Entertaining a 3-Month Old?

I agree with Heather...don't feel like you have to entertain her all of the time. If you don't already have one, get an activity mat that she can lay on and look up at toys hanging down. Place it on the floor near you while you are doing things around the house and talk to her or sing to her while you work. If you need to do work outside (when it's not too hot) place her in the stroller in the shade with some toys or music. When you have finished some chores and are ready for some bonding time, read books, play peek a boo, itsy bitsy spider, sing the ABC song, etc. Also, does she have a toy or mirror that is good for tummy time? She can be on her tummy while you are folding laundry close by.

Good Luck,
K.

Get James Dobson's "How to Parent". It's an old book now, but you can probably find it. Has a lot of developmental ideas....one I remember is to put colored socks on their hands when they start that staring at their hands age to stimulate their response to colors. Good luck! B., 62-year-old mother of five.

Playskool's GUIDE TO BABY PLAY is wonderful, sooo creative, and has inexpensive ideas.

Wish I had had it when mine were young (and I consider myself creative).

Grandma

You don't need to entertain a 3-month old. They're brain and eyes are only just now starting to accommodate sight... So she won't respond much to visual entertainment-unless its one of those hanging soft toy things while she lays on the floor or a bouncy seat with toys she can swipe at or touch. Plus her head and neck muscles are still soft. She should also have tummy time on the floor so she can build better mastery of how to manipulate arms and move them towards objects.

Best thing for the baby is for you to 1.) hold her.. and that includes putting her in a body carrier while you walk/shop/do chores (the baby needs to feeling your embrace; it is really important); 2.) make lots of eye contact while talking/singing to her (this helps her bond with you and helps her learn facial & voice recognition and expressions)

I actually don't recommend carrying your baby on you in a sling. she may get used to it and want to be packed around all the time. Which, isn't much fun when they are 2 or 3 years old. I have a 4 1/2 month old and I just put her in her bouncer where ever I am and I talk to her while I am folding laundry or doing dishes. If I'm reading a book I read out loud so she can hear it too. I just do what I would normally do but incorporate her into it.

Hi O.,
Your baby is fortunate to have a mom who is interested in her development. Your DD is learning by watching and listening to you. If you like to do puzzles or exercise, talk to her as you do what you need to do. I used to place my baby in her infant seat on the kitchen table while I sewed. I gave her a piece of the fabric and talked to her and showed her what I was doing. Baby is learning to listen to your voice and hear the inflection. As she gets a bit older she will begin to make sounds to converse with you. Look at her when she is "talking" and answer her. You can talk to her as you are chopping vegetables. Tell her how nutritious they are, how crispy, notice the bright colors, eat a bite and tell her how good the food tastes. Talk about sounds you hear or a trip you went on or something you would enjoy doing. Involve all the senses in your description. As you point out things for her to notice, she will become more aware of her surroundings. Your descriptions will develop her vocabulary. If you read a magazine, show her the pictures and make up a story about the boy and the dog in the advertisement. Read books to her. Sing, dance. She will learn that you are a fountain of information. You will be doing the same things over and over for many more years, though soon she will become more involved and show interest and preference for things you can enjoy together. You are providing her the building blocks she will use the rest of her life. Check out a book on early childhood development for suggestions on specific interactions for whatever is developing at that time. She will soon be learning and changing daily. Be ready to be amazed!

Do you have things to do? Would it work for you to just keep her nearby while you go about your day's work? Be careful in creating an environment where she is always entertained. She'll come to expect it, and then you're really up a creek. Also, it's important that she learn to entertain herself. (Otherwise, we help them to develop attention deficit issues. Everybody, including babies, needs some down time, away from over-stimulation.) Give her toys that are developmental for her age (and some just to play) and put her in a place where you can leave her for a while--spot on the floor if she's not moving around too much, playpen, where she can't hurt herself.

Congrats on your daughter! One of the best things to do with her is just to do life! She will learn far more from going to the grocery with you, or watching you wash dishes, than she will from any of the bright, flashy toys and gadgets that are on the market today. My very best recommendation is get a great baby carrier to wear her in as much as you can. It's great for her to have time to play and view toys, etc., too, but when you need to do something, just taking her with you will be all the entertainment she needs!

I'm a co-leader of the Sugar Land Baby Wearers group, which is part of Houston Baby Wearers. We have regular meetings all around Houston where mamas can come and see, touch, and try a wide variety of baby carriers that you just can't find in town. (I do NOT recommend 95% of what you can find in local stores.) We have expert babywearing mamas who can help teach you how to wear her safely, and help you find the perfect type of carrier for the two of you. (We don't sell anything ourselves, this is just an informational/resource group!) Babywearing makes for happier babies, and happier mamas, too! :)

If you'd like to find us, you can visit the HBW site at http://www.houstonbabywearers.org/ or the Yahoo group directly (where meeting details are posted) at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Houston_Baby_Wearers/ .

Enjoy this special time! :)

Here's a good site about different developmentally appropriate activities.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_lets-play-weekly-activities-f...

