Playing with babies

[Madratlady]

DS is only 3 weeks old so not very interactive yet (eat, sleep, poo, repeat at the moment!) but I just wondered what you all do to interact with your young babies? I guess reading and singing and talking to him is good. What about as he gets older and starts taking more notice of things?

Not sure I did much specific playing - just feeding, carrying, talking to, taking him along with things I did.

Fair enough, I just feel like I should somehow be doing more, especially in a few weeks when he gets more alert.

It's hard to say really but easy to do when they grow in to it a bit.

Peek a boo is a good one
They love tickle rhymes as well
Making their teddy bear give them a hug
Physical games like throwing them up in the air a bit or tumbling on the carpet, they need to be very sturdy for that though

Other daft nameless games that will only be real to you and your own child, they come with time and interaction really. It's hard to describe but it will become instinctive really

Not in a few weeks, a few months maybe. When he is tiny tiny just looking at the world and hearing voices, especially yours, will be stimulating enough for him. You will know what he is able for.

Dd is 9 months. She enjoys/has enjoyed; peekaboo, sitting in front of a mirror, playing horsey horsey/row row row your boat, bouncing her up and down, putting stacking blocks near her so she can kick/push them over, having thin scarves draped over her. Just little interactive things is all they need when they're little, along with the constant chatter and singing I seem to do!

I felt like you - as if I should be doing more. In retrospect I wish I had just enjoyed the first few months cuddling and feeding in front of the TV. At about 3.5 months it was like a switch went on and he suddenly started to "lead" me in play and communicated very clearly when he wanted entertaining - and hasn't stopped since I am knackered from constant entertaining At that point all the games mentioned above are great but until then, just relax.

A playmat/cot mobile/bouncy chair with dangly toys can be nice for your baby to look at; otherwise singing songs and reading stories, or just chatting about your day as you do things is plenty.