How do i keep my baby amused?

Question

my daughter is 7 weeks old, her first 4 weeks she just slept a lot, and now she is awake a lot more, and she cries if i try to put her down. First thing in the morning i lay her on a towel with no nappy and she will lie there chattering away for about half an hour, and for the rest of the day, and the evening, she just cries if i put her down. she will have 2 naps of about an hour in the day, and several 10 minute naps, but i am finding it impossible to get anything done. my boyfriend works all day and when he gets back he holds her so i can shower and eat and get some stuff done (he does offer to do it, but id rather he held the baby seeing as how i have been holding her all day, i'd rather do the housework and get half an hour to myself in the kitchen).

how can i amuse her so i don't have to hold her all day, or do i have to just get used to it until she's a bit bigger and she starts playing with toys, and when will that be?

Please help, (im at my mums house and my mum is downstairs holding her while i get an hours quiet on the computer!!)

Answer 1

Get a musical bouncy chair, they are fantastic, not too expensive and the babies love it! Mine used to sit in there for about an hour at a time. Activity mats are great too

Answer 2

Speak to your health visitor and get some advice.

If you have little money, you can make your own mobiles very cheaply.

Read to her.  Tell her stories using funny faces.

Walk her in the fresh air.

Play with her on the rug.

Babies are wonderful and adaptable and most of all fun!

Enjoy her - this time will pass quickly.

Answer 3

its hard to say being that the baby needs a c**p load of attn. during the first 6 mths. id say have a lot of colored toys surrounding them and play until they are tired of you.

Answer 4

my son is now 10 weeks n craves attention.. though a few weeks ago i bought him a bouncer that vibrates and has music, with 2 rattles (can b used as teethers) and a mirror above his head that turns when the music plays. its of fisher price n vry worth it! he loves the mirror n now smiles at himself which is priceless..

its perfect cos i put him in it n take him in the shower room wit me so i can wash n tlk to him at the same time, i can also cook n keep an eye on him. it is a blessing! though he still loves a cuddle and im more then happy to please him esp after i managed to get things done!

gud luck! xx

n she'l grow up fast so make the most of her wantin ur attention, i love the fact that he needs me though i understand that its tiring!

Answer 5

Activity mats, baby swings, bouncy chairs.  Those might help, but odds are not for long stretches of time.  Mine went through that faze too.  He grew out of it at I'd say around 4-5 months or so.  I got a jumparoo for him then and it occupies him for a much longer period of time.  Till then...hang in there and enjoy the cuddly moments.  Let your boyfriend help when he is home and let the housework go when you need to - I tried to get some stuff done after the baby went down for the night.  It does get better though :)

Answer 6

Everyone has this problem!  You feel like you never have a second to yourself for the first few months.

Do you have a play gym?  One of those mats that has an overhead bit with dangly stuff on it. Babies love those.  Don't worry about the housework either - just do enough to keep things a bit clean and get some sleep when the baby sleeps.

Good luck - all parents have been in your situation and it gets better I promise!

Answer 7

Well, babies do take a LOT of attention, and most of them like to be held all of the time.  It usually gets better when the baby is able to sit up (around 6 months).

You say, "boyfriend" so I hope he hangs around for his daughter, and doesn't take off, now that he's a daddy.  Then, you would have years of having no time to do anything you want.

Answer 8

I had the same problem, in the end i bought one of these activity mobile things (sorry cannot remember what they are called) that you lay your baby on the floor and it goes over them so they have brightly coloured things hanging above them, they sell them in argos, the best ones also have music, my daughter would quite happily lay underneath it for a good half hour sometimes more,