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Parenting

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Original poster

How to stimulate a three week old

21 replies

CJ1990 · 21/09/2018 08:58

Hi Ladies,

I’m just wondering - I have a three week old and feel guilty that I don’t do a lot of play / don’t have any toys to help develop or stimulate her. However, she is barely awake and when she is she doesn’t seem too interested in anything as she isn’t focusing on anything as yet.

I try singing to her, getting her to look at my face etc but apart from that I’m not sure if there is anything else I should be doing! I’ve also tried books but not sure if she realises I’m reading too her or not. Although I enjoy it :) I have bought one or two toys but she’s too young I’m guessing to be interested in them. I just feel like I should be helping her develop, but she seems happier just sitting there looking at the wall when she’s awake! :)

Any advise or input would be appreciated.

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CherryBlossom23 · 21/09/2018 09:01

3 week old eyes can't even focus properly yet so that's why she won't be interested in toys. Honestly babies that young don't need much stimulation - just chat to her throughout the day. At that age they just want to be fed, warm, and close to use you.

CaptainCorrigan · 21/09/2018 09:05

Cuddles chatter and singing is really all they need for stimulation at that age, and fresh air walks. Save your energy for when they really need stimulating and are easily bored with everything

MsHomeSlice · 21/09/2018 09:05

you are doing fine...singing chatting engaging.

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arwenearlythereyet · 21/09/2018 09:08

Congratulations! You sound like you have it down with cuddles singing chatting more cuddles mainly cuddles.

Rest while you can.

And when she's crawling and batting around the house getting into EVERYTHING YOU OWN you can look back at this!

CaptainCorrigan · 21/09/2018 09:08

Also mine is 5 months and still has no interest in toys. He always loved black and white pattern books which I propped on his play mat and lights though.

MrsKilminster · 21/09/2018 09:10

Surely this is a wind-up. You appear to not know anything about human development. All your 3 week old baby wants to do is feed, sleep, repeat. If you're like this with a tiny new-born, I can't imagine how you'll be tormenting yourself (and her!) as she grows.

villainousbroodmare · 21/09/2018 09:13

Pretty harsh, Mrs!
Sounds like you're doing perfectly, OP. Cuddles and singing, reading is lovely. Massage can be nice. There are lots of online resources with ideas of things to do week by week. More to stop you getting bored yourself! Reminds me to get some myself to give the childminder ideas...

SnuggyBuggy · 21/09/2018 09:14

Mine just ate at 3 weeks

flumpybear · 21/09/2018 09:16

You're doing great! They know your voices and will start interacting more soon enough, for now just have lots of face time, cuddles, feeding and loads of winding! My Aunty had 5 kids and always just fed winded then sleep and repeat - bit of time on a play mat is always nice too albeit it's just looking st that age

cees · 21/09/2018 09:17

Follow her lead, when she's hungry feed her, change her when she needs changing and let her rest when she wants. Just relax and let her be.

Original poster

CJ1990 · 21/09/2018 09:23

Going to ignore the comment from @MrsKilminster I’m a first time mum so just wanted other opinions on what they did! That has nothing to do with knowing anything about human development...

Thank you for the comments :) I thought that’d be the case but just interested to see what others did / do! :) continuing with the cuddles and talking it is :)

OP posts:

EarlyModernParent · 21/09/2018 09:26

Aw! I am just remembering the 'bag of sugar' phase, as DH called it. Right now, the feel, smell and sound of you is about all your baby needs. Little trips out in the pram sensing light and dark is about as exciting as it should get.
Enjoy it!

peachgreen · 21/09/2018 09:30

You're doing great OP. I worried about the same thing and now that my 8 month old wants all my attention all the time I'm wishing I'd made the most of the time she she just wanted cuddles and walks! Chat away to her as you do stuff, cuddle her, take her out for walks, sing to her, and rest whenever you can. Lie her on her playmat and let her look at the world around her. She'll soon let you know if she's bored!

superram · 21/09/2018 09:31

Mine liked homes under the hammer at that age-I was too knackered to move. All those cheesy song clips-they loved it!

CountessVonBoobs · 21/09/2018 09:32

All you ever need to do to "stimulate" a baby is talking, singing, general loving touch (carrying them around is fine, you don't need baby massage). Babies are programmed to get everything they need for their development from whatever environment they happen to be in. How TF would we ever have survived as a species if you needed special toys or knowledge to "stimulate" them?

A 3 week old needs protected from too much stimulation if anything. Talk to her, sing quiet lullabies, feed and gently touch her. Otherwise lay off - she's fine.

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 21/09/2018 09:43

I think I understand where you are coming from. When my 5th baby was born she was the most content, easiest baby you could imagine. The older children were all in school and the house was just SO quiet.

I was completely besotted with her and loved to gaze at her face and sing to her. But I often I would panic and think "I haven't spoken to her for the past 10 minutes!" and worry that she was neglected in some way because she and I were just going about the day in peace!

I felt I should be constantly chatting to her if she was awake but couldn't keep it up. She is now 16, one of the top achievers in the school and the loudest of all of my kids. Just enjoy your baby. :-)

PavlovaFaith · 21/09/2018 09:53

@MrsKilminster that was not necessary. There is a lot of pressure to always be doing this and that as a first time mum. Honestly OP you'll get to know what stimulation your baby enjoys. Singing, chatting, facial expressions, cuddles, feeding, cleaning. If they are calm and settled then you know all is well.

TittyGolightly · 21/09/2018 10:28

Biologically your baby should still be inside you. (Read up on the fourth trimester.)

gilmoregal · 21/09/2018 11:16

Sounds like you're doing brilliantly, lots of lovely cuddles and talking/singing so she is hearing your voice. She will start to focus on your face when she can when you're having a snuggle or changing her.

You can be doing tummy time but on you so you're probably doing it without thinking. Lay her on your chest when you're having a snuggle a few times a day.

There's an app called Kinedu I have that gives you ideas every week of new things to do,

mistermagpie · 21/09/2018 11:19

Honestly she be interested in toys for a few months. You could try laying her on a play mat thing (the things with toys suspended above it) so she can look at that but at her age just looking at her own hand will be pretty mindblowing!

Babies get stimulated by literally everything around them so don't worry about toys and stuff for now. Sounds like you are doing fine.

mindutopia · 21/09/2018 17:32

Honestly, watch tv, read a magazine, nap, that’s about it. Even my 7 month old mostly entertains himself rolling around on the floor while return work emails!

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