What do you do with your 2/3 month old?

[JenumGeranium]

Just wondered what people do with 2/3 month old babies when they are not feeding or sleeping. Do you put them in a bouncy chair and get on with what you are doing?

I always feel bad if I am not doing something with him, but obviously have things that need doing. I sometimes put him on his mat or put his activity centre in front of him which amuses him for a short while.

Just wanted some other ideas really or is this just how it is until they can start sitting up?

Yes this is really how it is and it's fine! It's good for them to learn to amuse themselves a bit whilst you get on with chores etc. Don't feel guilty.

Playgym, sitting in bouncy chair watching you etc are both fine.

Ok thanks!

Think I just needed reassuring!

I do sing and talk to him, but there is only so much you can talk about - may try the quantum mechanics theme next!

Ds loved watching the trees at this age so I used to wrap him up, leave him under a tree in the garden and read my book. Lovely. I did the baby whisperer's EASY routine and ds learned how to play under activity gym etc for 20 min bursts very early. Is still good at playing independently for good stretches. Well worth giving them time to amuse themselves early imo

It's quite nice for them to have their nappies off on the playmat too, so they can really waggle their legs around freely - DD2 will spend far longer contentedly "in the gym" with nappy off than on.

they like to have toys dangling in front of them so they can bat them so play gym and bouncy chair all good ideas
going out for alks in the fresh air
watching you cook/ hoover / whatever really

My 3 month old appears to hate the gym mat. Get about 3 seconds on that (what a waste of dosh!) but am still trying to see if he takes it at some point. (will try the nappy off idea to see if that helps)

He loves his bouncy chair though - it has toys dangling and he loves kicking them. We get longer out of that than the play gym. Thank god.

Today I bought him a lamaze thingy that is socks with a little animal toy rattle on it and has one for his wrists. figured might try that on a normal mat/rug and see if he prefers that. But maybe he just likes being upright and looking around.

If he can hold his head up he might be ok with a door bouncer. Both mine love/d theirs. It's hilarious watching their little faces bounce up and down. DS2 (5 months) will bounce for ages.

I sang and danced around with him, clapped my hands (not too loudly) and twiddled my fingers - made a "birdy" out of them to fly and swoosh around in front of him,
showed him very simple picture books (for not more than 5 mins)Ladybird are excellent,
put him on the playgym
rolled him side to side on our bed
did incy wincy spider, little piggies, round-and-round-the-garden on his tummy,

also put him in the bouncy chair and bounced him with my foot while emailing / doing work

strapped him to my front in a papoose and went for walks

showed him things outside the window, trees, birds etc

hope helpful!

Yes they sat in the bouncy seat ( not for long though, they didn't like them) or lay under the baby gym.
We had cuddles, lots, went out lots too. To friends houses or just the shops etc.
With dd who was my second we did lots of playing with ds. Or rather I was with ds and dd was on my shoulder/lap watching/joining in.
I read baby books to them or sat cuddling them while I watched tv or read a magazine.
held soft brightly coloured toys in front of them, while they were on my lap. They tried to touch and hold them.
If I was doing house jobs then they had to be in their seat or on the baby mat.

my ds is nearly 11 weeks - agree with all thats been said that its good if they can amuse themselves at times and ds does seem to be quite happy to be left to look around at times.

i like to lie down beside him on my bed and read him books holding them above us so he can see the pictures and then sing to him with our faces quite close as he loves just studying peoples faces - anything i can think of while he seems interested.

dh sometimes sits on the sofa with ds extended above him which ds loves, as does dh as it builds up him arm muscles, except when ds dribbles on him.