what are you doing with your babies for awake / playtime now?

Amanda - posted on 01/30/2009

I do everything that everyone has listed, walking around the house, dancing, singing, reading, tummy time, play gym, excersaucer etc...But recently I started classes through Gymboree www.gymboreeclasses.com and they are great. It's once a week and the class we're in is for ages 0-6 months. The activities are appropriate for the babies development and it's just 45 minutes long and includes discussions for the moms. It's nice to go out and do an activity that's for my baby instead of him just tagging along with me all the time, I highly recommend these classes...very fun!!

Jennifer - posted on 01/30/2009

The spinning tummy toys you can get at toys r us, and make tummy time a lot easier with there different textures and toys to distract them. 

My son and i recently started a baby yoga class, so once a day are playtime together consists of some exercise.  It's super cute, and he absolutely loves it!  It's also a nice way for me to get in a workout while still enjoying our time together.  The added bonus is its a nice way to get out of the house once a week to socialize him with other babies!

Andrea - posted on 01/28/2009

I bring my baby every where with me, when I do dishes or get changed or fold laundry, it keeps him occupied and I can get things done.

Alison - posted on 01/25/2009

My little guy loves his jolly jumper, exersaucer, swing. he also lies under play gym. Likes to lie under mobile in crib. We took him swimming twice this week, both times tired him right out and pretty much slept all afternoon after. we only swam for half an hour.

Emily - posted on 01/25/2009

where do you get those spinning mats and what are they called? the one in Brooke's picture looks so cool!

Brooke - posted on 01/24/2009

My son loves to look in the mirror, he just laughs and laughs

Jessie - posted on 01/24/2009

My baby girl and I love to lay on the floor together, we read books and sing songs.  we play with her toys and i try  and teach her how to roll from her back to her tummy shes almost got it down packed! she loves the music to the Back Yardigins, its so cute.  Good luck!

Christine - posted on 01/23/2009

If you have the noggin channel, my daughter loves it... she's also really excited watching sports- I guess the movement, and sounds of the crowds and whistles and such get her going...  I also spend TONS of time talking to her, reading to her, making faces and funny sounds with her, and trying to introduce different hand-held toys.  She LOVES her play gyms, she ended up with 2 for christmas so I kept them both and alternate so she doesn't get bored of looking at the same things... and walking around showing her things never gets old cuz everytime, it's like seeing "it" for the first time.  My daughter was never a fan of tummy-time on the floor so I started with her on my tummy, and we did so much of it that she actually learned how to roll over already so now she will do it on the floor because when she's done, she just rolls herself over...  She has a lot to do, but truthfully, she has the most fun just playing with mommy and daddy...

Jennifer - posted on 01/23/2009

My son LOVES Baby Einstein DVDs. He likes to listen to the music and see all the bright colours. He squeels with delight when it's on and oooos and aaaaahhs at all the things he sees. I tell him what each object is, what colour it is and what sounds they make. He likes to sit on my lap and laugh at me as I do so. haha He also loves to lay on a baby animal quilt his great grandma made for him on his back and rolls to his side. He will also lay there and play with his toys, all of which he shoves in his mouth. His favourites are his Baby Einstein Links and his Baby Einstein Dog. He will play with either of those for quite some time. He also like when he lays on his blanket and I let our 3 dogs interact with them. They will lay beside him and he will grab for them and touch them. He also has a tummy gym with that he can spin himself on. It has a mat that goes under with all kinds of stuff for him to look at, touch and try to eat. lol It has a mirror on it and he will stare at himself and laugh. I also put him on his tummy on the floor with a toy just out of reach and put his feet against my leg so he can push himself along and get the toy. He also loves sitting in his bumbo, bouncy chair and playing with his toys and reaching for things. He will play with his little gym where he lays on his back and reaches for the toys above. He will sit in his highchair while I work in the kitchen and play with a toy that attaches to the tray. He makes it spin and he thinks it's the greatest time in the world. We spend time together just talking to eachother and I leet him look at me and he now grabs for my face and hair. I like to find quite time to sit and rock him and read to him. And he is just starting to play with a rubber duck in his little bath tub. It's adorable!!!!

Lydia - posted on 01/23/2009

My son's favorite thing to do is play in his jumper. I got him the fisher price rainforest jumperoo for Christmas and he will play in it for a long time! I have it in front of a mirror, he loves to look at himself and laugh as he plays!

Nancy - posted on 01/23/2009

If your baby is still a "bobblehead", he needs more tummy time to strengthen his neck. I attached an unbreakable mirror in my daughter's crib and lay her on her tummy. She is so fascinated by her own reflection that she forgets that she HATES being on her tummy. It's also quite funny to watch her facial expressions. At this age, their biggest fascination is you. I sit my daughter in front of me and make funny faces and funny noises and she thinks it's hilarious. I love hearing her laugh!

Tegan - posted on 01/23/2009

My son LOVES his Bumbo. We put him in it with some toys and he clanks them around on the tray and recently started putting them in his mouth. We also do tummy time on a brightly colored blanket that he likes looking at. He's up on a tummy pillow that has toys hanging off of it so he likes grabbing for those.

Lately, we've been holding him out in front of us (propped up on our legs) and laughing at him. And he laughs back at us. That seems to entertain all of us. We got him sticking his tongue out at us yesterday (which I'm sure we'll one day regret!!!) I try to read to him often as well and show him picture books so he sees a variety of things.

I've taken him hiking a few times in the past week. He seems to really enjoy laying on the ground looking up at the trees or just watching them from his Ergo as I walk.

Amanda - posted on 01/23/2009

mine likes to watch baby einstein, then he plays in his exersaucer, then he'll play under his little jungle-gym-floor- mat-thing for a few minutes, then he starts fussing so we walk around the house and look at things... he pretty much only likes doing something for about 10 min at a time