6 week old

[feltpens]

What am I supposed to do with a 6 week old? I know about the changing nappy, feeding etc but I feel like all I do is feed him, change his nappy, burp him, cuddle him then rock him to sleep. Although he has started smiling.

Sometimes he seems bored so I got some toys out but he's more interested in looking at the wall paper or bargain hunt. He doesn't even like laying on his mat thing. He does this lonely cry which only stops when i pick him up.

Should DH and I be doing days out? If so, what should we do considering DS won't remember and will be asleep for most of it. Before DS came along we went for pub lunches which DS seems to sleep through.

I feel like I'm not doing enough with him.

Lots of singing and finger songs are lovely. Those rattled that go on hands and feet. Bring near a mirror.
But babies are boring, go out for lunch!!

Go for pub lunches, play music, go for walks, have friends over

If you want to ‘do’ anything with him then get him a mobile or some black and white pictures to look at and a play pen with toys he can learn to bat at.

The fact you are bored probably means he’s an easy baby and you have enough help - it’s a good thing!!!

But mostly at this stage - hold him and cuddle him as much as possible

Oh and narrate your day or what you are doing to him as you do it - I did this all the time with my first and her language skills are/were amazing

Lights, babies love lights and you can buy some of the ones that reflect your on to the ceiling quite cheap.

Have some skin on skin cuddles, read him books babies find their mums voice really soothing , go a walk with the pram somewhere with lots of trees that will create shadows that he will be able to see , dance and sing whilst holding him (baby carrier maybe) baby massage , toys and pictures with contrast colours , show him the mirror .

Do you go to any baby classes , I started with DS at 5 weeks old and a class called hartbeeps which is really good for new babies , baby massage is another I'd highly recommend I still take DS who is 6months old.

But seriously it's hard to know what to do with a baby that age I used to feel so bad when he would just be lying there but they don't need that much entertaining yet so don't feel bad about it

Ignore the massive amount of mistakes above

I'm not necessarily bored as when he does nap during the day without me I do have things to be getting on with. Some days he goes down Just long enough for me to have a sandwich. We pop to the shops to grab veg for dinner but other than that we don't do much. All my friends are at work during the day.

There are baby groups locally but thought he might be too young

@firsttimebabybirther stupid question but could it be any book? I quite like thrillers

Baby groups are for you not him :)

Omg really? Does everyone know that?!? I'm so dim sometimes 😂

I do want to go but I'm scared he's going to cry and I'm going to look like the dickhead who can't comfort her baby. Are you sure 6 weeks isn't too young to be going to baby groups?

Well it’s too young to go to gymnastics or tennis!
But you can go to baby massage, baby sensory etc

Mum and baby yoga
Oo or buggy fit if you’ve had your 6 week check and are cleared to exercise lightly again

@feltpens

Don't worry about baby crying it's what they do! I did baby massage for a 6 week course and one week my DS screamed his head off, the other mums just ignored it and just chatted as normal and offered help to get stuff for me as I was trying to get him to feed.

I've just taken DD to a sensory/ massage class, she slept for about 15 mind of it but it was just nice to get out and see other people, she's a month old now.

Other than that just get out with the pushchair.

www.babysensory.com

For example or Nct do post natal yoga

Don’t worry about baby crying - everyone else’s will too. And even in the worst case scenerio the other mums just feel sympathy!

That makes sense. Maybe I just need to bite the bullet and go.

There's a local mums meet up tomorrow which I'm going to make myself go to, I'm very nervous though! I'm half tempted to have a glass of wine before I go but it's at midday 😂

Go! It’ll be fine... you can always leave!

@Redteapot67 true! Although it's a small town - if I make a twat of myself I'll more than likely keep bumping into them haha

Yeah I suppose it could be baby will love your voice anyway, or ones that are touchy feely for baby run their fingers over it , lots of contrast colours ect.

Baby classes like sensory and massage are fab for babies but great for you too! And believe me every single mum feels nervous before the first baby class and every single mum thinks oh but what if I can't settle my baby and the truth is nobody cares they're just counting down the minutes until it's their baby needing settled next

Go to groups if you want to get out but at this age they are more for you than they are for him. Don’t worry about him crying. No one will judge you, we’ve all been there!

I bought a bundle of baby sensory toys for my son when he was little, gloves with lights in, colourful streamers, bubbles etc.

Singing to him when he is on his playmat

Talking to him about what you are doing as you walk around the house

They really don’t need an awful lot of stimulation at this age so don’t worry. You sound like you are doing a great job

I wasn't too sure what sensory toys were so I googled and I have a play mat with dangly toys and mirror already. Actually I have 2 and he's not been interested in either of them. I've also got a vibrating chair and a swinging chair and he just likes to sleep, eat or lay on me.

I've got my head around local groups and I'm going to start going next week! Wish me luck!

Just let him watch bargain hunt if that's what he wants to do

Remember everything is new and interesting for him, he's never seen it before. Even a walk in the park, rolling on a playmat or sitting in the garden means new colours, smells and sounds. Go to baby groups if you want to get out and see people, but it won't hurt him if you don't - those are mostly for your sanity.

I do feel he's more whingy if I don't get out.

I'm a bit more confident with him about going out