https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:32:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-382804 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:09:24 +0000 MamaCate 382804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: I just wanted to add that I felt silly talking to LO at the beginning and it was easier for me to sing to her about what we were doing or looking at. So I would hold her and make up a little song about whatever--the weather, the books, her clothes, her room--to some silly tune. Might be worth a shot?</p> <p>PPs gave you lots of good advice too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-382716 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 23:20:50 +0000 Kemma 382716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I babble away to my wee one (she's 3 weeks old), we count the domes on her onesie's and she stares at her black and white book, but apart from that we just hang out together :-)</p> <p>LO has actually started to make a few babbly noises lately which is kinda cool, now I'm hanging out for her first smiles! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-382713 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 23:19:10 +0000 pinkcupcake 382713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The early days were pretty dull: feed. Diaper change. Cry. Hold/rock. Sleep. Rinse. Repeat :) I barely took her out until she was over six weeks old nd even then, the outings weren't very enjoyable since she was fussy and I was so terrified of being out with her. I talked to her a lot and although it was weird at first, it slowly became normal. I would just narrate whatever I was doing. Now it's second nature :)</p> <p>I think once your lo is a little older and interactive, there will be more to do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-382698 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 23:00:01 +0000 skibobrown 382698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's easy to think you're not doing enough with your newborn, but don't worry... your baby will become more interactive in a few months, and then it will be more obvious what to do with your time together. I was most happy with my newborn when I went out for a walk, to a coffee shop, or to a mom's group. At home I watched a lot of TV while DD ate and napped. I know babies aren't supposed to watch TV, but guess what? Newborns don't do much of anything, and they are kind of boring company. These days things are totally different. DD is 7 months, and she always wants to play, move, eat, and "chat". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-382675 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 22:36:04 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 382675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hummusgirl: Yes! Pandora toddler radio = such a help. We still do that a lot today, at 5.5 months. Lots of chatter and just relaxing and hanging out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-382652 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 22:03:38 +0000 sarac 382652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: I really think that's the best way to do it. The foundation of a healthy parent-child attachment starts from birth, and taking care of them in a loving and attentive way is the absolute best way to do that. A baby who can't even focus their eyes doesn't need toys shaken at it, it needs warmth and snuggling and a lovely world to see. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-382534 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 20:33:21 +0000 sorrycharlie 382534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarac: I do exactly this!</p> <p>she's basically my little buddy. she comes with me, I talk and sing to her, hold her often. just this week we started fun tummy time and she really loves just chatting - she social smiles now, which is awesome.</p> <p>the past couple weeks she'll play on her play mat (it's set up in her crib, she sleeps in our room right now). she's getting more and more into it as the days go by, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-381802 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:45:02 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 381802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stare at him:) as he sleeps. He isn't interested in much other than eating, burping and napping. I am oK with it at this point because I'm still trying to rest after pregnancy and labor---I like that he's so laid back:)<br /> (During the day- at night he doesn't sleep but that's a story for another thread!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-381794 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:41:57 +0000 sarac 381794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Feel free to resist the idea that you need to provide activities for your newborn. Meeting their needs, loving them, providing them with a world to practice focusing their eyes at. These are the kinds of activities your newborn needs. I mostly just went on with my life at that age. I went out to eat, to book stores, for a lot of walks and little hikes. I met mommy friends and hung out. Basically I just fit her into my own life in a way that provided lots of real world stimulation until she was old enough to do her own things at around 5 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-381756 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:32:24 +0000 Pink Champagne 381756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There isn't much. DS is 12 weeks old and we now have "playtime" on his gym mat, and I sit him on my knees and we "talk"... but other than that, there isn't much. He's just now showing interest in toys, and it's not like he's sitting up yet, so it's hard.<br /> It gets MUCH better when they start smiling- you feel like it's the best reward you've ever gotten in your life!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-381749 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:30:56 +0000 hummusgirl 381749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm right there with you. I just make myself talk about random things (which was hard at first since I'm not that chatty). Like today we took a "tour" of our refrigerator magnets and I basically just talked in a stream-of-conscious way about the significance of each one ("This magnet is from the Ben &amp; Jerry's factory when Mommy visited Vermont. Ben &amp; Jerry's is ice cream. When you're older, you can eat ice cream! My favorite flavor is..."). It's silly but turns out I have plenty to say. </p> <p>My other trick is turning on Pandora's toddler radio station and singing to him all animated like a crazy person. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-381742 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:29:08 +0000 BeachMama 381742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with everyone else. Theres not much to do. We'd go for a walk. I'd talk to her throughout the day but it was almost more to keep myself company. At that age they're totally uninterested in toys or anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-381727 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:22:56 +0000 winniebee 381727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just add that my son became more interested in "playing" probably around 6 weeks. 