3m dd - how much time do you spend playing?

[justme27]

Hiya all,

Hoping you can help me ease some guilt...

I'm by myself during the day with my 3m dd. I would love to spend all day playing and talking with her but obviously need to do other stuff ie housework, going out and about etc,

She is a content baby and is already gurgling and cooing back at me - would love it if I sat and talked with her all day!!

How much time do you spend with them? Am I a bad mum for leaving her in front of a disnet video for a bit while getting a few bits done....

Feel like I may not be helping her develop as much as I could be....

Don't worry,you have to get on with the boring stuff,too!!!!.She will not suffer,at all.Soon she will find her hands and find them endlessly fascinating,and learn to do more coos and gurgles.Honestly?At this age they do not need constant entertaining.Wait until shes 2 or 3 and you will be praying for a moments peace .She will be fine,you are a lovely mum.Get a bit of you time!!!Put your feet up for a bit

Thanks for that...

When I take her to my parents or my in laws, they are so excited she gets real non stop undivided attention so I get paranoid that I am neglecting her when I bring her home and its just me!

Thanks for that...

When I take her to my parents or my in laws, they are so excited she gets real non stop undivided attention so I get paranoid that I am neglecting her when I bring her home and its just me!

Have answered other thread.She is only 3 months,don't worry!!!She is probably just interested because her grandparents are a new face/voice.Don't feel guilty or upset

oops maybe should have put it all on one thread!

Thanks wrinklytum

xx

i personally would leave her under a playgym than in front of the tv but its ok to get your jobs done and leave her to entertain herself.

She will always get full time attention from grandparents, whatever age she is, and you cannot be reasonably expected to give her the same level as them - they only have her for a short time, not permanently! So don't compare yourself to them. Also I think she needs to learn to entertain herself and explore the world herself, you would be doing her no favours by not giving her the chance to look at things (progressing to play as she gets older) in her own way in her own time. I second nappyaddict, I aways used to put my DD under a playgym, I felt she would learn more and find more 'real' stimulation that way, but whatever works for you. The important thing to remember is it is OK to do other things too. I used to make sure I set aside at least half an hour 2-3 times a day when she would get my undivided attention. The rest of the time you can still be interacting with her by talking to her about what you are doing, what she can see, etc. Don't feel guilty!

thanks beanstalk - thats really great advice, esp the half hour three times a day.

Re the playgym, I find she just lies under the toy arch and as she hasnt yet started reaching for them or anything, she loses interest almost immediaetely.

I take your point re tv though