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What to do with newborn during the day
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Posted by leah (My Page) on Mon, Jan 21, 02 at 14:20
Hi!
My DS is 12 days old and so far he just eats and sleeps and occasionally wakes and looks around during the day. I wonder what new moms usually do with their babes during the day. Are there any activities that newborns enjoy... or is sleeping and eating pretty much it for the first few weeks. I would like to try to keep him awake more during the day because he is sleeping a lot more in the day than at night. I know it is too early to start a routine, but at the same time, I wonder if there is something I could/should do to encourage wakefulness during the day.
Thanks,
Leah
Mom to Jackson, born 1/9/02 |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: What to do with newborn during the day
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baby's at this age def. sleep and eat and that's about it. but if you want to keep him awake more during the day keep bright lights on and the window shades pulled. place him by a window where it is the brightest but don't let the sun get on him because he could overheat.
when he is awake talk to him. he can't see too well yet but hold him close to your face and just talk to him. he will really like that. also sing to him or hum if you don't like singing.
it's not to early to start a routine. my dd has slept through the nite (except for when i had to wake her to eat, she was a sleepy baby) since she was born.
sometimes she'll stay up till midnight but then she'll sleep till around 9 - 10 and then after about an hr or two take another good nap:)
enjoy your baby and congratulations!!! jayme |
RE: What to do with newborn during the day
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| Sleeping, eating and pooping are pretty much it. Lots of fun, huh? But it's not a bad idea to try to keep him awake for awhile. Just talk and make a lot of eye contact. Get out of the house when you can, it'll help keep you stimulated which will help stimulate baby. |
RE: What to do with newborn during the day
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| Talk to him, play music, etc. Encourage noise and brightness during the day, and then at night, quiet and low lights. Starting a bedtime routine is good too. Following a pattern of events leading up to bedtime, will eventually help your DS learn it is time to go to bed. As far as your baby sleeping through the night, to me it means, not getting up for feedings during the night. That is not the definition that some posters use. To some, it means sleeping, but still having feedings during the night, as long as they sleep afterwards. It obviously is a WIDE definition. Just don't get too hung up on it all. It will happen. Your DS probably has his days and nights mixed up currently, so it will take a bit of time for things to smooth out. |
RE: What to do with newborn during the day
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| Music is GREAT with newborns. For some really weird reason, DS took immediately to Mozart's Requiem (a bit maudlin for a baby, but I suppose there's no accounting for taste!) and Eva Cassidy's music. Also, getting out of the house even for a brief walk was great - he would stay wide awake while we were outdoors. Pam |
RE: What to do with newborn during the day
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| Leah, I have been asking everyone I know the exact same questions (and have gotten the same responses as above)!!! Renee is finally getting her days and nights straightened out, for the most part, but when she's awake, DH and I are always like, now what? She is 18 days old today and I have noticed that she is much more content just laying and looking at her surroundings today so give it a few days. I swear, every day she's a different baby! Isn't motherhood fun! Jen |
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