Daily routine of a 4 month old

[lavanya]

My 3.5 month old baby has a feed every 2 to 2.5 hrs. After a feed she stays awake for 1.5 to 2 hrs and then we rock her to sleep in our arms. She sleeps for 30min or so and then it is time for her next feed and the cycle repeats. During the waking period we play with her but she gets cranky very soon and only calms down when we pick her up. Are we supposed to play with her all day? Dont they play on their own? Carrying her around all day is really really difficult. If yes, what games do I play with her? Even at night she gets up every 2 to 3 hrs (sometimes in an hour). But thankfully she takes a feed and immediately goes to sleep. Are we doing something wrong by picking her up every time she cries and rocking her to sleep in our arms? We really need some help and advise. Thanks

no lavanya you dont have to cradle her all day the trick is for her to "see and hear" you and be ok, she may need cuddling when she frets but at 4mths play all day isnt reeally appropriate either!
i wouldnt rock her to sleep either, would you not ffed her and settle into her chair or buggy so she an see you, sing talk engage her with a mobile or something and let her drift off if shes tired.

try the baby whisperer book if you need more tips

4 mths is young to 'play on their own' as such...does she have a bouncer or mobile you can try before immediately picking her up? My son is 17wks and is starting to love his playmat with toys hanging from it. He loves sitting on our knee while we read him bright picture books too. Sometimes just chatting to him about what i'm doing facinates him.Don't be hard on yourself- you aren't a one-woman entertainment system! Sure she'll chill out a bit as she gets older- probably just wants comfort at this young age.

My dd is 15 weeks. I play with her as much as possible-sing songs, nursery rhymes, play with toys,take her outside to look at stuff etc...I find that she can play on her own for a little while on her mat or in her bouncy chair but needs reassurance that I am around. So if I am doing something, I tend to chatter to her and find she likes this. I think the neighbours think I am completely bonkers. They must think I talk gibberish . Sometimes dd has cranky days and picking her up is the only thing to do.I think at 3/4mths it is still v little to just leave them crying. i think you should trust your instincts and you sound like you are doing great. If you find it hard carrying your baby around all day, could you try a sling? I never liked this, but many mums do.

My Gosh lavanya, you sound exactly like me i have a 4 month old son and it is exactly the same.

Some things slightly differ in our situations but its as if we have the same lives.
my ds wont go to sleep unless he is rocked no matter what u do to atract his attention. he gets bored very quick and will only go to sleep if he is rocked tosleep.

thanks a lot for all your replies it felt great to know that i am not alone.its the first time i am handling my dd all by myself and dont want her to get into the habit of being carried around which she starts whimpering for as soon as she sees me,she wont go to my hubby either.if i put her in a buggy or chair how will she learn to roll over?any way i am feeling my way very slowly and sifting and gathering as much advise as i can.