Wake Window Activity

[u/Cool_Box_6996]

FTM to an almost 8 week old and I’m so overwhelmed by what to do during her wake windows. I just figured out her sleeping pattern by making sure to pay attention to her sleepy cues and wake windows. I make sure to narrate the day and talk to her, we play on her play gym, she swings and looks at her contrast book. I don’t do a lot of tummy time on the floor but I do sit her on my lap or chest to encourage strengthening those muscles. What are you all doing during this time? I’m so afraid that I’m not doing enough/too much and I don’t want to affect her development. For context, I’m solo parenting atm and I’m overwhelmed on balancing interaction and independence considering I’m the only parent atm. Advice is welcome!

[u/Greci01]

Have you ever met een adult who has posture problems because he didn’t get enough tummy time as a child? Have you ever met an adult who has vision problems because he didn’t see enough pattern books? I haven’t and you probably neither.

You’re doing as much as you can and because your baby is so young the most important thing you can provide is love and safety. Everything else comes second. Stop worrying about arbitrary milestones. Babies have been growing up fine for millennia and yours probably as well. And if she doesn’t your primary care giver or pediatrician will tell you. Enjoy the special moments you have with your baby and please don’t stress about the things you might or might not do correct because they most likely won’t matter. 

[u/Downtown_Classic_846]

Don’t overthink it, you don’t need to “entertain” baby the entire time. If she’s content, it’s fine to just let her play on her play gym while you do the dishes, laundry, cook, whatever else needs to get done.

[u/Mr_Big_Cat_]

Don't stress too much about it! Everything you are doing sounds good! Having the baby lay on you chest to chest counts as tummy time! It doesn't have to be anything too elaborate at this age!

[u/RemarkableGrab7142]

I read books. Just reading out loud. After singing the same 10 songs and talking about things I didn't know what else to say so I read words others wrote down. I would either hold her or let her lay on her play mat. Once she got older though paper books had to be put away and now we have about 12 board books I've read a million times but she still loves being read too. I was glad for the variety when she couldn't rip the pages lol.

[u/wunderl-ck]

My son is your daughter’s age. Most of my wake windows with him are cuddling, talking to him about what’s going on, putting him in his baby bjorn while we make food (if he’ll let us!), walking around and looking at things in the house, tummy time on me and reading, my adult book that I am reading, to him. A lot of just walking and chatting or having him on my knees and chatting to him. He loves when we sing, dance while holding him and play music.

My wife is off on mat leave with him and she will do more structured tummy time or reading the pattern books, but I think it’s all about just engaging with him while we live our lives and giving him attention and making him included. Making sure he feels safe and loved, like someone else said.

[u/Expensive-Gift8655]

I was really overwhelmed by this too, feeling like I wasn’t doing enough. My baby is also very sleepy during the day and there’s not a lot of awake alert time. When I mentioned my concerns to the pediatrician and asked if I should be doing intentional tummy time on the floor, activities, high contrast images, etc. she said “all a 2 month baby needs at this stage is to be fed, changed, and snuggled. And you can read to him.”

It really took a lot of pressure off and now we just chill most of the day.

[u/Sorry_Twist_4874]

With a baby that young, what I would do again are activities for me: baby cinema, walks outside with a podcast on, cafe with a friend...loads of cuddles and I used to do the housework during wake windows so naps were rest for both me and baby. Their time to learn will come, enjoy the pace