What do you do with a 5 week old?

[loskadoodle]

All day long???

We do a little bit of tummy time, I spend a lot if time holding him so he doesn't fuss. Obviously eating and napping. I just feel like I don't really "do" anything with him all day. Is this just the way it is for a while??

[Deleted]

I wore him a lot and then just did whatever I wanted.

It's a sweet time. Watch TV. Go out and do stuff. Take naps. All the stimulation they need can be achieved just by holding and talking (to or even just in front of them).

[ijack]

Aug 2, 2012 16:47:01 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

I wore him a lot and then just did whatever I wanted.

It's a sweet time. Watch TV. Go out and do stuff. Take naps. All the stimulation they need can be achieved just by holding and talking (to or even just in front of them).

what she said.

[oregonpachey]

I had a lot of down town those first few weeks. Here are some things you can "do":

Sing to him
Read him books
Walk around the house and point out different objects
Put him in a bouncer for a few minutes
Give him a baby massage

[eddy]

Just go about your day. Strap him in a sling if you want to interact more. I don't do anything different at this age. I talk to myself and I talk to him. I don't read books or get toys out. I don't do anything different besides being me. They like the sound of your voice and being close to you. That is all they need. Before you know it you will be a one man circus so for now just enjoy being able to just go about your day normal.

I currently have an 8 week old strapped to me. He looked up at me as I made dinner and I sort of gave him a commentary of what I was doing. We smiled at each other a lot and then he fell asleep. lol

I consider that pretty good interaction for this age.

[bunch]

Aug 2, 2012 16:47:29 GMT -5 ijack said:

Aug 2, 2012 16:47:01 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

I wore him a lot and then just did whatever I wanted.

It's a sweet time. Watch TV. Go out and do stuff. Take naps. All the stimulation they need can be achieved just by holding and talking (to or even just in front of them).

what she said.

yeah. The thing I'm looking forward to with my next kid is being much less worried about stimulating her and much more aware of how special the snuggle time is.

[loskadoodle]

Aug 2, 2012 17:26:23 GMT -5 bunch said:

Aug 2, 2012 16:47:29 GMT -5 ijack said:

what she said.

yeah. The thing I'm looking forward to with my next kid is being much less worried about stimulating her and much more aware of how special the snuggle time is.

Good perspective thanks!

[Deleted]

They let you know when they need more. Trust me, I can't just do whatever I want now.

[galaxy8227]

I tried to get him for a walk everyday--whether it was just around the neightborhood, or while doing errands.

I felt the same way, that it wasn't enough--but like PP said they do let you know when they need more stiumlation

[tardyfortheparty]

Snuggle, snuggle, snuggle

[DarcyLongfellow]

I wish I had stressed a lot less about this when DD was a newborn. I know it seems like you're not doing anything, but just hanging out with the kid (either holding him, putting him in a sling, or setting him beside you on the couch/floor) while you do your thing is plenty of stimulation! Sing to him when you think about it, narrate your day when you feel like you are doing something you could narrate, talk on the phone while looking at him (so it's like you're talking to him).

It's good to have certain daily routines so that you can make sure you do the things you're "supposed" to do at least once a day or so. I would try to do a couple minutes of tummy time after each diaper change (I'd leave her on the table while I did stuff there where I could keep a hand on her). I did infant massage when I put lotion on her after her bath. But mostly I nursed her to sleep, then sat in the glider nesting on my phone, watching TV, or reading while she slept with my boob still in her mouth :-)

[statlerwaldorf]

Just hold them and snuggle with them. Soon they will be mobile and need to be entertained a lot more. It goes by so quickly. 5 week old need bonding time and not so much a lot of stimulation.

[drloretta]

You don't need to "do" anything at 5 weeks. Their favorite "game" is looking at your face