how to interact with a 6 week old?

[RosieBeagle]

Hello

Sounds kind of obvious but what should I be doing with my 6 week old baby? She doesnt seem interested in her cuddly toys at the moment, she has a babyswing which she will go on for a while (which she has now fallen asleep in) and a babygym, and loads of other stuff.
I feel like I should be doing 'more' but wondering really what they should be doing at this stage - am i doing enough etc? Is it more about cuddles and eye contact at this stage?
We usually have a sing song for about an hour a day to the music channels - i quite enjoy this..!
I tried reading one of her babybooks earlier but she doenst seem interested. Is it too early for all this kind of thing even though the books say from birth onwards? Shall I keep on with it?
All ideas welcome. First time mum with a long waited for baby, just wanting to make sure im doing things 'right'

yes, just cuddles and eye contact and silly songs and pulling faces :) She just wants to be with you so that keeps her happy!

you are doing fab.

cuddles and chats and songs all wonderful. just being with you is all she needs.

Raspberrys on her belly. She'll love it.

Take her out and show her the world.

Sounds like you're doing great!

Congratulations on your new baby!

I would have suggested the things that you're already doing, particularly the singing as it's good for speech development.

It's still quite early so I wouldn't stress too much about it yet. I used to take DD out in the pram quite a lot and to baby groups so that she could interact with other babies.

she's just chilling out - take a leaf out of her book....

have fun with new baby!

I didn't bother with playing or stimulating activities tbh - they're quite portable at that age so make the most of it! Stick her in the sling and go for a wander round the shops or meet friends for coffee, or put her in a bouncy chair and let her watch you do the washing up. I talk to my baby a lot, just a running commentary on what I'm doing really, but that's all the stimulation they need.

cuddles, eye contact, smiles and sounds. Talk to her about what you are doing - even the mundane stuff, so she can hear your voice. Singing is lovely.

You don't need to be clever about it at this stage, just lots of attention of any nice sort will do, I think.

thanks everyone! great to have reassurance that im doing the right things. just theres that many toys out there etc and when you speak to friends, my baby did such and such at 6 weeks etc you beging to wonder if you are doing enough for them

Interested to know what your friend's babies did at 6 weeks?

reading and talking by all accounts if you heard them go on stranded!
their babies are a lot older now so probably forgetting what they actually did do at 6 weeks i suppose.
She seems really alert anyway and am getting those first smiles now (is it still wind though at this stage - now thats another thread)!

Don't overstimulate is my advice. DC 1 is very high maintanence constantly seeking our attention. He is now 11 and I sang to him, read him poems, gave him a running commentary from birth. DC3 on the other hand is now 5 and had far less direct attention. She is far easier to please, and can occupy herself far more than her brother.

Don't worry about other people's babies are doing either. You'll drive yourself insane.

Sounds like you are doing great. Enjoy.{smile]

just remember there are a lot of bullshit merchants out there.
try not to care what other mums say their babies do.

you know in your heart that you are trying your best & that's what matters.
all baby really needs is for someone who loves her & enjoys her company on the whole.

all babies enjoy/do things particular to them at all sorts of ages - that's the fun of it.

i find the cheapest toys are often the best anyway - like empty cardboard boxes and stacking cups, but that's for older babies.

Go to a coffee shop, drink coffee, eat cake and let her look at the world around her (assuming you're feeling up to it that is). Honestly, all she really needs at 6 weeks is feeding and holding, so pop her in a sling and go about your normal business (art gallery? christmas shopping?)

Rosiebeagle -

Do you belong to any kind of babygroup with mothers who have babies the same age as yours? That'll help you realise that your baby is doing great - they don't do much at this age and even if that smile is wind it doesn't matter - she still looks cute!

Bramshott - we're on the same page, I was thinking this rather wistfully too!

yes i know - i do take their comments with a pinch of salt tbh. actually my mum is one of the worst culprits its always - i did this with you at such an age etc etc. never heard anything about my childhood or when i was a baby before and am getting it both barrels at the moment! i know she is just excited but she is OBSESSED with me taking baby out in the pram all the time! drives me insane but just keep biting my tongue as know she means well really...!
just glad i seem to be doing 'enough' though at the moment. interesting point about being overstimulated i will bear that in mind, wondering it thats what has happened with one of my friends little girls

good of your mother to volunteer like that to take baby out so you can get some rest.

stranded - not yet but a babygroup is starting near me in January so think i will join, as you say will be good to get a guage on what the other babies are doing!

I just kept a bit of a running commentary with most things I was doing, although not sure if I'd recommend it as I now have 2 of the most talkative children ever (5&3) I had a bouncer but that was it. We didn't really bother with toys until they could sit up . But I did go out every day with them for a walk, even if it was freezing, into town, to the supermarket, to friends etc. PS People fib about what they babies can do, how much they sleep, how they wave, laugh, smile at them from 2 secs old, it gets worse when they get to school .

Enjoy this lovely, lovely time and have a great first Christmas together.

so so wish i'd had mumsnet when i had a little baby