Am I A Bad Mummy?

[Gabity]

Had a few comments recently about my daily routine with DD. Wondering if they are justified and I should be doing things differently? Any opinions more than welcome!

We tend to do the same rountine 6 days out of 7. DH gets one day off a week and we do things as a family that day, visit MIL or do food shopping etc.

Day to day routine:

8am: DD wakes up and comes into bed with me and has a feed.

8.30am-9.30am We snuggle in bed together, I usually have breakfast in bed and check e-mails.

9.30am-10am DD has breakfast.

10am-12pm DD Goes in her jumperoo, I get on with housework.

12pm-12.30pm DD has her lunch.

1pm-3pm DD naps.

3pm DD has milk feed.

3.30pm - 4.30pm DD plays on the floor with toys.

4.30pm DD has dinner.

5pm - 5.30pm DD goes in jumperoo.

5.30pm - DD has bath, massage, last milk feed and lights out and door shut for 6.30pm.

DD is 10 months and a total delight, can't remember the last time that she cried and seems very happy.

What do you do whilst she naps in the afternoon ?

You sound like a fab mum, I'd like to be your little one!, sounds like you have a wonderful time! x

Nothing wrong with having a routine, but I would definitely limit the jumperoo time- 2 hrs is way too long- she would be much better off on the floor playing/crawling etc.

And more fresh air- I think an hour a day is a good idea.

I think this sounds great. There will be plenty of time for 'socializing' (e.g., toddler groups etc.) when she is older. I had one of those babies who needed to be entertained all the time - so I am very impressed and at yours. Keep it up for as long as you are both happy with it!

You are not a bad mum.

Your exacting routine would have me going mad - I'm all for a bit of a routine, but not that much of a routine - but if you are happy with it - then that's OK isn't it :)

I think 2 hours is far too long for her to be in her jumperoo, but you have said that she's not always in it all of that time, I'd make a concerted effort not to leave her in there more than 20/30 minutes at a time.

There's nothing wrong with her amusing herself - it's very good for her and it sounds like you are also interacting with her a lot.

I do think babies benefit from getting out and about and seeing the world a bit more though, whether that's a child based group or just a cafe for coffee etc

Sounds lovely. When I was at home with DS we also went to the playground almost every day.

I think it's great that DD can entertain herself (my DD is the same). I used to give a running commentary on what she was doing

I think what you're doing is fine, although I don't really know what a jumperoo is, but spending 2hrs in it every day sounds a bit long? Could you do some of the MN housework while she's napping instead?

Personally, I would go mad if we didn't get out of the house every day! (is there a reason why you don't do any classes?) When it was warmer we often used to walk down to the local park, but now it's cold we often go to shops just to look around. When DD was small she used to love looking at all the lights in B&Q, or plants in Wyvale, and still loves looking at the rabbits/hamsters in pet shops.

Please do limit the Jumperoo though as it's tough on little legs and feet and not good to be confined in it for longer than 20 minutes (I think that's Fisher Price's own recommendation).

My DD entertained herself alot at that age and still does - I let her potter all over the house and she was/is very self contained. Just limit the Jumperoo (or any other confining thing eg playpen).

And I suppose you don't leave her entirely alone to play do you? Babies that age need to be read to and sung to and do counting with etc; they need to be held and bounced around and roll balls on the floor with etc. Not all day long - just a little through the day.

you dont need to change a thing.sounds like you have a lovely time together.

my dsis and I had our dcs at the same time her ds was so placid and content and they had very similar routine to you. my dd was a total PITA, she would want to be stuck to my breast 24/7 if we were at home, even at 10 months.

so i would have to get her out the house at some point every day for at least 2 hours or i would have gone insane and she would never have slept.

where as my sister loved never having to feel preasure to get out and I wished I could just stay home all day every day.

different people do things differently and different babies need different routines.

A bad mummy- NO.

But... I do think getting out and about would be nice for your little one. Even just visiting friends for a cuppa? Does she ever get to play/see other children? Its essential for social skills that she does.

I also think 2 hours in a Jumperoo is far too long! Of course this is just my opinion but i would never allow my DS in his for more than 30 mins twice or day... nor did i let my daughter.

But no of course your not a bad mummy.

If baby likes it and is genuinely happy, whats not to like?!

Your DD seems very easy going - does she really sleep 6.30pm to 8am together with a 2 hour nap in the day?

Babies are all different. My DD would go mental and be very whiny and cross if we didn't get out of the house and have fresh air/variety each day - but then she is that sort of personality - impatient, easily bored, craves lots of novelty.

If yours likes hanging around with her lovely mummy at home, no problem!

PS at 10 months she is still really a baby and her primary need is still to have a very deep attachment to you - so I don't think she "needs" to socialise as such.

As she gets older, and more mobile though, you might have to start varying things a bit so you get out for a walk/play and see other kids. In 6 months I think your routine could be quite different.