My son likes the Row Your Boat and Pop Goes the Weasel. As the baby gets older, you can do more things and revisit old fun games. There are also great Babytime/Lapsit times at the library. I live in North Austin and they have Lapsit which is for babies from birth - 12 months at the Cedar Park Library on M, T, and Th at 9:45 and lasts about 30 minutes. They also have Babytime on Thursdays at the Round Rock Library at 9:30. I am also involved in a few momgroups and we just put the babies on the carpet and sit around chatting. This is not only fun for babies, it is great for moms to compare notes and just get out of the house.

About TV:

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that children under 2 years old should not watch any television and that children older than 2 shouldn't watch more than one to two hours of TV a day. Read: http://health.howstuffworks.com/baby-tv.htm

Also, recent study: TV as background disrupts playtime. http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20080715/does-backgro...

Yay, another science mom! I was a molecular biophysicist in a past life, now a SAHM to an almost 4 mo old and a 3 yr old.

This is going to be easy for you - trust me. Just don't dumb things down to your kids. Look at the world from their eyes instead - what I do is get a baby carrier (like a Bjorn - I have a Belle which is much easier on your back and enables your baby to face forward). Then let them in on your life - the sounds, colors, textures, smells. Parks are great ideas, but just hanging around your house doing laundry or paying bills can be an adventure for your baby at this age. Just little things, like the texture and smell of newly washed clothes, the mark a bright red pen makes on a paper - very cool if you're seeing it for the first time, right? And plus they get the benefit of being with mom with these experiences! Just be yourself, you don't have to turn into a "mom" - your baby won't know if you're singing baby songs or Bon Jovi. ;)

YEAH!! A scientist, HOW COOL IS THAT! You are going to be the coolest mom ever!! Don't worry! My son absolutly LOVES to make scientific experiments and he's only 4! WE make goo (from white glue and starch) and do experiments with crystals and food coloring. He loves it all, so don't worry about your little one, she'll get there.
As for NOW. Babies sleep, eat, poo, and drool, it's them, but as she gets older (very soon) she'll be able to hold things and shake things and discover the world around her! Do SCIENCE STUFF, it's what you know! Physics... blow a feather across the table or floor! Pull magnetic trains(Thomas the Train) around and let her pull them apart and put them together. Experiment with different sounds and sensations! Aqua Pod bottles (those little oval shaped water bottles form the store) make really good sensory bottles. Dry them completely then fill then with things like rice and beans, or shreaded colored paper, a bit of sand and miniature seashells, little colored pom poms, fill one with 1/2 colored water and 1/2 oil, add some glitter to it. When you are done, put a bit of glue around the threads and tighten caps so they don't leak. They last for YEARS and even my 2 and 4 year olds still love them!
Strip her down to her diaper and put her on a plastic mat and put down some baby yogurt on the mat and let her slip around on her tummy and play in it! (If you add a drop or two of food coloring) you can draw letters in the yogurt, do shapes, swirlies and all kinds of stuff. If she gets it in her mouth, well, so what, it's non toxic and completely edible!
The best part about babies is that they are very scientific! Every day they learn something new. It's not just about the drool! Most moms don't know what they can do with their kids and need to find new and exciting things to do, but babies learn by REPETITION!! Yes, it can get old for you, but repetition doesn't mean do it 57 times over and over, just a little bit every day or every other day. You CHILD is not going to get bored from it, I promise, us moms get bored of it, but the babies are soaking it all in and remembering it! You will be fine!
Good luck with your little future scientist!

The great thing about being three months old is that everything is new. One thing that I remember doing with my sons is experience the silence. Really! When you have a chance sit in any room in your house and just listen. It doesnt have to be for long, like 5-10 minutes. What I discovered was amazing.IF you try this, let me know what you experienced.

Others out there who have had these moments, share with me what surprised you the most;)

When my daughter was 3 months old her favorite thing to do was to be as close to me as possible. I would put her in my baby bjorne and go for a walk, grocery shop, vacuum, dance, talk on the phone...anything. There's not much else they really want to do at that age aside from the usual basic needs of feeding, bathing and diaper changing. I hope this helps. Enjoy yourself because there's nothing like this time you're going through right now with your baby. The upcoming changes are astonishingly huge!

Hi O.,,
there are some really great things on the market now for babys there are blankets with little do dadads on them that babys can play with,and they help the baby learn they sqeek ,rattle make crinkle sounds ect,this will also allow baby to strect and move about,,, also there are the one that go over there heads that sit on the floor they also do differnt things,,i like the rattles that velcro to there wrist or ankles they are cute and keep them entertained for as long as any thing doeshope this gives you some ideas
good luck L.

O., I would recommend a couple things. First, get yourself a SlingEZee so you can carry the baby around with you. You can find them at nurturedfamily.com. You can use that to get out with her and take her to stimulating places. Remember, she is not talking or walking yet, but she is soaking everything up. I think it would be good for both of you if you joined a mother's group. That will give you places to go, people to meet, and you can exchange ideas with the other moms. I live in NW Houston and belong to the Bear Creek/NW chapter of MOMS Club (stands for Moms Offering Moms Support), but they have chapters in other places. Check out their website. I think it's momsclub.org. If you need more help with that, send me an e-mail at ____@____.com. I enjoy MOMS Club, and was surprised at all the professionals we have who are staying home with their kids - teachers, software tech, chemical engineer, whatever. Enjoy the pre-mobile stage!

