Activities for a 5/6 weeks old

[EllaWt]

What activities do you do with your child at this age? We currently play a little (mostly showing pictures and hanging out on her playmat) , cuddle, do a bit of massage and listen to music but I feel I don't do enough... there's obviously going out with the pram also but I was wondering what else I could do to help her development?

Singing and reading books.

A baby that age doesn't need activities. Life for them is about feeding and sleeping. Being cuddled, looking around, being sung and talked to - that's plenty.

I think at that stage my DS was mesmorized by colours that were very contrasted. Think black and white things. Ella Loves has a few muslins that are swirly black and white patterns that I used to hang up for him.

Etta Loves! Not Ella Loves

Nothing. Feed, sleep, cuddle, change nappy! They really don't need anything at that age.

Don't pressure yourself. Just keep baby fed, dry and alive

6 weeks old?
I didn't do anything. Just trying to survive on a daily basis

Nothing - just enjoy this time because before long they will be a lot more demanding!

Nothing.

Just have them on asking or near you, chat to them etc.

Life in sensory enough!

Activities?! Feeding and being awake.

I really wouldn't do too much with a baby this young as you'll likely overstimulate them.

Just looking at them and responding/mirroring their expressions is enough and I'd only do this for a few mins at a time.

At 6 weeks old she fed and pood. Occasionally she slept. I can't imagine having the time or opportunity to do anything else!

Just talk to them, sing songs etc. They aren't going to be interested in anything else.

In a sling*

Just talk to them and play with them. They just want to be with you; they don't need fancy stuff. Singing, massage, reading to them, all good.

Feed, cuddle, bath, talk to them. That's about it.

We had some black and white shapes that dangled from the bouncy chair or playmat for our LO to look at, then got some fabric books that had black and white shapes in to look through together.

Don’t forget tummy time and just chatting away to them while you are doing chores (e.g. if you have them in a sling on you)

Just kissed him loads. Had some projection lights. Sang to him. Think thats it!

This website is really good - it lists the abilities a baby should have by age, and also suggests games to play each week. At this early age, they aren’t games as such, just things like tummy time etc, but it’s helpful all the same. pathways.org/growth-development/0-3-months/games/

I wasn't intending on doing any activities, as I thought my son would be too young. However, he's fascinated by those black and white picture cards and loves playing in his little gym.

When he's not active, we have loads of cuddles and kisses.

With DD1, we did a few classes (baby yoga & sensory) from about 6 weeks, she was under her play gym a fair bit and we looked at black & white books.

DD2 has to suffer DD1s singing and enjoyed watching the Queen's Gambit on my lap.

With mine I sang and read stories. Ones I'd loved as a kid, so partly for my benefit!

My second liked looking at black and white pictures when she was tiny.

Mostly I just gave cuddles and stared adoringly at them.

Tummy time. Baby massage. Head shoulders knees and toes. Also, around 6 wks some babies smile for the first time so getting them to smile is in itself a wonderful game

Tummy time and heads shoulders knees and toes as PP said are my favourites

My baby girl is 5wks and life mainly is feeding, changing and cuddling her (she doesn’t like to be by herself!). But I spend a lot of time singing nursery rhymes to her or playing lullabies found on you tube trying to settle her at night. I also have a baby bouncer and soft mat with arch with toys that I put her in. I try to talk to her lots so to develop language and smile at her but apart from that life is mainly about feeding and changing haha