Entertaining an 11 week old baby

[IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat]

Just a question about what I should be doing with my 11 week old.

My SIL seems to think I should be entertaining my son more, she keeps mentioning toys with lights/noises etc. and now I don't know if I'm doing enough.

I have an activity gym for him but he honestly prefers lying on his changing mat taking the world in. He will look in the mirror and gaze and bat at the toys on his gym but not for long. On his changing mat he will look at photos and objects and is really fascinated by them - much prefers this to Lamaze style toys.

I have a few books with crinkly pages, different textures etc. but again he will look at them but seems to much prefer looking at faces and interacting with people. He will gaze and smile/laugh at people and listens intently when I sing lullabies and recite nursery rhymes, he also enjoys bouncing gently on my knee or just being took on a 'tour' of the house.

Am I wrong to think he doesn't need constant stimulation from noisy, bright toys? I don't know if I should be buying more age-appropriate toys.

he sounds very happy with what you are doing and so do you, so carry on and don't worry what others say..

You're doing exactly what I was doing with my wee man at that age (he's only 5 months now).

Plenty of time for toys. Our health visitor is recommending more 'holistic play' - so playing with everyday objects, observing world etc, rather than flashy lights toys etc. Saves money and clutter!

In total agreement with other posters.

I bought loads of pointless "interactive" baby toys with DD, now 5. DS, now 3 had to content himself with a helium balloon (obviously string not in reach) and my DDs face as she cooed over him.

Such a lovely phase you are in when they start becoming more aware of their surroundings. Enjoy! X

The world and watching you is ample stimulation. Lights-and-noises stuff can overstimulate them and make it incredibly hard to settle them. Plus they drive you completely crazy. It's absolutely true that 'real-world' items are better for them to play with, as is stuff made from natural materials. Plastic is the worst thing in the world for babies to play with.

Just for clarity, it's the lights-and-noise toys that drive you crazy, not the baby.

Getting used to the real world is much better than all that bright plastic and noise!

I prefer your idea much than your SIL's.

The baby gym and baby bouncer were pretty much the only toys mine showed any interest in until 6 months.

You are absolutely right.

Please don't bombard you defenceless baby with a constant stream of expensive electric toys.

Dd was another one who showed not interest in any toy til 6 months and even then it was the everyday objects in the treasure basket not all the fancy Lamaze toys

IMO babies prefer interactive parents to interactive toys

He sounds just like my 12 week old.

I've got one black and white rattle which he likes to watch, and he also loves watching black and white brain stimulation type videos ( just search for those on YouTube, there's loads).

But what he likes more than anything is just lying on his back kicking around and chatting to me.