To be struggling to know what to do with 3 month old?

[Daywithbaby]

We go for two walks a day usually. Time on playmat, some reading ... what else!?

God I loved that age. When they stayed where you put them and didn't eat anything that stained .

I used to monologue at them whilst I did jobs (sling so they could see out) sing a lot of rhymes, pop them in the bouncy chair. We had a door bouncer and a play mat, also tummy time and baths. And with my first I'd spend ages playing with her on my lap getting her to smile (second- no time!)

Groups were open back then too which did help, but walks out with other mums or friends for a chat might break it up.

Whatever YOU fancy tbh. The next few years are going to be dominated by doing what they want - dragging yourself to softplay when you don't feel like it, the park in the rain. At this stage,they just want to be close to you, so go places you fancy and make the most of it.

I watched a lot of box sets on my maternity! This age is great that they don't move 😂

Plonk them on the floor with some toys, rotate different toys in and then milk and nap time

Following because mine is 7 weeks old and I seriously lack imagination for what to do with them.

There is nothing else to do- do what you want to do with the baby with you- talk to them but really don’t worry- the next 10 years you will be doing everything according to their schedule, at this age don’t worry about it.

Aw this is a lovely time (minus lack of sleep and so on obviously!).

Play mat, sling whilst I did jobs about the house, singing rhymes, bouncy chair, as PP said sitting on my knee trying to make them smile, tummy time, baths. There isn't that much that they can really do at this age but that's the beauty of it. They don't tend to mind if you're watching your boxset or singing about the washing up so long as they are close to you

My 3 month old was quite well travelled.. to Sainsburys Asda, coffee shops, town shopping. I appreciate you can't do this at the moment but I tended to break up my day this way.

At 3 months all they really want and need is feeding, sleep and lots of comfort and hearing your voice. Fast forward a few months when they become mobile and alot more demanding you will never stop. Enjoy the calm of an imobile baby and just enjoy them being this tiny, it dosent last long.

Ah I remember this time- long days.

Have baby groups opened up by you yet? These were a lifesaver. Sign up for a baby group each day, or however much you fancy, and make sure you leave the house each day.

The groups don’t need to be costly. Rhyme time at your local library will be free, as will the many church toddler and baby groups. Baby swimming is great and should start again soon. I also recommend baby massage, Baby Sensory and Sing and Sign. Your local children’s centre might run baby groups and a cheap baby massage class - ring and ask. Your health visitors may do a drop in that you can stay and play with your baby at too once covid restrictions lift.

Each day we would do a class, then around naps I’d pop DS in the high chair while I made dinner or washed up, then we’d go on the playmat or he’d have 10 mins in his jumperoo and I’d sing. I’d read to him and make sure he had toys in reach or had his dangly toys on his bouncy chair or playmat. Then there’d be a walk each day to the park, shops or up to town in pre-Covid days to see some sights in the pram.

Join your local library and start small- a couple of baby groups and the odd coffee with friends or other new Mum’s should be a good start. The website Happity should list local groups near you.

I have a 4 month old and am similarly struggling. Classes are going to open up near me on the next month or so. I am now signed up to baby swimming, baby sensory, a music class and something called tumble tots from when he is 6 months old! Definitely get googling in your area, so many were already booked up!

I sometimes put him in his bouncy chair and put baby contrast videos on the tv to watch.

He doesnt play with toys yet but likes his mat, which is where he currently is!

Solidarity, I find this age well boring. Much prefer being able to interact!

Hmm maybe mine is a bit unusual then - often seems a bit restless/bored?

@Daywithbaby

Hmm maybe mine is a bit unusual then - often seems a bit restless/bored?

Mine would definitely get bored yes but I didn't feel I had to really 'mix things up' all that much. A few funny faces, tickles and rhymes would get them smiling again (providing there wasn't something else up, hungry, tired etc...). It didn't matter if it was the same nursery rhyme sang 10 times that morning.

I loved that stage! I just strapped mine to me and got on with my life. A nine month long holiday, visited loads of new places. Appreciate you can't do that at the moment, but I'd do lots of very long walks and get very fit if I had a 2 month old now.

I was exactly the same with my first - I had this sense that I should be constantly entertaining and playing with him but wasn't sure how. As people have said, in hindsight I now regret not making the most of the time when he didn't actually need that! My eldest is at nursery today so it's just me and my 7 week old home and I've spent the morning reading my own book, doing a bit of housework and drinking a nice, hot coffee - in between feeding DS2 and changing his nappy (and a lot of the reading time was while he slept on me) - I've chatted to him but otherwise I wouldn't really say I've entertained him and I think that's fine, there's so much time to come for that!

I stuck mine in a sling and got on with my day .

Yes, the baby stage is relentless, tiring and boring, but it was on your terms provided both ends were taken care of.

Once they started talking and walking, they will never shut up. So, enjoy the peace.

Read to him! He may not understand the words but they will get stored in his mind and enrich his vocabulary. From 8 months you can start teaching him to read. I recommend the Doman method (has been used since the 1960s with great success).

Enjoy the relative peace 😉

I used to enjoy taking mine to bed and nursing them to sleep then having a nice long nap with them. Mine was a great sleeper as long as she was with me!

I popped mine in the sling and headed out - museums, galleries, cafes, trains, boats - met friends from work for lunch, picnics, took a picnic blanket to the park, went to the library, went to a few baby groups, hung out with my NCT group doing some of the stuff above...

@Bouncebacker

I popped mine in the sling and headed out - museums, galleries, cafes, trains, boats - met friends from work for lunch, picnics, took a picnic blanket to the park, went to the library, went to a few baby groups, hung out with my NCT group doing some of the stuff above...

Not very helpful to the OP right now!

I think at that age it’s more about keeping yourself entertained and they can just tag along, don’t feel like they need constant activities at 3 months. It’s harder at the moment but things will be opening back up soon, so try to join some mum groups, meet friends for a coffee, go for a swim, walk, etc.
And it’s fine to pop them on the play mat/bouncer with some toys while you watch TV or cook, etc

Good point - but will be really soon....

Yes to monologuing! Talking to them is important.

Basically just do whatever you would be doing without the baby (within reason...) and cart the baby along with you.

Walks, meet a friend for a coffee in their garden, pop to the supermarket. I used to cook and bake a lot and basically just narrate what I was doing "so Baby today I'm cooking bolognese, now what goes in this is beef mince, pork mince, onions, carrots, celery, and tomatoes, let's go and get those from the fridge shall we....."

There is a lovely new BBC website called Tiny Happy People with loads of age appropriate activities
www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/0-3-month-old-baby-development-activities
But... don’t overdo it- they need their rest too . It’s a lovely age- enjoy 😊

At that age you've just got to get through each day with your sanity intact - I found it incredibly boring and the days were so long. Make the most of using a play mat (no wandering off at this age) and don't feel you've got to be an all-singing-all-dancing entertainer because they really don't need it. If he/she gets crotchety use pre-school cartoons on the TV while you have a cuppa. My grandson would sit in a bouncy chair and watch Eggbird quite happily and he's come to no harm. Get fresh air every day (for both your sakes) but you really don't have to walk round with a baby in a sling 24/7. Be kind to yourself and make the most of baby not crawling yet - when that time comes seriously consider a playpen to give you the odd break. You sound a very good mum.