Avoiding overstimulation for 10 week old?

[trrk]

I’m a FTM with a 10w old baby and a bit clueless about what I should be doing with her in wake windows. How much time per day do you spend on things like the baby gym or tummy time or actively reading/singing to babies at that stage. I’ve read that these sort of things are good for development but they also lead to over stimulation if done for too long so I’m not sure about the right balance.

I wonder if you’re putting too much pressure on yourself, which is so easy to do.

At this age follow what your baby needs and let go of “should” from your day. Sing when you feel like it, read aloud if you have a book on the go you’re enjoying, they love the sound of your voice, go for walks with a buggy or sling - sling especially good for calming them and getting stuff done if you find it comfortable and your baby likes it.

Sleep when you both can and have as many cuddles as you want to. Loads of babies hate tummy time, if you’re breastfeeding you don’t need to worry about it anyway, but lying on the floor next to your baby can be lovely.

At this stage I just do stuff I need to get done really! And chat to DD2, put her on the mat for a bit. They're still too little for organised fun, just being alive is enough stimulation for them when they're newborn! Just talk and sing as you like but don't overthink it. There's no special quota you have to meet.

Ignore what you should or shouldn’t be doing and just go by your baby

if they’re happy doing something then great. You’ll soon know when they’ve had enough

Thanks for the tips! It’s so hard not to over think things. We’re also going for walks most days and she is pretty happy in the pram and normally sleeps. I haven’t managed to master the sling yet (struggling to do up the straps with her in it) which would be great as she mostly naps on me during the day which means I don’t get anything done around the house. She does seem to enjoy batting the toys about in the baby gym but hates tummy time, even on me if lying down flat (but sleeps on my chest happily when more upright). We’re not breastfeeding but hope the contact naps make up for it.

DS is 12 weeks, just a trip in the car to Tesco’s or some time on the play mat is enough stimulation for him. I feed him upon waking, then just keep an eye on when he starts to get fussy/more vocal/avoid eye contact/yawning and then it’s time for another nap. Swimming is lovely to do with them at that age, and you will get the hang is the sling. Practice with a teddy to get the hang of doing the strap up behind you. I put the waist belt on, pick DS up and then lift the sling up, arm straps on and then make the strap at the back really long, clip it together and then tighten it. It depends on your type of sling though and I did use mine for 2 years with DS1.