What do you do with your infant all day?

[Anonymous]

If what does your nanny do, if you have a nanny? Baby is in the stage where his wake windows are getting longer but he’s not really mobile or sitting up yet so can’t really play with a ton of toys. We read but he gets bored after 2-3 books and that’s like 5 minutes!

[Anonymous]

Go outside. When my DD was in that stage, we'd leave the house after her first nap of the day. Long walk with her in the stroller or in a carrier. She got to look at the sky, trees, people's faces, buildings, etc. Fascinating for her. I'd stop for a coffee somewhere and sit outside while she played in my lap or her stroller. Then we'd go to a park (usually she'd nap on the way there) eat and play and read books for a while. Then I'd run errands while she took another nap, then home.

I did a lot of reading during this time, and also started sketching in a sketchbook. I'd talk to friends or family on the phone while my baby napped as well. It's a short lived period -- your baby will be crawling and eating solids and napping a lot less before you know it. Don't put too much pressure on yourself right now. Do things you enjoy or need to do and just bring him along. He just wants to be near you and to see things, and eat and sleep. Don't structure your life around him right now. That will come.

[Anonymous]

You take the child outside for walks. Good for you and good for the child. Every few block, pick the child up and talk to him/her about what you see around you.
Give the baby a massage, stretch- a lot of physical contact and talking. I love that stage, because I also have a lot of time for myself to walk around the neighborhood (I love my neighborhood) and enjoy every corner of it. Also, spend some time in the park and see what other parents/nannies do.
Once the child turns one, you have to chase them and go where they go. Much harder to enjoy being outside. It's rather exhausting to follow them.

[Anonymous]

Just go about your day and bring the baby along everything is entertaining to a young child, even the most mundane activity like taking out the trash or buying milk is a blast to an infant.

[Anonymous]

So about 3 months?

- Sitting up with support to look at books, play with toys, paddle hands in a dishpan of warm water, etc. This can be in your lap, or propped up with a boppy or pillow.

- Tummy time, again with a book, a toy, or just you lying there and making faces while Hannibal Lecter gums your chin.

- Walks outside, in a carrier or stroller. Can be either recreational or errands.

- Spectator sports: Time in the bouncer to watch me shower, unload the dishwasher, exercise, brush the pets, etc.

[Anonymous]

Everyday is a Saturday- chores, errands, yard work, walks, etc Dd is obviously with me through it all; still so portable.

[Anonymous]

Put him on a blanket anywhere. All babies need is room to move and roll and get stronger. Make eye contact, but if after 5 minutes you are both bored, go do something else and come back and coo at him regularly.

Move the blanket around, indoors and outdoors. Go for walks, have him roll around on a blanket at the park. Walk home. Etc etc etc until he's mobile.

[Anonymous]

Playpen. Walks. Playpen. Walks. Playpen. Walks...... You get the idea.

[Anonymous]

Our nanny narrates everything (I’m going to pick you up. We’re walking into the kitchen). She sings and does finger-play (twinkle twinkle). She walks the baby and lies on a blanket with him looking at the trees. She switches rooms to play on the floor. She reads with baby on his back and the books above. She sings to him. Plays with toys and gets him to follow the object from one side to the other. She does baby massage!

We’re both still working from home so we hear her and try to engage as much as she does. The narration is fricking exhausting! She taught us to be quiet when he looks away and disengages.

[Anonymous]

I was lucky to have a long maternity leave. Walks are great. I also played a lot of music and listened to audio books

[Anonymous]

Strap on and do whatever you want. One day you will have a threenager who will break all your worldly possessions, run into traffic, eat every meal you prepare for yourself - you will recall these infant immobile times fondly, trust.

[Anonymous]

I feel like we spend most of the day BF while listening to classical music. Then we rotate between playing on an activity mat, reading, walks, singing, naps, and more BF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Strap on and do whatever you want. One day you will have a threenager who will break all your worldly possessions, run into traffic, eat every meal you prepare for yourself - you will recall these infant immobile times fondly, trust.

Truth. So much truth.

[Anonymous]

I was on maternity leave until my kids were 4 months old. I met up with friends for coffee or lunch almost daily. I returned stuff it turned out we didn't need or that I'd been given as gifts and didn't like. We went for a walk at least once a day. Both my babies slept easily.

[Anonymous]

+1 walks, then just as much tummy/blanket time as possible. Folding laundry theater. Cooking theater. Another walk. More tummy time.