https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 13 May 2026 05:19:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795788 Sun, 03 Aug 2014 07:52:45 +0000 luckypenny 1795788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My answer to these types of questions is always "if you're asking about how much/how to/what else should I do with my newborn, you're probably already doing it all". Just asking shows you're the type of parent who is interacting and loving toward their baby :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795787 Sun, 03 Aug 2014 07:52:17 +0000 looch 1795787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I played with my son a lot, but it wasn't for him, it was for me. It was really the only way I could get through the long days. I talked and narrated quite a lot, because the silence was the worst for me.</p> <p>I personally don't think my son's ability to entertain himself or not was formed during the first six months of his life. His personality is such that he likes to be around other people, so even now, he will very rarely play fully alone, in another room, without someone at least present. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795782 Sun, 03 Aug 2014 07:48:48 +0000 JerricaBenton 1795782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO nursed an insane amount in the early days. We'd read and sing and play and take walks but she also would sit and coo and look at her toys and the dog and what I was doing around the house. I don't think a baby needs constant stimulation. LO has been able to entertain herself since she was very little and at 17 months she loves to play alone. I really don't think you need to over think it. If your baby is content, you're doing fine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795770 Sun, 03 Aug 2014 07:34:07 +0000 nana87 1795770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lo didn't have much awake time that didn't involve eating during the first 2 months bc we had feeding issues. It wasn't really until 3 months that she got into toys (when she started using her hands), so before then we just talked/sang and did tummy time </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795765 Sun, 03 Aug 2014 07:28:31 +0000 blackbird 1795765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At about week 8, mobiles and mirrors were interesting. Before that, I didn't do much. Life was interesting enough, hehe. Once she cod grasp things at about 12 weeks, I started giving her things that made noise. Otherwise, she just liked to lay back and look up at the fan, be outside, or watch her mobile tinkle around </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795698 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 22:46:29 +0000 Glitter 1795698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS became my new "bff". I would just talk to him all day while sitting with him or wearing him around the house. I'd tell him secrets, explain what i'm doing to him, share thoughts with him, share jokes with him... wow, typing that makes me realise being at home alone with a newborn for an extended period of time makes you behave a little crazy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795688 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 22:25:36 +0000 cookiemomster 1795688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: I do have a ktan we've used a few times, and she seems to enjoy it, I'm just never sure how much she can see of the outside world to observe while she's in it. She usually ends up passing out, which is fine too =)</p> <p>I appreciate everyone's responses so far, it's making me feel much better knowing that leaving her to entertain herself is not just neglect at this stage :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795657 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 21:14:38 +0000 Meowkers 1795657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lauraeabel: I've read that it's important to let your baby entertain themselves for periods of time so they learn how to be by themselves without fussing. Constant stimulation or even always being in the same room when baby is awake can lead to toddlers who don't know how to play by themselves and need constant parent involvement. That's just exhausting and not doable. So sounds like you have nothing to feel bad about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795621 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 20:07:14 +0000 sarahbs 1795621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I honestly didn't do too much in the early months....eating, sleeping, and talking to him was enough. He didn't really get into toys until about 3 or 4 months. I remember worrying and thinking he'd never play with all the toys we had....but now he's almost 6 months and loves them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795572 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 18:32:08 +0000 Tanjowen 1795572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes to all that everybody posted, and our weather became warmer right around when LO was 12 weeks old, so we would spread a thick blanket outside and he would do tummy time out there with a few toys. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795571 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 18:27:17 +0000 catomd00 1795571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We read, sang songs, took walks and did tummy time. I didn't want to over stimulate her with lots of toys that light up and make noises. Youre baby's best toy! Dd is 5 months and just now in the past month starting to really be interested in exploring toys. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795568 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 18:21:40 +0000 mlm2934 1795568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yay glad you posted this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795539 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 17:17:19 +0000 littleredhairedgrl 1795539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>following! A is 11 wks (2 weeks adjusted) and the past few weeks or so has been loving looking out the window and batting at a few dolls. she loves listening to music and my crazy made-up songs. I just ordered her the baby Einstein radio that I read was good for newborns, but I find that she does her overstimulated pretty quickly still. