What do you do with a 3-month old baby?

[suffolkblonde29]

Hi all,

I'm a first-time mum to a 3-month old baby, and while I love her to bits, I'm finding it hard.

It's not so bad when we're out and about, and I do try to go out and do at least one thing each day, but whenever I'm at home she is grumbly unless I'm giving her constant attention. Obviously it's lovely to talk to her, sing to her etc but there are a couple of hours each day when I need to do housework or make dinner etc and she is just grumbling constantly which is really testing my patience! She will go on her playmat for a bit and loves her bouncer chair but only if I am bouncing it constantly which makes it difficult to do anything else.

Does anyone else find this difficult? Do you just have to accept that your house is going to be a mess and you can't get anything else done or is it possible to get into a routine where you know your baby will sleep for a certain amount of time during the day?

My baby is sleeping well at night (10pm-6am) which I am incredibly grateful for but just has v short naps in the day and not at set times, so maybe this is the problem?

Thanks!

[NapQueen]

It's totally normal to have a baby who just won't leave you be for a bit.

The whole point of maternity leave though is to be with the baby so anything you get done on top of that is a bonus.

Does she nap regularl

[AnnaBegins]

Oh love this was me a few months ago. Get a sling, then you have 2 hands free for dinner prep. A stretchy wrap, caboo, connecta, whatever works for you.
It's easier when they can sit and play, though mine still has to be in the same room as me, so we use the sling or travel cot playpen.

[AlfieandAnnieRose]

Hi I have a 3 month old too (am also in Suffolk!) and my baby is the same as yours. For the last few days though he's been a bit more grumbly about being put down when usually he would be OK for a while. I don't know if this is down to a growth spurt they are meant to be having at this age.

But yes I am finding it very difficult to get anything done as he does not like to sleep in his own bed either so he's with me a lot. I've just had to accept this is how it is now though while he's still little. I think it will be easier when they're more interested in toys and can cope with longer periods on their own. I've got a jumperoo ready!
I think it's too early for a set routine at this age as they're changing so much. My baby has started getting up earlier, 4 am the other day! Does yours wake up for feeds at all? Just curious as mine is wanting a feed at least 3x a night.
I think the only sort of routine I'm in is to make sure he has regular naps, after 1 and half hours - 2 hours awake time they will need a nap or be overtired = very grumbly baby!

[suffolkblonde29]

Thanks guys. Unfortunately we've not had much luck with slings - it's extra difficult as she is having treatment for club feet so has her legs in plaster at the moment.

I guess I've just got to accept that very little else is going to get done - difficult as I'm used to being very busy, having a challenging job and hate having the house messy! Will have to learn to slow down the pace a bit but is it bad to admit that I find entertaining a little baby a little bit mind numbing?!

AlfieandAnnieRose she sleeps straight from 10pm-6am which I know is ridiculously lucky - possibly down to being bottle fed as we had to give up on bfeeding as she didn't put on any weight for weeks and weeks. Just need to try and get her to bed a bit earlier - perhaps if I had a bit of time when she was in bed in the evening I wouldn't mind not having a minute to myself during the day...

[NapQueen]

What time does her dad get in, assuming he lives with you? Can he be on baby duty so you can have some time to Potter around the house (or relax of course!)

[Cantstopsmiling37]

I completely agree that entertaining small babies us mind numbing. Cute for a couple of minutes cooing but that's it!
My 3month old DD fairly reliably has a longish nap (anything from 45mins -2hrs) in the morning so I usually blast the house then. After that its a out and about for walks etc... or box set on netflix/interneting sitting on floor/sofa with baby (tricking her into thinking I'm paying attention!)
Its claustrophobic sometimes isnt it?

[MunchCrunch01]

It is a bit dull - maybe try for 2 outings a day? dc used to like looking around in their buggies for some stretches of time, other than that, have you got a light show? Mine would watch a light show (star projector or one on the inside of a swing - mamas and papas have a few) that would buy me 20-40 mins. Dc2 loved the automated swing.

[PotteringAlong]

Google local sling libraries near you - get yourself along and they will help you work out how to carry her safely and comfortably.

[Leicfox1]

I have a nearly 4 month old who doesn't like slings and also found it difficult up until a few weeks ago. Now, he's learnt to grasp so loves grabbing at toys hanging over him on the play gym or on the bouncer, likes watching the musical mobile over his crib and loves looking at trees ftom his pram during walks. I would say that it is a developmental thing, now that he can grab at things and see further he is a lot more interested in his surroundings and requires less entertaining from me. It's actually a bit of a pain now as everything that can go into his mouth, will do, and he's constantly looking around while feeding so it's a challenge having to follow his mouth around with the bottle! His naps are hit and miss, sometimes there's a 2 hour stretch and I get loads of housework done, sometimes he only naps on me and wakes every time I try to put him down, so I get nothing done. But he will sit in his bouncer in the kitchen while I wash up and clean his bottles. We also pushed his bed time up from 9.30pm to 8pm in 30 min increments and that seems to have helped. He doesnt sleep to later, still gets up at 4am for a bottle, but ita a longer stretch abd now usually goes back to sleep again until 6 or 6.30am, which he didn't alwaya do before. Getting your lo to bed sooner might make your day shorter and require less filling, iyswim.

[suffolkblonde29]

Thank you for the ideas everyone - I have been out a lot today and yesterday and it does make things a lot easier as she seems happier looking around/seeing people etc.

And it's good to hear that this stage soon passes..even if other challenges are just around the corner!

[Florentina27]

Try to tidy up properly when your partner is at home and when it gets too much see of you can find a cleaner that will be available at random times. My DD was like that but now si is much .such better at 10 mo. She still has moments though

[DowntonDiva]

I put DD in her bouncer and bring her into the kitchen with me when I want to get some chores done. Make up silly songs to narrate what I'm doing - usually manage to get the dishes done and a light meal if I'm lucky.

Do you have a baby gym? DD can usually entertain herself for 10 minutes under that.

But I agree with others get out and make a meal of it. A walk to Tesco and strolling down the aisles can fill an hour. Few hours walk to and back from the park. On really shit days I've taken her to the pub and had a wine