Baby not allowing me to eat....

[Bellyrub1980]

I have a 7 week old baby. There were lots of the usual challenges in the first few weeks but things are now going pretty well.

However, one on-going 'problem' (although it's not a massive deal, just a neusance really) is that she won't 'go down' for her naps during the day. She does sleep a lot throughout the day but only in my arms or a sling. She can only tolerate about 10 mins in her crib but will sleep for hours in her sling.

Anyhoo, the only real issue with this is me being able to eat and shower. At the moment I eat all my meals with her slinged up. If I put her in her bouncy chair or lie her on her play mat she can tolerate it for a good 30 minutes now but only if I pay her constant attention.

Is this an age thing? Will she naturally get better at entertaining herself away from me as she gets older? Or is this something I have to expose her to do she gets used to it.

At what age did your baby start entertaining themselves for short periods of time?

[Casmama]

It definitely gets easier. I can't give you a timescale but my DS is almost 6 months and will happily go in his door bouncer for 60-90 mins. When they can actually have some influence over what their hands and feet are doing then things like the playmat really come into their own.

[Bellyrub1980]

Ah that makes sense Casmama. She hasn't even found her hands yet so I guess entertaining herself is limited by what she can look at.

The cot mobile will keep her occupied for a while but it's a wind up one so only lasts a few minutes and then I hear her crying shortly after I've got into the shower. Really need to buy a battery operated one!!

[Artandco]

Try just putting bouncer in bathroom and showering. She might start crying but that's ok. You have fed her, she safe, and she can see and hear you. Crying them is completely different from just leaving baby to cry alone.

However you will prob find the noise of the shower will be soothing anyway.

Another option is have baths more often and take baby in with you

[HeyMicky]

I used to shower with the curtain open and DD in the bouncer so she could see me. If she grizzled, so be it.

Also, can you shower in the morning while your DP holds her? Or at night? Early showers definitely helped me get out of the house more, even if I went back to bed once DH had gone to work

[bigkidsdidit]

I'd put te bouncer chair facing the shower, keep the door open and sing throughout!

[WhyOWhyWouldYou]

Shower wise - bouncer in the bathroom, looking at the shower and sing whilst you shower.

Food wise - if you have the bouncer close enough to bounce it with your foot whilst you eat, will she tolerate that? Possibly get some music on too.

[Redling]

DS wakes at 7 most days so I give him to DH and shower, make some cereal and a coffee. He can entertain himself at 4.5 months and I have a little snug chair coming to help him sit upright as he's large and strong and it will give him independence! He has however reverted to only napping on me since beginning of December so I can't get a lot done then! It's all phases, he is more demanding/clingy some days, then some days will even lie alone in his cot in the morning chatting to mobile for 45 mins while I snooze!

[Littlef00t]

My dd always loved being in the bathroom when I was having a shower. Started off just lying on the change mat, then bouncy chair, then sat her up etc as development goes on.

Gutted I've had to stop at 9 mo as she is crawling and pulling herself up on the bath etc and no longer safe.