Do I need to entertain a 2-3 week old baby?

[Floois]

My baby girl is nearly 3 weeks old. I try to talk to her when she is awake, but can't always think what to say! I feel I should be doing more to interact with her during the day....not sure what though?
I think I might just be being a bit silly, but I have no other experience of babies so no idea what other people do with theirs.

I just used to get on with whatever I wanted to do and put her somewhere so she could watch.
get out as much as you can to baby groups and the like, for your sanity more than for her!

I think I also want to know what you do all day with a baby. Just wait for them to need feeding and nappy changing?

I didn't worry about it at that age. Although we did have bedtime stories from 6 weeks old and I used to roll balls around / crinkle things in front of them IIRC. But I didn't worry about constantly interacting, after all you're interacting with them when you are feeding, changing nappies, bathing etc... and all that takes up an awful lot of time in those days.

TBH make the most of the peace before they start getting mobile in a few months time.

Don't worry they really don't need much more than love, cuddles, food and sleep at this age.
If you feel that you should be talking to her, but don't know what to say (I didn't) I simply used to read aloud whatever book I was reading. You don't need to read kids books, she won't understand anyway, but hearing your voice is likely to be reassuring.
Congrats on your new baby!

pretty much, I used to try and have something to do each day to build the day around - baby groups etc, going to meet DH for lunch, going to a gallery/museum etc etc.

DD seemed to feed pretty much constantly for the first few months though, so I did watch a lot of crap tv while feeding her on the sofa

Eat cake, drink tea with your friends and make faces at the baby every now and then

I think I just used to wait until DD needed feeding or changing. She'd spend the rest of the time asleep.

Oh, actually I think I used to sing to her a lot. I still do but she's three now. Singing is good apparently, for speech development and interaction plus the fact that you probably won't feel so silly singing!

Or what Bumperlicious said!

That's a better idea!

Def what Bumperlicious said. DD just didn't sleep in the day at that age, and eventually we tracked it down to... over-stimulation. I stopped trying so hard to entertain her and lo, she got the hang of naps.

I totally agree eating cake and having a chinwag is a great way to enjoy your new found bundle of joy . Although i did a LOT of the pre mentioned I also just reminded myself to talk at DD as much as I could.

I tend to talk in my head anyway so i just spoke out loud. About all kinds of things or read the newspaper out loud etc . As she's got older she's just such a babbler! At 2 months she was cooing and making noises back at me - so I do really do think talking and singing are also great in developing the baby- plus its' a free method of entertainment for all!

At 3 weeks old you need to feed it, clean it and cuddle. They're not awake much at 3 weeks.

Its all nonsense. Sit yourself down with a cup of tea and a cake, give her a cuddle and have a good chat to your friend.
everyones happy.

Your first child, I assume? I was like this with dd, always obsessing about whether I was interacting enough with her and giving her enough "stimulus".

Just look at her often and smile, cuddle her loads. And that internal monologue that everyone has? Just start speaking it aloud. "What's that smell? Oh, have you done a stinky poo, you little smelly monster? Let's get you cleaned up. Where did Mummy keep the wet wipes now? There, there, just lie her and wait for me. I won't be a minute." And so on and so forth!

What Bumperlicious said!

Believe me, you will know when your baby wants extra stimulation! Being overstimulated is terrible for tiny babies, in any case - they get overloaded and spend half the evening crying. Lots of cuddles far more important!

Agree with Bumper and Lutyens - I used to keep up a monologue about what I was doing 'Mummy's just going to sort out the clothes. This belongs to Daddy, this belongs to ' etc etc.

Now that DD3 is 2, she helps, telling me 'Daddy's pants.