Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

Activities for a small baby - doing too much?

19 replies

AKMD · 15/04/2010 14:15

I'm a first time parent (DS is 7 weeks) and have been a bit stuck about what I'm actually supposed to do with him to stimulate him and keep him happy. At home he has a baby gym, which he loves, and we have lots of touchy-feely books that we share together too, as well as singing nursery rhymes with movements and dancing... I have a structured activity planned for each day (baby group, rhyme time, baby massage, rhythm kids, pushchair excercise class, church on Sundays) and on Saturdays usually do something like take him to the local garden centre to smell/look at the different plants, or visit an acquatics shop to look at the fish etc. I'm planning on starting swimming with him soon. Other mums think I'm absolutely mental and should just cart DS around with whatever I want to do for the day but I'm worried that he will be bored and I feel guilty if I'm at home reading a book with him cooing in my arms, feeding and then falling asleep. What do you think?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

alittlebitshy · 15/04/2010 14:18

I think the other mums are right!

there is plenty of time to be racing around doing activities, and believe me, once they are at school you wish you had a bit of respite sometimes!!

it is nice to go to the odd planned thing so as to meet other mums etc but at this stage what you do is more for you than the baby. Just enjoy it!!

rubyslippers · 15/04/2010 14:19

all a baby needs at 7 weeks old is cooing in your arms

taking them out in a buggy is lovely but anything else (such as groups etc) is for the mum to meet other mums rather than for the baby

if you enjoy doing all the stuff with him, then do it, but equally him just being with you is stimulation enough

he won't be bored - honest

ShinyAndNew · 15/04/2010 14:20

I agree with the other mums. Relax, enjoy your baby.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

BornToFolk · 15/04/2010 14:25

oooh, blimey that's lots of activities! If you are doing them to keep yourself amused, then fine, go for it but don't worry that not doing it all will harm him in any way.

My DS is 2.6 now and needs to be out and about and doing a lot so I wish I'd made the most of the times when he was tiny and content to chill out at home.

Reading a book with a cooing/sleeping baby sounds like bliss, enjoy it!

Original poster

AKMD · 15/04/2010 14:35

Ok. thanks. I do like the activities but find it a bit odd when DS is the youngest by far at every one of them. As long as I'm not doing him any harm, I'll keep it up!

OP posts:

cat64 · 15/04/2010 14:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

bundle · 15/04/2010 14:37

overstimulation can upset a baby

i would give it and him a rest

compo · 15/04/2010 14:40

the activities at that age are for you to meet otehr mums and make friends
he doesn't need anything except milk cuddles and fresh air at that age
try to chill out a bit and enjoy him
he really doesn't need to go to church and to see the fish just yet

whittywan · 15/04/2010 14:44

Where do you find the energy???

I'd rest a little if I were you and just make sometime for yourself.

(I'd kill for some me time tbh)

peppapighastakenovermylife · 16/04/2010 19:27

I have a 3.5 and 1.5 year old. I am positively looking forward to the new baby as I won't have to do anything with them apart from feed and cuddle etc!

If you enjoy these things carry on - if they are in any way stressing you out leave them - he does not need them. He needs cuddles and kisses and smiles and that is enough

mosschops30 · 16/04/2010 19:30

I read in the Boots magazine that you should aim to have an activity planned about 4 days a week with a baby.
WTF????? I manage one day and thats it, the rest of the time me and ds2 walk to school in the morning, bum round the house in the day then school walk in the afternoon.
I soooo couldnt be arsed doing stuff every day and he's got a lovely routine of a bit of stimulation followed by sleep time.
Your baby must be knackered!

Tryharder · 17/04/2010 11:24

Oh bless you, OP.

Call me a lazy old cow but I would put my feet up in the garden, stick baby on boob and enjoy a good book. Or stick baby in sling/pushchair and have a look in the shops.

He is 7 weeks old. The only people benefitting from these baby gym, singalongawhatever groups are the people collecting the fees.

I really don't think there is such a thing as a bored 7 week old (unless he were locked in a box by himself perhaps)

Fourleaf · 17/04/2010 19:56

I was a bit like you with my DS (now 5 months) and in a way I wish I'd taken it much easier. It was good to meet people, but I realised after a while that really the most important thing to me was getting to know my baby which can be hard when you're supposed to be doing an activity or talking to other people. My advice would be to leave yourself at least one day (if not 2 or more!) when you have nothing planned. Then you can just follow your nose and see what you and your baby feel like doing!

Laquitar · 17/04/2010 23:24

You have many years of 'activities' ahead.

Enjoy the activity-free time now

Firawla · 18/04/2010 13:04

I think he is a bit young for all that, but if it makes you happy and he doesn't mind it then I don't think you're doing any harm, its up to you. It is definitely not a must though!! He wouldn't mind staying home or just doing whatever you want to do, he wont get bored just being with you for now

IneedacleanerIamalazyslattern · 18/04/2010 13:09

Do kind of agree with bundle about the over stimulation.
At this age possibly not so much of an issue as babies this small don't tend to care that much but in a few months time you could end up finding your baby a bit grumpy and restless with all these activities.

MamaVoo · 18/04/2010 13:14

Agree with what others have said. I wish I had worried less about this stuff when my DS was tiny. I used to feel terribly guilty if I wasn't doing enough stuff that was focused on him.

In a few months time your DS will be demanding your attention all the time and it won't stop for years. Make the most of these first few months when they are content just to be held.

On the other hand I'm sure the fact that you get out and about so much is good for you. Just don't feel like you have to do it if you'd rather not.

herbaceous · 18/04/2010 14:16

When my PFB was 7 weeks I kind of reckoned it was stimulating enough for him just to exist - he had to work out who he was, who I was; what was close, what was far; what was hard, what was soft; whether the cat still existed when he was out of the room, etc etc.

I went to the odd class - mainly yoga-ish - to get out of the house, but felt guilty if I was out TOO much, as I thought he'd be getting irritated by all the action, not to mention the grating voice of the patronising ladies taking the class.

He's nine months now, and I go to two baby-centred classes with him a week. He has two days a week with the childminder, so has lots of tiring stimulation there.

So, in short, I think that you should probably do less, yes, and enjoy those precious few months as your baby learns which way's up. But it is nice to get out and meet other mums and eat cake.

tortoiseonthehalfshell · 18/04/2010 14:20

Babies that age like to:
eat
look
hear
snuggle
sleep

That's it. Do what makes you happy - who knows, you might be setting yourself up with some great mummy friends for later. But my child is very easily bored, needs and can cope with a lot more stimulation than a lot of her agemates (well, now they're toddlers it's evened out, but in the early months this was always true) and in fact hates it if we're not out and about by say 2 hours after breakfast every day despite having quite a big house. And she didn't need that much then!

Flip