Not going enough with baby

[angrylittlerocket]

DD is 3 & a half months old.

I don’t feel like I do enough with her to keep her stimulated and that she’s going to be left behind developmentally.

The weather has been grim today and I’ve suffered from the period from hell so haven’t exactly been entertaining her but what can I do exactly with a 3.5 month old?

Meant to say doing in the title 🤦‍♀️

Well at 3 and a half months they don't need much really. Tummy time, talk to her/look at her when talking, a few toys she can look at, a few soft books she can look at /mouth, walks outside to get some sunshine. Honestly don't over think it. Baby clubs can be fun but usually more so for you than her at that age! Don't beat yourself up if you don't go out every day, especially if it's raining or you're unwell. I'm sure you're doing a great job!

Honestly don't worry. At 3 & a half months a day at home consisted of singing a few songs, reading him a book, letting him watch me clean /cook tea & mostly sit and watching a box set. Babies are boring lol...make the most of it before you have to entertain them every minute of the day!! I promise you it won't affect her development!

Relax and enjoy your baby

You could try baby massage, reading, singing, talking to her, going for a walk in the pram. Give her bright coloured things to put in her mouth look at and different textures to feel. Tummy time is good - anything that's not on her back is tummy time (you could try lying her on your chest). If you're really worried about her development, baby sensory gives loads of great ideas for playtime.

However, my favourite was taking him to a cafe for tea and a cake. That's very stimulating for them with lots to look at (mine's nosy and loved people watching), plus it gets you out of the house for some yummy cake! You can feel even less guilty if you walk there (but that's for nice weather days when you're feeling good).

Don't worry too much about development, just give her lots of love and comfort!

Yep, just go for walks and chill out in coffee shops with friends. You’ll work off the calories of the cake you then get to enjoy, and the baby might even nap while you’re there!

Seriously, I loved this stage. Watching me do housework from her bouncy chair was literally the best entertainment ever for her. Went out for lunches etc with friends and she just loved sitting in the buggy staring at stuff.

Now at nearly 7 months our outings have changed to baby groups, baby soft play, swimming and mummy friends’ houses as being stuck in a buggy while Mummy relaxes is apparently an infringement of her human rights and results in various kamikaze attempts to escape from her imprisonment 🤦🏽‍♀️

Don't worry! It's nice to stay in when the weather's awful. Singing, looking at toys, shaking noisy things, watching you. We still go the supermarket a lot - my DS used to love lying in the trolley baby seat.

Give it a year and you'll be cursing that you have to go outside because toddlers can't be contained!

You can get some survival wrap cheap off amazon. It's the foil wrap that people wear after a marathon. Babies love it! It crinkles and makes noise. It fascinates my little one. Was recommended by hv x

Even taking her to the supermarket and talking to her is “doing something”- tummy time, laying her on a play mat and read her a story (or narrate Emmerdale as I did)

DS didn't get taken out much as I suffer from PND and then anxiety stemming from that, and he's now currently 18 months and taking pens apart and putting them back together. (I wish I was joking. I'm not.)

I still worry he's behind developmentally because of me not taking him to groups but my parents keep saying he's very clever, so I'm taking their word for it. (Also my PFB so no comparison to have yet)

I talk to my baby a lot. Sit by him in his bouncer & play with the toys with him. Take him for walks daily. Play music to him & get him to copy me x