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795514 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 16:41:40 +0000 immabeetoo 1795514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lauraeabel: meh. I don't think of it as being lazy at all! I looked at it as setting a precedent - I promise to love, feed, change you always and sometimes I'll entertain you, but you need to figure that out on your own too ;) Do you babywear at all? My LO used to be happiest when we were out and about. Even though he wasn't playing at play dates when he was that young, he loved looking around and listening. I had time to talk and he was entertained, it was all good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795476 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 15:13:41 +0000 cookiemomster 1795476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: thanks for the tip and the vote of confidence =) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795474 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 15:12:54 +0000 cookiemomster 1795474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: whenever she's awake might be a bit of an overstatement.- I feel bad leaving her alone when she's up just because she sleeps so so much, but there's definitely time when she is awake that we just let her observe. I'm mainly just not sure how much observation time is too much before it's just me being lazy, because I'm paranoid. You're probably totally right though, just because I'm going stir crazy in this house all day doesn't mean she's not finding things to be fascinated by since it's all new to her still. </p> <p>@spaniellove it's good to know where other babies that are a little older are at, gives me something to look forward to =) and the over stimulating thing is probably very true. I do try to go off her cues- not kidding myself into thinking we can have a timed schedule right now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795463 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 15:03:25 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1795463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FYI, try black and white (high contrast) books and toys instead of colorful ones. Babies see that better for the first few months. Our favorite book was Cluck and Moo. You could also try a mirror. But it sounds like you are doing great! I found the newborn stage very difficult. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795447 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 14:27:11 +0000 spaniellove 1795447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>J is 8 weeks and just barely starting to get into toys and the more interactive books. It's still hard to really entice him to look up during tummy time using a toy, but there are times when his face will light up when I bring out his favorite (an Infantino turtle). Honestly what captivates him is looking at the blinds and the slats on his crib...he will keep himself awake looking at that stuff! But with books he's starting to cooperate when I reach his hand out to touch textures in books, or he'll smile at games like "Where is Baby's Belly Button". </p> <p>I think it's still really easy to overstimulate them honestly; when I was trying to go by the clock I was finding it harder to get him to nap than when I actually watched him and only played for short stretches of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795437 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 14:10:43 +0000 immabeetoo 1795437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope I let him hang out and observe the majority of the time. We took walks and read but didn't really go to story time or sing until he was 4 months. I figured being alive and out of the womb is interesting enough for the first few months. He's great at entertaining himself now as a toddler; with a second baby it will be the same program.</p> <p>Making eye contact and interacting whenever a baby is awake sounds exhausting! Make sure to let her have processing and down time too :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795420 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 13:34:39 +0000 night cheese 1795420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following. P is only 11 days old so we're still very much in survival mode, but we try to talk to her and interact as much as possible when she's awake. </p> <p>I'm looking forward to her belly button healing so that we can do tummy time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795413 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 13:25:31 +0000 cookiemomster 1795413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: great idea, thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795338 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 11:08:17 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1795338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When Chloe was about six weeks we'd put her in the pack n play. We had a mobile on the top &amp; hung Jacques the Peacock from the bassinet area. She would kick him and kick him! It was like a game. </p> <p>Then my husband snapped these rings to the side, and she'd kick Jacques while pulling on the rings. It was so much entertainment for her. </p> [attach=1772/14/n9ostu.450x600.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795336 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 11:05:05 +0000 MrsKoala 1795336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did all of those things so I'm sure she isn't bored! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-toysinteraction-question#post-1795332 Sat, 02 Aug 2014 11:03:22 +0000 cookiemomster 1795332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another bee posed this question on our due date facebook group and got some good responses, but I wanted to post it here to see if I could get some more feedback. I think being home alone all days making me paranoid =)</p> <p>Anyway my question is how did you interact with your baby in those first few weeks/couple months? We do tummy time and have a little activity mat thats plays songs /has lights, and we talk to her and make eye contact pretty much... whenever she's awake. My husband reads her books/tells stories, and I've tried showing her colorful board books but I'm not sure her visions quite there. She will track certain toys but not for very long. I also sing to her quite a bit.</p> <p>Just want to make sure there aren't other things I could be doing with/for her or if there were toys other people's brand new babies seemed to enjoy. I get worried she's bored but like I said I may be overthinking things. </p>