What can I do with a 10 week old?

[fruitpastilles]

Hi all, What should I be doing with my 10 week old? I am a first time mom and worried I am not doing enough with her. She is either in her bouncer or on her play mat which has nice soothing music and lights above it that she loves looking at. If she's not there she is on my lap. I talk to her all day long and lie with her, playing with her and talking to her while she is on her mat. She gurgles and smiles away and is generally a happy baby. She shows no interest in her rattles or any other toys yet. She has started sleeping a bit more in the day and I'm worried it's because she is bored. I try to take her out for a walk every day (we don't always make it out!) Any advice would be great. Thanks!

Keep talking to her. You'll regret it when she doesn't stop talking as she gets older but keep talking to her (mine never shut up). If you've got a sling put her in that as you do most bits and bobs around the house and keep talking.

Read to her. Sing nursery rhymes.

Have you tried baby massage, bounce and rhyme at the library, baby signing?

The more she is doing when she is awake the more she'll need a nap.

Baby yoga?
Meet up with other Mums and babies at suitable local venues (ideally with cafe).

The community nursery nurse is due to come out to me on Friday to tell me what they do at the local childrens centre. I'm sure they do baby massage there, so I will definatley be taking her to that if there are any places. Hopefuly there will be more things going on there that I can do with her.
She has a nursery rhymes cd that we listen to and look at the book that goes with it, she doesn't seem very interested, but we do it anyway.
We were supposed to be starting at a 'first friends' group tomorrow but it's not on due to the weather (gutted lol)
I think once I start taking her to baby groups, I won't feel so much like I'm not doing enough with her, but at the moment I feel like there is more I should be doing.

You are doing really well and she sounds like a lucky girl. Baby massage, baby groups and play groups all sound good. Have you thought about taking her swimming too?

Don't think you actually need to though, you are doing loads already but it just might be nice for both of you to get out

I'd love to take her swimming but I'd be a bit worried to take her on my own. I wouldn't know what to do with her or where to put her whilst I was getting dried and dressed lol!

Is there an aquatots near to you. Our pool does theses sessions. There are floats to put them in and armbands for when they are older and big changing rooms complete with play pens. If you are nervous could you take someone along? No need to be nervous though, you'll both be fine

You don't need to do anything additional with her - she is tiny and she will be happy just being with you and looking around! Take the opportunity to sleep while she sleeps and don't worry about her sleeping cos she's bored - it mightn't last long so make the most of it

I'm sure you're doing fine, and she is still very young. Beware though as she gets older, I used to feel the same way with my first DS and thought I should be constantly entertaining and stimulating him. Possibly as a result he has always been a child that is useless at playing by himself, even now at ten years old!

Good point CP, I'd hate for her to not be able to amuse herself, I never thought of that!