Parents often think that they need to continuously engage their baby to support their developmental growth. Pediatrician and infant development expert, Dr. Mona Amin, shares insight on why a bored baby isn't a bad thing. In fact, boredom in your baby can actually be beneficial for their early development.
Baby's mind and body are constantly developing in the most amazing ways right now, and we get your enthusiasm about maximizing every moment of this key period. But the truth is, you don't need to do a heck of a lot to entertain a newborn.
Being in the same environment day in and day out can make a baby bored – even grumpy because he wants to explore! There are many ways to provide your new baby lots of different environments. One simple way to do this is to move his cot or baby seat from one interesting spot to another.
Cuddling and playing
Making time for cuddling and play time with your baby as part of your daily activities is important for their growth and development. The key is to interact with your newborn, rather than giving them games and toys. Ideas for playing include: making eye contact, smiling and talking.
You may have heard that you risk 'spoiling' your baby by cuddling them too much. However, as health visitor Sarah Heaney explains in the video below, this is a myth - cuddling is great for babies' development and bond with you. Can I cuddle my baby too much? No, absolutely not.
Our children risk lacking in emotional understanding and empathy. They may not be as resilient as they need to be. They may replace your influence in their lives with the influence of others. Playing with our children also creates a sense of safety and comfort that they will miss.
That's why we asked our experts how much time per day we should spend playing with our babies in order for them to get all of the benefits that play time can provide. To put it simply: between 20 minutes to one hour per day.
While the Family Peace Foundation recommends at least eight minutes each day of one-on-one time with each child, Dr Pruett emphasises how important this time is for children under the age of five. “Children grow at such a rapid pace, particularly their brains.
But many first-time parents find that after the first month of parenthood, it can actually get more difficult. This surprising truth is one reason many experts refer to a baby's first three months of life as the “fourth trimester.” If months two, three, and beyond are tougher than you expected, you're not alone.
Babies and toddlers often get clingy and cry if you or their other carers leave them, even for a short time. Separation anxiety and fear of strangers is common in young children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, but it's a normal part of your child's development and they usually grow out of it.
#5: Your Baby Can Feel Lonely
For the first time in their existence, they experience physical separation from their caregivers. After constantly hearing a heartbeat and being 'held', being put down for long periods of time can be quite scary and lonely. Some infants will go down easily and seem content to be alone.
Between 3 and 6 months, an infant's vision improves dramatically, so he'll be on the lookout for new things to see, whether it's a bright light, bold pattern, or spinning ceiling fan. Even if he's just staring, if he's quiet then he's engaged. If he gets cranky or fussy, though, he may be bored.
Rest assured, it's perfectly okay to let your child play alone, even at a young age, as long as you're nearby and he's safe. So if your little one is looking at a book in his crib or sitting on the floor stacking cups (within ear- and eyeshot, of course), leave him be.
At 6 months, a child may be content playing by themselves for 5 minutes. At 12 months, they can handle about 15 minutes of solo play. At 18 months, they might play alone for 15 to 20 minutes. At 2 years, they should last around 30 minutes.
What is Depleted Mother Syndrome (DMS)? In a nutshell, Depleted Mother Syndrome (DMS) occurs when demands on the mother increase, and her resources decrease. As a result of this imbalance, the mother's emotional sensitivity to both internal, and external triggers becomes heightened.
Take regular breaks
Try to take a break every 2 to 3 hours for a day trip and every 4 to 6 hours at night to change diapers or soiled clothes, or to feed your baby.
“Parents need to understand that they don't have to do it all.” As it turns out, saying no from time to time is beneficial not only for parents but also for their offspring. “It's good for kids to have downtime and even be bored,” says Dr.
It's OK to let your baby cry if the baby doesn't seem sick and you've tried everything to soothe your baby. You can try to leave your baby alone in a safe place, such as a crib, for about 10 to 15 minutes. Many babies need to cry before they can fall asleep. And they'll nod off faster if you leave them to cry.
Sometimes babies cry when they see a certain person who is unfamiliar because their brains are beginning to understand stranger danger.