Baby has been ignored all day

[LowKeyKoala]

I’ve been really ill today after a hospital trip last night and DH has been looking after LO and working from home whilst I’ve been sleeping.

Turns out she’s been sat under her play gym or in the pram but had very little / no interaction at all, so she’s been very quiet, not smiling and hasn’t had any time sat up or on her tummy.

I feel really guilty and so bad, while I appreciate the rest, if I’d have known this was going to be the case I think I’d have rather tried to carry on with my day.

Has anyone else left their LO on the occasional day where they have had very little interaction and playtime?

Provided she's happy one day won't do any harm.

I'm assuming that she has had interaction for nappy changes, feeds etc.

Don't feel bad. It is still afternoon so she can get some time with you before you rest again. As long as she has been fed and changed she will be fine.

She'd soon let you know if she wasnt happy........learning to just 'be 'and entertain oneself is an important skill for everyone to learn. Especially these days with constant stimulation from tech etc.

Baby will be absolutely fine.

Baby has been ignored by your DH.

I'd keep an eye on that.

It's not even 3pm yet so it's not been all day.

I'm assuming this is quite a young baby because you mention tummy time and they have presumably stayed put under the play gym rather than crawling/ rolling away.

It's really nothing to feel guilty about for a few hours. My 3mo regularly has to sit and watch me play/wrangle with her toddler sister and between that and me using the toddlers naptimes to clean doesn't get much 1:1 time.

You must have a very well behaved baby though both of mine would have been screaming their heads off after 5 mins under a baby gym or pram that wasn't being pushed

It sounds like she is quite young.
I wouldn't be happy with this either, but thankfully it's not quite 3pm yet so enough time to brighten her day yet!

Does OH think that if she is not crying then she does not need anything? Does he need a bit more info about why interaction is important for development and wellbeing?
Think our HV left some stuff about it.

Presumably she has had milk and nappy changes so will have had some contact and interactions then?

Hope you can have a nice afternoon and are better soon too

You are all right really. she is normally happy playing by herself but I only leave her for maybe 20mins at a time (while I’m washing up etc in the same room) even then I dangle the tea cloth over her or sing or something to keep things going on for her. This way when I do have to “ignore” her for a phone call or whatever reason she’s still happy.

I think it’s just because she’s usually so lively happy chatty etc and DH said she just seems lethargic

Don’t feel bad. You needed your rest and one boring day won’t harm her.

Foody you have hit the nail on the head. She is good, so he thinks exactly that if she’s not crying she’s fine.

She’s had her nappy changed and one bottle from him, i did the one just now and she’s asleep on me, but still in her sleep suit from yesterday

She’s 6 months old

thank you for being kind and reassuring, we’ve got baby sensory on Friday and I’ll try and take her out tomorrow!

Don't worry too much about taking her out tomorrow.
You can stay I with her and rest and still have a productive day.
Stimulation does not have to be massive stuff, just chatting to her about whatever you are doing. Even if that's chatting about doing the laundry and what the washing machine does. Or what you are watching on TV!
My LO used to get a running commentary as we went round the supermarket. So "ooh, peppers. Shall we get peppers for tea? Right we need to go any find the milk next..."

Sure other shoppers loved me

Wow 6 months and can lie quietly in a pram or under a playgym! Has she only had 1 bottle and no food? Have you started weaning? What did you expect your H to do if he was meant to be working? (That sounds snappy but isn't meant to be!)

My not quite 6 month old never stops. She's constantly rolling round and feeds every 2-3 hours (although breast fed!) so would never be quiet like that all day!!!

If she's been fed and changed, and she's not crying, it's not doing her any harm whatsoever as a one off. If your husband is trying to work from home, he's very lucky she's such an easy baby!

She. Will. Be. Fine. It makes me sad to think of mums being worried about this.

This idea that we have to interact with babies all the time is a new one and most of us turned out fine without being played with as much as our babies are! Remember there was never some golden age when SAHMs were all busy stimulating their babies - more likely they were busy looking after the house while babies were left in cots or playpens.

It's great you interact with your baby a lot, but at the same time you mustn't panic if someone doesn't do so, and if you really don't want to one day for any reason, you can give yourself time off doing it too. Your baby knows she is loved!

Honestly she will be fine. She’s not being neglected and left to cry, she’s perfectly happy. Is fed and clean and if she’s under a playmat then she’s entertained. And your DH is trying to work. I’m not sure what else he should be doing. Those of us with older children often have to leave the baby to entertain themselves. Enjoy it before she’s mobile and destroying everything in sight!

I was so out of it yesterday morning DH kindly said he would look after her which I really do appreciate, I honestly don’t know what I expected.

You are totally right I know they don’t need to be constantly entertained. I get stuff done in the day because she shrieks with delight just looking out of the window at trees! And I’m liking the idea that less interaction for a day may mean she gets used to the idea that she’s loved and safe but doesn’t need us to engage with her all day.

She’s usually fed every 3-4 hours and has lunch and dinner at the moment so I gave her food when she woke up after her afternoon nap.