ups where the babies just chilled), lots of errands, lots of her chilling while I pumped, lots of tummy time, some crib mobile time.......and then short burst of interaction from me. Lots of staring in the mirror, pointing out different objects in the house, some singing and cuddling.</p> <p>Honestly, it's similar for us now! I'm doing my morning pump and LO is entertaining herself by going all over the room, opening cabinets and pulling books off the bookshelf, playing at her play table, trying to climb inside an Amazon box. Hehe </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780545 Fri, 25 Jul 2014 06:28:44 +0000 Adira 1780545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like you're doing well! I always had to pump after feeding, so I'd just put him on his activity mat while I did that. Then I might read to him. He'd do tummy time at some point. And sometimes we went for a walk. There's not a whole lot of interacting at this age! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780471 Fri, 25 Jul 2014 03:01:26 +0000 Dandelion 1780471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds about right. Once M could hold his head up well, he's been more fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780385 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 22:41:41 +0000 Applesandbananas 1780385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: 45 minutes to an hour, sometimes he slept through most of play group or our walk through the mall lol. We had the stroller frame that the infant bucket seat snapped into so if he zonked in the car, I'd just snap him into the stroller frame and go! I was very fortunate to have a laid back, nap on the go kiddo. He's not that laid back anymore :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780250 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 20:55:56 +0000 daniellemybelle 1780250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: Exactly. At that age, just watching &amp; listening to you is plenty! I wouldn't stress over it. One day you'll look up &amp; she will be begging for interaction! :)</p> <p>I will say I wish I just snuggled &amp; had quiet time with LO. At 9 months she's so on the move - I miss those snuggly newborn days! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780230 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 20:45:58 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1780230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: She actually loved to chill on her own for awhile when she was really little (now, too!). Her favourite thing was to lie on the couch beside me and just kick my legs. She definitely needed her 'space' - so I wasn't interacting with her constantly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780219 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 20:41:14 +0000 reverie 1780219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>honestly I remember asking more senior mamas when they started actually interacting with their babies b/c my little guy didn't seem interested in much at that age. Almost everyone said around 3.5 months they start to like play with toys and interact more compared to 10 weeks. At this age I basically just held and talked to him! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780216 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 20:38:41 +0000 Mae 1780216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is all making me feel a little bit better about letting her chill by herself when necessary! I didn't think about it as learning to entertain herself, but that is probably a good idea!</p> <p>@Meridian: I had no clue either. I feel like every time my mom comes down to stay with us I learn something. It had never even occurred to me to sing to her until I heard my mom do it! :) </p> <p>@Applesandbananas: that sounds like a great schedule! It sounds like your LO could stay awake a decent amount of time? Ever since Fia fell into this schedule I've been hesitant to go out because I'm not quite sure how with it! Once I wake her up, diaper change, and feed her-- I only have 45 min before she starts an epic tired meltdown and needs a nap. She will nap in her car seat if she's really tired, but taking her into/out of the car wakes her up. So I just don't know how to go out anywhere that will take me more than 45 min-1hr max round trip (i.e. grocery store or target if I really book it haha) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780151 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 20:16:08 +0000 deerylou 1780151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We spent a good deal of awake time outside the house. We live in an apartment, and I started to feel claustrophobic, pretty quickly. </p> <p>Some of the things we enjoyed around that time:</p> <p>-lots of beach walks, in the wrap or ergo<br /> -trips to the local library (walking distance)<br /> -visits to the pet supply store to see the colorful fish<br /> -strolls through the butterfly sanctuary<br /> -checking out the plots at the community garden (she always seemed to love sunflowers)</p> <p>We didn't have a nap schedule that early on, but DD was great about falling asleep in the carrier, car or stroller. I would have probably been less liberal about being out so often if we had been more schedule-focused. </p> <p>I also prioritized independent play, and didn't feel badly about giving her time to explore her surroundings. I believe it was a good thing; now, at a year old, she's pretty darn good about entertaining herself. </p> <p>We didn't join official playgroups until she was a little older, but I got together with some moms (and their babes) in my birth group every so often. It was nice to chat and reconnect. We started attending a baby story-time at around five or six months, which she still seems to enjoy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780114 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 20:03:45 +0000 Meridian 1780114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Favoriting this for future reference because I don't know how to engage with a newborn! