What do you do with your 12 week old all day?

[Katlow]

I'm on maternity leave at the moment, currently go to a few baby classes but stuck at home more often than not. Struggling with what I'm supposed to be doing with my 12 week old all day

Currently we:

Play with bubbles
Sing songs
I'm trying to help him roll over
Talk to him
Pull faces at him
Try and encourage him to grab things
Bath time
Tummy time
Walks

But that only fills so much of the day. Any ideas? I don't want to be sticking him in front of YouTube as much as I currently am this young, probably about an hour a day as I'm getting serious guilt but I don't know what to do to entertain him sometimes

@PotteringAlong

Why are you sticking him in front of YouTube? Put something on the tv that you want to watch and just cuddle him! You’ve got years of them talking to you about shite they’ve watched on YouTube! At 12 weeks they haven’t got a clue what’s on! Take the time to watch something you actually want to see

Yes!! I hammered through some brilliant series on Netflix! Also, go for walks, have coffees and do things for you. Your baby will be happy to go along for the ride. And yes, I would not be watching any more crappy children’s YouTube than I absolutely have to. It won’t be long before you’re being given a monologue by said baby about what latest crap they’ve found on there!

Someone I know who went back to her professional role after 6 weeks off used to read her work paperwork aloud to her child in the evenings at this age.
Not something I would necessarily recommend, but the child has turned out fine and it illustrates that what they like is your voice and presence.
Get on with your life and take them with you. Obviously talk to them and have times when you share a book or a toy, roll them around etc, but most of the time just bring them along for the ride. You are introducing them to the world.

You don't have to suffer through cocomelon at that stage, wait until they can hand you the remote and demand it of you. Just talk through your programs while you sit on the floor with them and they roll about on their little mat.