Entertaining babies

[sharond101]

How do you do it? Night after night DH and I sing, tickle and read to our 14wk old DS. We put him in his gym (which only works if we stay right beside him) or go for a short walk. How do you pass the time with your baby?

I have a 17 week DS and do pretty similr things to you. He goes to bed at 7.30 so by the time DH gets home & has played with him for a little while it's bath, bottle then bed!
DS is quite content sitting in his bouncy chair, jumperoo or kicking around on his mat so I tend to alternate between leaving him to it for 10-20mins, though I'm always in his sight usually chatting to him, then having a little play with him. I don't really feel that I should be constantly entertaining him.
Just wondered what prompted you to ask the question. Is it that your DS gets grumpy in the evenings? If so would an earlier bedtime help rather than having to entertain him? If its activity ideas you need how about going to a baby sensory class or similar?

I found that at that age watching you doing stuff was quite stimulating. I always did some singing with DD in the morning in bed and read some books with her at some point in the day. But she was happy to lie on her mat playing on her own for an hour or so at a time.

Good grief you don't have to entertain a 14wo. At that age I was watching films, reading books, knitting - whatever I wanted to do. They're quite happy watching you and watching the world go by. Believe me, the entertaining-them time will come and you will look back on these days when you could do your own thing with a wistful air!

Actually some young babies really do need entertaining - my DS did. He was rarely happy being left to entertain himself or just to watch me going about my business. I think 5 mins on the playmat was about his limit! I found the first 6 or so months of his life incredibly hard and did a LOT of singing/nursery rhymes and reading to him. I also went to some class or other pretty much every day so that there was plenty of variety to keep both of us happy (swimming, sensory, baby song etc.). Life became much easier once he was mobile and less frustrated.

If that sounds like your situation OP, one of the things which I found brilliant to get 30 mins to myself in the evenings was a Baby Einstein DVD - DS would happily sit in his bouncy chair and watch that (I usually put it on just before starting his bedtime routine). I started with the Mozart one and now have about 8 of them - DS still loves them at 20mo. Once he was old enough the Jumperoo was fantastic for keeping him occupied for a while too.

suburbandweller my DS does need entertaining. He does not tolerate me doing my own thing at all and ZuleikaD doing those things like reading a book or knitting are far from my reality! Even on his playgym mat he wants me beside him tugging at the toys or gooing in his ear. I will look into baby Einstein.

My DS is 17wks and most definitely needs to be entertained. He shouts the house down if you are not in his sight and talking to him. My DD who is 4.5was a a dream not a peep out of her but DS is hard work. He's a total sweetheart but everyone comments on how much attention he requires and his constant shouting (not crying) is unreal. So I completely feel for the OP. I've no words of wisdom but I do try and get most of my urgent jobs done while he naps.

My DS is 20 weeks and he also requires entertaining and has done for a while. If I pop him in a sling I can get my own thing done for a while, and he will play on his mat or with toys on his bouncy chair for a while, but reading books and watching films is pretty much out of the question when he is awake.

We played "sniff the herbs" with everything on the spice rack, singing, reading books, playing with toys (making them "disappear" and "reappear")

DS (7mo) needs entertaining all the time too if i left him alone he would get bored and start moaning for something to do. If it wasnn't for the baby walker and disney jr i would never get a thing done. I do all sorts with him singing dancing peek-a-boo going for walks and i have a box full off small toys hand sized that we get out in the morning he enjoys bringing it all out one thing at a time.

Get a high chair for him to sit in (even if he's not weaned) so you can chat to him while you cook and clean and some kind of babywalker/jumperoo/door bouncer type thing he'll soon start wanting to be a bit more independant DS loves 'standing up' alone i'm sure DS got sick of his gym around 3 months so i moved him to door bouncer/walker and he was much happier

Yes not easy. My dd19wk comes around with me in her chair everywhere or will winge. She goes in gym but moans if you not there unless in the night garden is on. Got lots of toys and have a mat so she can practice rolling. Sensory class once a week, given me confidence too. Blowing bubbles is fun, dh takes her to mirror and makes funny faces

Also laughs instantly when on bed and I make it bounce

lola88 what is Disney Jr?