8 week old doesn't want to play!

[MummaBear31]

Hey everyone, I'm a new mum to a 8 week old beautiful boy and just wondered if it is normal that he isn't really interested in playing? He will lie on his mat and kick for a bit whilst looking at his toys but not for longer than 10 minutes. He also does tummy time and although he is really strong and able to life his head, he will get stroppy after a few minutes! He would rather just be held by us and either stare at our faces or the light! Is this normal??

Totally normal. Playing will come ^months' down the line. At the moment he'll be tired out by ten minutes of stimulation. I don't think I bothered with tummy time until months later either. He's still essentially a newborn, stop sending him to baby gym

You'd better get patient, love. They do damn all before 4 months.

Mine has only just started to even notice the toys at 15 weeks. It's all been a bit boring up til now!

The health visitor said to increase tummy time but it just feels cruel when he doesn't like it that much! I'm sure my niece and nephew were the same but you are told so many conflicting things and I just want to do the best for him

Honestly, health visitors will say things like this, but as you've seen, babies haven't read the manuals and aren't really into having their tiny faces smooshed into the rug.

Completely normal, they do fuck all until about 6 months.

Don't worry about tummy time, yes make an effort but if he's not happy don't bother.

Completely normal. He's 8 weeks old. Honestly everything you described above is really good. Try not to stress. Let him be a baby. Honestly until about a year he'd be happy with a wooden spoon and pan to bash.

At 8 weeks mine mostly just slept. Your baby has not long been born.

Is this a joke? Nobody can surely believe that 8 week old babies play 😂😂😂
Have you got that 0-5 years book the NHS give you? It has information in it about what babies can do at different stages. At 8 weeks they may be starting to smile. That's it.

Also remember that propping them against your shoulder so they gaze up at the lamp/plant/picture behind you is also tummy time. They extend their neck the same.

It's not a joke, I was just asking advice. Of course I don't believe he is going to play like a toddler does but I was merely listening to my health visitor re tummy time and she also said he should start grabbing toys and things now! Clearly I shouldn't be listening to her.

At 8 weeks all they do is sleep, eat and occasionally look around. It is pretty boring and they don't play properly for months and months yet!!!

They don't need much at this stage. Enjoy it.

Both my girls hated tummy time so I didn't force it on them.
Take what the HV says as more a guideline suggestion than golden rules - all babies are different

He's 8 weeks to him kicking on his mat is playing, he's exploring his own body and how it works. Don't stress over tummy time it's not necessary. Just enjoy watching him do his thing

Like others have said don't worry yet, they are all different and some are more alert and awake for larger parts of the day than others at this age. DS 3 (who is now a toddler) did nothing but sleep until he was 12 weeks old, he would literally be awake for 20 mins after a feed then go straight to sleep again. I remember getting really worried that he was too sleepy, now I realise I should have made the most of it as he never stops now and hasn't had a daytime nap since he was 14 months!

oh god yes, totally normal. I have pics of poor tiny DD with toys draped on her - she had no idea what was going on!!

when your baby is about 3 months they might start batting at things, and even then you won't know for sure that they are doing it on purpose.

even at 1, my DD prefers emptying my handbag, my shoes, her dad's stinky trainers, the bookshelf, the curtain tie back and anything she shouldn't have over her toys!

also DD hated tummy time and it really worried me that I didn't make her do it. as soon as she learned to roll, she did tummy time all by herself, and now chooses to sleep like that!

Totally normal.

They don't 'play' as such.
Talk to him, sing to him, touch him, let him see you do stuff - that's 'playing' when you are a couple of months old

Tummy time? Yes, it's great to strengthen neck muscles etc, but some babies hate it with a vengeance. I think DS1 spent a grand total of 3 seconds on his front his entire babyhood - he absolutely detested it. He's now 13 and his neck muscles are just fine....

Ah health visitors.... My dd loved tummy time my boy hated it. Both are now equally mobile now.

In fairness to you OP I was totally ignorant of all things baby when dd came and I remember thinking about whether she should be playing or doing something when she was 4 weeks old.

OP you're doing fine. Babies don't do much for the first 3 months. Sticking him on his tummy for a few minutes a day is good if he likes it but don't worry about it if he doesn't want to do it.

This has reminded me - I ran all round town trying to buy toys that would engage poor DD. I even thought her activity centre thing was not exciting enough and added more bits and bobs to it to try to get her playing. Poor lamb - she was just trying to do what babies do which is lie down and try to focus . I have pictures of her at her first Christmas when she was 10 weeks old. Obviously I'd gone nuts trying to make it special. In every picture she's slumped in my arms looking vacant whilst I look unhinged

Do not give this another thought OP. Your lovely boy is doing great. Looking at faces is their idea of a good time

Thanks for the reassurance, we have mainly spent today cuddling, smiling and ignoring the baby gym