8 weeks was like a lightswitch went off in terms of personality - started smiling, etc. 12 weeks was another big jump. Biggest jump wsa probably around 4 months when his personality really started coming out and he became much much more engaging. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-381098 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:45:50 +0000 SugarplumsMom 381098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I totally agree with @London Mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-381090 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:43:50 +0000 London Mama 381090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They don't call the first three months of a baby's life the fourth trimester for nothing! In the early days it's mostly about keeping them alive and once LO gets closer to 3 months you'll get so much more out of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-381046 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:33:25 +0000 Bluebonnet 381046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you get the Baby Center emails? Each week there is a section that talks about development and things to do to help LO develop (like pop goes the weasel, peek a boo, etc). </p> <p>Singing and playing music is also very good for babies. It helps with language development. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-381006 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:22:30 +0000 mediagirl 381006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not much. I talked to her, fed her, put her in the swing, in the bouncer, etc. There wasn't much TO do with her at an early age. I like the idea of just survival. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-380995 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:20:42 +0000 hilsy85 380995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: ha yes! Survival for sure...I have trouble talking to him in the mornings because i'm still half asleep and hoping he'll go back to sleep if I don't stimulate him too much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-380994 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:19:07 +0000 Mrsbells 380994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As newborns its all about survival. I still talked to my baby a lot. But there wasnt much I could do with her till she was about 5 weeks and started responding to me </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-380986 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:17:34 +0000 hilsy85 380986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: @sloaneandpuffy: ok so sounds like our routine is pretty typical :) @shopaholic: thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-380979 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:16:37 +0000 hilsy85 380979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meredithNYC: @betsyboop: Thanks! i know it's important to talk to him, but I feel so silly and don't know what to say, lol--it's like talking to myself! I think once he starts responding to my voice, it'll be easier. @hellobeeboston: good to know it's not just me! :) I think I'll also start reading to him from what I'm reading--that reminds me of the scene in Three men and a baby, where Tom Selleck is reading the baby the sports page :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-380973 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:15:34 +0000 winniebee 380973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds about right! I followed eat play sleep pretty much and play would be - sing songs to him or put him in my lap and talk to him....read him books (he wasn't interested)....put him on his playmat...show him toys and pictures (wasn't interested). Took him on walks, cuddled, he liked being outside, too. Some of it felt pointless, but it was nice to set up a little routine for when he became interested in those things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-380966 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:15:04 +0000 mamimami 380966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't do much with her! The talking thing is easier now that in on my second child though. With my first sometimes I would read aloud to him from whatever I was reading. Novels, hahaha. Obviously the subject matter didn't faze him. Sometimes I also do little exercises like opening an closing babies' arms and bending and stretching the legs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-380956 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:13:00 +0000 hellobeeboston 380956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I talk to him, especially in the morning - I feel like he really responds to my voice, but maybe not - I just say dumb stuff and talk about our day. DH also reads to him every day(he is reading him aloud the book he is reading, not a kids book)... But besides that I feel the same! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-380946 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:10:43 +0000 shopaholic 380946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Awww... I think at this age it's a common feeling you're having. I'm subscribing so I can get tips too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-380941 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:09:48 +0000 betsyboop 380941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely felt like this when my LO was that young! My friends told me how important it was to talk to your baby, but when she was that young, it felt so awkward! As your LO gets older and develops a personality, talking to him will become more natural, don't worry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-380934 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:06:04 +0000 meredithNYC 380934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remember this feeling well! We didn't do much, to be honest. Lots of walks, hanging out on the play mat, and sometimes "reading" books. I mean, mostly just showing her the pictures, but it was something. And we would often walk around the house and I would point out objects. It will get better in a month or so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-do-with-your-newborn#post-380925 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:03:29 +0000 hilsy85 380925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lo is almost 3 weeks old, and for most of the day, it's a pattern of eat, change, sleep, and repeat. I sometimes feel guilty that I'm not doing more with him. We do go out on a walk every day, and I put him on his activity mat for tummy time. He does have longer periods of awake time (sometimes up to an hour and a half or so) and I feel like I should be doing something special during those times. What do you do with your newborn when they're awake? </p> <p>Also, does anyone else find it hard to talk to their newborn? I feel like I'm carrying on a conversation with myself--awkward! </p>