Playtime for baby? What do you do?

[MamitaM]

My son is 3 months old and I have no idea how to play with him. We'll have some lap time where I allow him to "stand" on my legs and I'll sing or talk funny to him and he'll respond and screech and scream,laugh and smile. Then I'll kiss him all over his face and head and he'll laugh at me, never seems bothered or I'll stop. Sometimes I'll also sit him on my lap and "bounce" him very gently while singing or talking funny to him and he laughs. That's pretty much it for playing with him. I've tried some "peek a boo" occasionally but he doesn't really get it yet. When I'm touching his body, like at bath time I'll name his body parts and sing to him, but again it isn't really playing. What's everybody else doing with their babies for playtime?

[hildare]

they're never too young to respond to music!  we used wrist rattles or grasping rattles, i would wear dd and dance, and groove out. 

[sssheri]

I also have a 3 month old. She is usually awake for 90 minute blocks of time and we try to engage her/ pay attention to her during most of that time. I think you just have to pay attention to your baby and give him/her different experiences, but don't worry too much at this age. The whole world is opening up to him so even little things can be entertaining and learning experiences.

Here are some things we do:

read/look at simple picture books

give baby different fabrics to explore (usually while sitting on our laps, or sometimes in the bouncer chair)

sing songs (my husband plays the guitar to her)

grab/look at toys on the baby activity mat (has arches that you can hand toys on)

walk around the house looking at different things

practice talking by cooing back and forth

sprawl out on sofa with baby sitting on chest and let her explore my face (this is her favorite thing to do)

prop her up with pillows and set up her bear so she can talk to it

we have some naked time everyday so she can wiggle without her bulky diaper

[sere234]

I have a 4 month old and while we don't have much playtime nowadays (we're moving and life is CRAZY!!) we usually do the following:

Dance to music

Sing and play motion songs

I wear him while I cook, go for walks, clean, ect. and talk to him about what I'm doing

Play tickle and laughing games

Naked bottom time:)

Play mat tummy time

Read books

Cuddle

Can't wait until we're moved and I can play with my baby more and not just stick him in the Exersaucer/playmat while I work:(

Also, I copied this list from a post on here months ago and plant to pull it out when DS gets older!

have dance parties
play instruments
blow bubbles
scoop toys out of water
climb on things
go for walks
read books
go to the library
go to a parenting place/support group center/community center
go swimming at the rec center
go to classes (baby sign language, toddler dancing or music)
hang out in parks
go hiking, go play at outdoor centers around town
play outside
seek out ofther mom and dad friends
go to the gym

[katelove]

We did mostly physical stuff at that age. I made up a silly song-type thing (It's more spoken than sung but in a kind of rhythmic way if that makes sense). I lay her on my lap with her legs kind of up against my chest or sit with my knees bent so she's sitting up a bit. Then I hold her toes (or the relevant body part) and wiggle them and say "Here are Juliet's toes! Ten little pink toes, ten little fat toes, all on the ends of Juliet's feet. Here are Juliet's feet! Two little pink feet..." etc all the way up to tummy and I'd tickle her tummy. You could do an arms version as well starting with the fingers. We'd also do "Heads and shoulders, knees and toes" with her lying on our lap and either we'd touch the body part or we'd hold her hands and take her through the motions.

Do you have a birth ball? We used to lay her on her tummy on the ball and gently roll her around too which she enjoyed.

I actually found that age quite hard work. They aren't just eating and sleeping anymore but they aren't yet able to do much of anything for themselves. I think she spent a fair bit of time just hanging out with us, watching us do things.

For the reading, J used to prefer lying next to me on the bed rather than being held most of the time. Sometimes I'd prop us both up with some pillows, other times we'd lie flat.

[Blessed1]

Sounds like you are doing a great job interacting with him! :)

At that age I just made sure to wear her as much as possible so she could see what goes on around here.  I pretty much just included her in my daily activities. I talk to her and describe everything I am doing.

She loved to watch me do the laundry. She loved the noise the water made when filling up the machine, and the sound the dryer made.

She also enjoyed watching me do dishes and sweep the floors. I also vacuumed and clean the counters...and she always looked so intrigued.  I really do think it was the best "play time" she  could have had at that age.

She also loved when I would fold the sheets fresh from the dryer. I would place her on the bed (propped up with pillows) and I would throw the sheets up in the air and let them gently touch her...she enjoyed it! Maybe it was the warmth or the gentle breeze they created as they touched her that made her enjoy the interaction.

She is 6 months now and she LOVES when I fold the sheets! She laughs and giggles and loves watching the sheets go up and down.

[Knitting Mama]

Originally Posted by Blessed1 

Sounds like you are doing a great job interacting with him! :)

At that age I just made sure to wear her as much as possible so she could see what goes on around here.  I pretty much just included her in my daily activities. I talk to her and describe everything I am doing.

She loved to watch me do the laundry. She loved the noise the water made when filling up the machine, and the sound the dryer made.

She also enjoyed watching me do dishes and sweep the floors. I also vacuumed and clean the counters...and she always looked so intrigued.  I really do think it was the best "play time" she  could have had at that age.

She also loved when I would fold the sheets fresh from the dryer. I would place her on the bed (propped up with pillows) and I would throw the sheets up in the air and let them gently touch her...she enjoyed it! Maybe it was the warmth or the gentle breeze they created as they touched her that made her enjoy the interaction.

She is 6 months now and she LOVES when I fold the sheets! She laughs and giggles and loves watching the sheets go up and down.

This is exactly what we did too at this age.

[mommariffic]

You're doing great :) 

I have a 6 month old and to be honest, he's more like our accessory. I have a 3 year old I homeschool and so he normally just tags along. If we are in the kitchen cooking he's there too banging spoons and going DODODODODDO over and over. If we are reading he's snuggled in trying to rip the book out of my hands..he's just, here watching our rhythms and routine. 

[bdoody11]

Sometimes I feel bad because I don't find my 7 month old that interesting. I love her, of course, but after multiple rounds of peekaboo or itsy bitsy spider I'm kind of done. Don't be afraid to let your baby play alone or just chill. Our babies know we love them and a 3 month old (or 7 month old, for that matter) does not need to be stimulated 24/7. You're doing a great job!

I have to say the best thing about #2 to is that #1 is there to play with her. Isabel gets stimulation and attention and the 3 year old is occupied. Win/win!