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780064 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 19:49:15 +0000 immabeetoo 1780064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I gave him time on his own each day to chill and entertain himself. As he got older the time got longer. I'm soooo glad I did because independent playtime is invaluable now that he's a toddler! I'd say he just hung out at least 50% of his waking tw as an infant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780052 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 19:44:34 +0000 Applesandbananas 1780052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>By 10 weeks i had gone batshit crazy being stuck in the house, so we had an out of house activity every day. Tuesdays and Fridays were different playgroups, Monday was grocery shopping, Wednesday we visited DH at work and Thursday we walked around the mall! </p> <p>So our day was wake up, diaper change, eat, tummy time/books/soft toys, bath, change clothes, eat, nap (and I showered, prepped for leaving the house) then he'd wake up, diaper change, eat, leave the house, insert whatever activity, he'd usually eat before we left the activity, then would fall asleep in the car and I'd let him take that nap in the infant bucket seat in the house, then he'd get up, diaper change, eat, I'd make dinner and he'd watch from his rnp. I played music and turned on the ceiling fan, but he was mostly entertained by me talking/singing to him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1780003 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 19:28:06 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1780003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dont feel bad about having awake time that isnt interactive! All of those things are great, but babies need time to take in the world around them. Just being alive is stimulating for them, and they need that uninterupted time to learn too :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1779990 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 19:24:38 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 1779990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do similar stuff! I feel bad too but DH says letting him sit alone is good for stimulation and independent play! So I just go with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1779983 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 19:23:26 +0000 fussygal 1779983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've always wondered this, too. We do a lot of the same stuff (sing, read, playmat, tummy time, "chat" and laugh at each other, watch the ceiling fan lol). She's been crazy active the past few weeks and I feel like we go through our cycle of activities much quicker now and we need something new to spice it up! I think she's old enough now to go to our library's story time so we might try that. She loves to see other babies!</p> <p>I always feel super guilty when she's not being interacted with, but sometimes she really is content to just play on her own for a few minutes. My mom finally convinced me it's good for her to be independent once in a while. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1779979 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 19:21:05 +0000 Mae 1779979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Keeping it real: right now I'm holding her and we are watching house bc oddly it's the only thing keeping her from screaming right now. Knuckle biting drama. Lol </p> [attach=4140/14/n98rn5.450x600.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1779971 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 19:19:14 +0000 meredithNYC 1779971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since I had a spring baby, I would try to go out for walks every chance we got. I hated being cooped up and figured the fresh air and new sounds and sights (though I know it's a bit limited as to how much they see) would do her good. When we were at home, I didn't tend to interact a ton, honestly. She spent a lot of time on her activity mat and I moved her around from room to room for a change of pace. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1779969 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 19:18:45 +0000 fairy 1779969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did basically exactly what you say! I would try to actively interact with her but sometimes I would put her in a jumper or baby gym while I got things done around the house, etc. At that young age just being awake us stimulating for them so don't feel too guilty!</p> <p>Fun things to do with infants:<br /> Reading books<br /> Tummy time<br /> Show them a mirror<br /> Simple baby yoga (toes to the nose, etc)<br /> Play music/Sing songs<br /> Peekaboo/Airplane etc<br /> Go on a walk with her</p> <p>They learn so much by just observing the world :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-time-dodid-you-spend-actively-interacting-with-your-young-infant#post-1779947 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 19:09:50 +0000 Mae 1779947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This isn't a situation where I'm worried I'm doing it "wrong" so much as I'm just curious what everyone else does! I have no real baby experience so I'm just sort of making it up as I go along :) </p> <p>LO is 10 weeks old and we've fallen sort of (some days) into a rough 3 hour EASY schedule. With each cycle it takes about 15 min to get her up from her nap and change her, 30 min to feed and burp her, and then I only have about 45 min before she is tired and wanting to go down for another nap. I usually try to make that 45 min pretty active with her by reading to her, singing to her, putting her in her bumbo and talking to her, and letting her play on her play mat (batting at the toys and tummy time). Usually once/day I lay her on my bed because she likes watching the fan and I sing to her while I fold laundry. </p> <p>But sometimes life gets in the way and I need to eat or pump or run errands or do something else and she is just sort of along for the ride at that point. I always feel bad when she's awake and not being interacted with... but that's sort of life! </p> <p>How about everyone else? What stuff do you do with your young infant? (I could use the ideas because our routine is getting a little stale lol) Do you feel bad when they are just sort of hanging out/along for the ride? :) </p>