How do you keep your infant occupied???

Question

I have a very active 4 month old she is awake from 8-8. She is aware and inquisitive. She likes to be active. I feel like we are in the same routine of the matt gym, the exersoucer, swing and some time on the couch. She HATES tummy time. Any alternatives?

Answer 1

Tummy time is a must, it really helps with development. My 8 week old hated it at first (I have been doing it from about 2 weeks) but you have to do it. Get down there on the floor with her and talk, sing, etc. Although my baby is 2 months younger than yours singing, talking, reading, play mat time on the floor and her swing seem to do it for her. She also likes sitting next to me on her boppy...I'm wondering when do you start using the exersaucer? We have one, but can't use it yet.

Answer 2

Some people will not understand just what having an active four month old is like. I have had four of them. My first disliked "tummy time" too, so we just skipped it and she has grown into a very coordinated and atheletic girl. Around eight mos. she decided she wanted to crawl and would stretch out of her sitting position to do so, she developed strong stomach and arm muscles, just like all the babies who like to spend time on their tummies. So don't worry too much giving her tummy time, it might just be she explores this on her own later when she's ready. Some battles just make you both miserable at this age.

I found with my most active daughter that I was missing subtle clues to naptime. It may seem that she won't or doesn't need a nap, but take a hard look at your schedule and her behavior and see if she might be willing to take a nap during the day. My most active child's favorite naptime was from 9 am -11am, even if she had gotten up at 7am. That bit of rest helped keep her (and me) in better spirits for the rest of the day. (Even on the days she only slept a 1/2 hour).

Your routine for keeping her busy sounds so familiar. She will want to add new activities as her skills improve. I found going for strolls when the weather warmed to be a good diversion. I would also prop her up into a sitting position with her boppy behind her for support and sit outside in a shady area. She loved to feel the grass and to watch the trees and birds. Just taking her on errands in a stroller or front carrier was a relief from trying to entertain her at home. With Spring on it's way, life will get better.

If she is not already sitting, or sitting with support, you may want to add that to your routine. That will give her another position in which to interact with the world around her. From a sitting position she can explore her blocks, stackers, etc. in a more independent way.

I dont' understand the advice to get a pet. I had a puppy while my youngest was between two and six months and I could rarely set my infant down for fear she would be knocked over or trampled, and it was a relatively small dog. Our older dog (three years) was great, but she's mellow and very obedient.

Hope some of this helps. Enjoy her while she's still not too mobile, if you think she's active now, wait till she can crawl! Keep up the good work, your daughter's fortunate to have a mom willing to invest so much time with her!

Answer 3

My daughter is 6 weeks and extreamily active and aware of whats going on around her. When I lay down with her on my chest she will hold her head up but hates being on the floor, I guess she is not ready for that yet. I bought her a leap frog bouncer that vibrates and also has a gym over it, which has the toys that hang down but also on the back part where she can see is a mirror and when its on it will talk to her, tell stories or play music. She has not figured out yet that if she moves the toys it will re-start so we only use the music choice right now and it has flashing lights that coincide with the music, in red, blue and yellow that also light up the pictures eched into the mirror. She loves it! She will smile and talk to it for close to an hour if you let her. Besides the difference in age my daughter also is awake the majority of the day, her doctor said she should be sleeping 15 hours a day, but she only sleeps about 5-6 hours total all day so finding things to interest her are a huge deal for me.

Answer 4

I know it can be rough on you, especially if this is your first child, the transition from independent individual to mom with totally dependent infant is shocking! Here are some suggestions and links.
Join a parent/baby class like yoga, gym, or music.
Join or start a play group.
Take the baby outside every day.
Go shopping at baby consignment shops.
Read books, go to the library/book store
Give the baby a massage
Play games and sing songs and talk talk talk
Go to the zoo
Try not to watch TV, new research might show a link with autism and infant TV viewing.

Answer 5

As far as tummy time: Do you put her on a blanket that has lots of bright colors and black and white? She needs something to attract her attention to the surface. It is okay, though....start her out with just a few seconds. Don't push it. Just a teeny bit per day, then increase the number of times per day, then the amount of time. Don't worry though.

We bought little "bugs" that you hung from the top of her bouncer seat. She loved swatting at those, and got really excited when she could finally grab one! Those bugs were great.

The ones we bought were calle "bugs on board", and I think the company SASSY made them. We also bought her a purple octopus called "octivity time". She spent a lot of time with that.

Also, don't underestimate BOARD BOOKS. If she can't hold them, you can hold them and read to her.

Answer 6

Try to get her to enjoy tummy time, this will help her learn to crawl, and strengthen her muscles for crawling. My daugther is 5 months and she loves tummy time, I get on the floor with her and play with her, getting down at her level, keeping her interested in tummy time.
You sound like your doing lots with your child, I know how you feel, but if she learns to play on her own for periods of time, thats great, cause if not she will depend on you all the time, to keep her busy.

Answer 7

A swing, bouncer, walker, tummy time... possibly purchase a service and carry her around with you jointly as doing the home household initiatives. maximum of them allow you to place the child dealing with outwards. There are additionally toys which would be strapped on the automobile seat which will save her busy.

Answer 8

what's tummy time? do something different get a dog, perferably a golden retriever or lab, maybe an older cat? go to the park and play, watch TV

Answer 9

get some interactive toys that have sounds, lights, vibration, bright lights, ect. When she gets a little older, around 6 months, you can hold her hands and help her learn to walk.