Activites With a New Born

This is my first pregnancy and I am worried that when I get the babies (twins) home from the hospital that I won't know what to do with them. I know newborns sleep most of the time, at least that is what I hear. However, what activities do you suggest during their "wake time"?

Re: Activites With a New Born

Having a newborn just 4 weeks old there's not much in between time. For me sleeping and eating are what I do and if I can squeeze some lif/internet I'm good but out side of that I'm just tired and have to sleep. It is definitely not what imagined allot of work yes but exhausted mostly.
Congrats on the twins and play it by ear

Activites With a New Born

Feeding them, changing their diapers, and maybe a little tummy time is great "awake" time for a nb. You don't get much more time than that at once. At around 3 m, you can start with some small toys (soft rattles, taggies), and they LOOOOOVE looking at ceiling fans and mobiles. Then you can start to do more tummy time or tummy time on a boppy.

That's about it for a while... definitely don't worry about it in advance. You'll figure it out.

Message edited 7/16/2012 11:13:45 AM.

Activites With a New Born

When DS was a newborn he would wake up every 2 hours for the first 3 months. It would take him about an hour to drink his bottle, and by the time I changed him he was back to sleep. That would leave me about 20-30 mins to take a nap or do what I had to do before he woke up again and started the whole feeding routine again. Eventually he started staying up later, and that's when I started with the tummy time and other activities.

Activites With a New Born

it depends if you are nursing or pumping. cause thats pretty much all you will have time for after feeding and diapering if you have twins (i only have one mind you)! so forget about doing anything with them or sleeping yourself. literally. you will live by THEIR schedules, and they may not be the same. eventually you will find a routine. i def wouldnt worry about what to do with "awake" time. there really isnt anything you do with a newborn and you will be too tired to think about it for a few weeks/months anyway!

Re: Activites With a New Born

I agree with all of the PP's.

In the beginning, the only things you should and need to be concerned about is 1. your own recovery 2. feeding the baby 3. diapering and 4. sleeping (for both you and the baby). They need lots of love, eye contact and smiles. So while feeding and diapering and during any extra awake time, just talk to them or sing to them, make eye contact, cuddle and rock them, etc. Just get down the whole feeding, dressing, diapering, sleeping schedules and provide affection.

As others have said, around 3 months, then you start introducing more and more as they are more able to enjoy it. You can do more musical activities, listening to music, singing, you can do more tummy time activities (play mats, etc.), you can use soft fabric books and rattles and soft stroller/car seat type toys.