Keeping 15 week old entertained

[Pitstop1986]

My DD falls to sleep at about 8pm and usually wakes just after 9 for a feed, then again just after 10. She settles after the ; later feed and usually sleeps around 8 hours. She has a nap in the morning of about half hour to an hour where I get a shower and have breakfast but other than that, she rarely naps in the day.

The only problem is that whilst she's awake, she wants constant attention and interaction. She's so alert and just loves attention. We have a baby gym for her and a swinging chair, but she has no interest in them. I usually sit facing her and sing nursery rhymes and wiggle her legs, or ones that have hand movements, do them (or when I can't think of a nursery rhyme, agadoo or YMCA also do the trick) or I read to her. If I'm not chatting to her or paying her attention she cries.

Does anyone have any ideas for toys, etc that may keep her entertained? Even just for 10 minutes so that I can sit and eat a sandwich in peace! I'm going mad! I just wish that there was something that she'd play with or do alone!

Toys with flashing lights and music keep our babys attention a bit longer than most other toys. All about chewing at 8mth though.

Unfortunately I have no advice as both mine have been like this and nothing worked except obviously it improves as they get older. Having said that, my eldest is nearly 4 and still often refuses to play or do anything by herself at all...she had a 30 min tantrum just this morning for this very reason. You have my sympathies OP, it can be hard going...

Baby mirrors?

Sounds like she needs more naps tbh. And that'd be a break for you too! Have you tried a walk with the pram or sling?

Keeping 15 week old entertained

(1) Place on floor
(2) Place objects closely for baby to reach

If baby needs more than this, baby is tired and needs to sleep. As a general rule, after doing the above:

(3) First cry - lift, wind, nappy check, put back down
(4) Second cry = nap time.

Needing constant attention in order to not cry means baby is tired.

Needing constant attention in order to not cry means baby is tired.

Agree. After 3 kids I have finally learned this! Constant crying = discomfort or tiredness.

At 15 weeks they can usually only stay awake for a couple of hours at a time so one nap in the daytime at this age sounds very little.

babies at that age LOVE people watching. She wants to see you & what you are doing all the time. So she'd probably love being in a sling while you move about the kitchen, especially if you keep up a little inane chatter at the same time. I used to narrate how I hung up the laundry to my baby at that age.

Also, get out to a cafe or park and she will like to sit on your lap & watch other people. And this is the perfect age to start going to a baby or toddler group because she can watch the older babies playing. Some babies don't really bother with toys much because they are only interested in people.

Mine at that age were happier sitting up so we bought a swizzley chair thing and plonked them in the middle of the room. They also loved being in the door bouncer thing so they spent a fair amount of time in that. I would just get on with the housework or whatever or sit nearby with a cup of tea and talk at them a bit.

At that age they should only be awake for 2ish hours at a time, she must be exhausted. Crying unless she’s being distracted by you means that she probably needs more rest x

Agree with the other posters saying at this age fussiness and need for constant attention generally = problem that needs solving, most often that they're over tired. Have a look at the wake windows info online and make sure he's napping enough in the daytime. At his age it is a staggeringly short window and by the time you've fed them and changed a nappy there is very little time before you're starting work on getting to sleep for the next nap!

@FATEdestiny

Keeping 15 week old entertained

(1) Place on floor
(2) Place objects closely for baby to reach

If baby needs more than this, baby is tired and needs to sleep. As a general rule, after doing the above:

(3) First cry - lift, wind, nappy check, put back down
(4) Second cry = nap time.

Needing constant attention in order to not cry means baby is tired.

Agree!

Wake window should be about 2/2,5 hours at that age

Have you tried the wrist/ankle toys with crinkly bits and ribbons?

A little bit older than your DD but not much we got DD an emergency camping foil blanket from the pound shop, chopped it into A4 sized pieces and she would spend ages squishing, crumpling, waving it and staring at it. It's not sharp at all and it makes a very loud crinkling nose plus it's shiny. Best £1 I ever spent.

Foil blankets that are normally used by paramedics when people are cold!
DD loves laying on them playing. We can leave her happily playing to have lunch.

I mostly agree with PPs. I do think some babies are just more alert than others and are naturally less outwardly ‘sleepy’. But without fail my DS got more fussy if he was tired. Wanting stimulation (which he craved) turned to wanting distraction for sure. It was a really tricky balance.

Long walk outside with them in the sling, chatting about what you can see? Outside is way more interesting then inside and it has the added bonus of encouraging sleep…

Agree with others about recognising tired cues. She's probably crying for sleep.
You do have time to eat a sandwich with a baby yet to crawl!