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I think a combination of both is best. You don't have all day to spend playing with the baby, and if you did that's not necessarily a good thing. The baby needs to learn how to play by himself, too. Most babies will ask for attention when they want it and parents should respond by playing with them or even talking to them across the room if you can't go right at that moment to play.
I can't even tell you how much I actually get down on the ground and play or take her into my lap and sing a song or read her a book. It's little moments here and there. Her attention is not that great yet, so maybe 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there. I have an older child and housework so it's not like I devote my entire day to it. I'm there when they need me and that's most important.
I am a big believer in exposing a baby to lots of talking at a very young age. When Abi was a newborn I would have her in the sling, or in the "baby bucket" on the kitchen counter if I was cooking, and just talk to her about whatever I was doing. Talk and talk and talk. And then pause and wait for her to vocalize and then talk back.
Both my kids were very early talkers and early with most motor skills, but I'm not sure it was anything I did. I might have helped encourage it but each child has their own schedule that's hard-wired into them.
Since you mention that your ds has some delays, is he in therapy right now? A therapist can answer a lot of your questions. Your situation may be different than a typical developing child. Maybe you would need to help him move his body or put him in positions that would challenge his developmental abilities.
I can't even tell you how much I actually get down on the ground and play or take her into my lap and sing a song or read her a book. It's little moments here and there. Her attention is not that great yet, so maybe 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there. I have an older child and housework so it's not like I devote my entire day to it. I'm there when they need me and that's most important.
I am a big believer in exposing a baby to lots of talking at a very young age. When Abi was a newborn I would have her in the sling, or in the "baby bucket" on the kitchen counter if I was cooking, and just talk to her about whatever I was doing. Talk and talk and talk. And then pause and wait for her to vocalize and then talk back.
Both my kids were very early talkers and early with most motor skills, but I'm not sure it was anything I did. I might have helped encourage it but each child has their own schedule that's hard-wired into them.
Since you mention that your ds has some delays, is he in therapy right now? A therapist can answer a lot of your questions. Your situation may be different than a typical developing child. Maybe you would need to help him move his body or put him in positions that would challenge his developmental abilities.