Do you have a sling or baby carrier? I would just pop her in and let her go about her day watching you. She can watch you do the dishes, vaccuum, or work outside. I wouldn't worry too much about entertaining her, exactly, but I would start exposing her to things early on.

babies are busy learning every move right now just as long as your getting a blanket and playing on the floor with her your doing just fine. You don't want to over stress her or you. They have so many floor activity things to do. When mine were babies Fisher Price had the baby gym it was a little mat that came with balls and swinging latters that came with instructions for each month age that they could achieve. The latters at 3 months you would teach them to start grabbing them and them work till they can pull up to a sitting position as they are ready. Anyway like I said just play with her on the floor she'll learn to grab your fingers and then pretty soon she'll grab them long enough till you can get her to sit. Simple stuff your baby is learning as she watches you get things done too.

Hi O.. Congratulations on staying home with you bundle of joy. There are tons of things to get involved in. Mom and Tot groups. Exercise for Moms and Tots. Swimming lessons for the both of you. How about getting in touch with your local library to see when programs start for her. The possibilities are endless. Have a great time. The older they get the better.

L.

I agree with the last response. Wear your baby in a sling or some type of carrier. Also, keep in mind that at this age, the most interesting thing to her is the human face. Lots of talking to her and playing at close proximity. In a month or so, she'll get more interested in grabbing things/toys. So, enjoy the time where she is totally entertained by your face!

First of all turn off the tv. It is recommended that children should NOT be exposed to tv until between the age of 2 - 3 to allow proper development. The latest reports on "baby videos" is that they can do more harm than good. Try telling stories, reading, and singing to your baby. It really doesn't matter what at this point just do it so she can hear your voice. Another one of my favorite activities was to get down on the floor next to my little one and exercise. The exercise was mostly for me and she loved to watch, but I also would move her little body as well...like the bicycle motion with her legs, laying her on her stomach to help her strengthen her neck muscles, and standing with my support. Enjoy it while it lasts!!

sounds like you are doing everything right. Get her a play mat so she can have some tummy time too and just let her explore her surroundings, she doesnt need constant stimulation. Also let her have periods of quiet to be left with her own thoughts. This will enable her to be more comfortable playing by herself and she wont need you to constantly entertain her ( i made that mistake with my first and still pay for it) Just enjoy the time you have with your baby. If you have another child, that one-on-one time will be almost impossible. Talk to her. Talk to her a lot, like an adult, not baby-talk. Find yourself a hobby or take Masters or PhD classes at night so you will have something to fill in the naptime gaps for yourself, or go more domestic and start scrapbooking. Also, look into a MOMS Club in your area for when she gets a bit older, it is important for you to have a peer group of Moms. It is difficult to make the transition from Scientist to domestic goddess, so make time for yourself and your interests too. Good luck and enjoy your daughter.

I agree with everyone so far! Reading to your daughter, doing tummy time, and just talking to your daughter is important. I always try to tell my daughter what we are doing as we do it, such as when I am making dinner! Take her out to stores. Target can be very exciting for them to just look around. I would also turn the tv off, but that is up to you. I totally understand how you feel, I was feeling the same way.

Hi! First, congrats on getting to be a SAHM! It is such a blessing. Your little one is just the right age to start some fun things outside of home with you. I really enjoyed getting out and meeting other mommies, and my daughter had fun with the different activities and interacting with different friends! She and I started going to Library Time (books, songs, toys) right around that age. Check with your local library to see about times and locations. Also, right about that time is when we got involved in a playgroup in our subdivision. I knew some of the ladies from an exercise class I had taken, but you can also connect with people through local intranets and message boards like this one! Also, if you get involved in activities like these (or others like Gymboree, swim lessons, mommy movie time at the theater, etc.) you're bound to meet people. I found that there were so many things to do that we couldn't do them all by a long shot! There are also probably Moms Clubs and MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) groups in your area. I would highly recommend getting involved in a MOPS group (www.mops.org). At home, when you're getting stir-crazy, take a walk if it's not too hot! Exercise always helps. I agree with you about the videos; she will have plenty of TV time later in life. There's no need for Baby Einstein right now. I also completely agree with what others have said about talking to your baby and letting her have down time. Great ideas!! God bless and have fun!

What no one said so far was that as a chemist - your used to working all the time and so to you just letting your daughter be and watch you isn't enough but right now that's exactly what she needs and how her brain is learning. Don't worry about being there and being a constant source of entertainment because you shouldn't be that either. Just go about your normal day and let her be a part of it as much as you can. Everyone says put her in a sling or something so you can hold her constantly - on that I also disagree. She needs to learn to not be held all the time. Hold her yes but not all the time because in my opinion your back will give out long before she does. Also it will make her a very clingy baby and that's something you don't want. Put her on the floor and give her some toys just out of reach and some in reach and watch what she does. Just enjoy her and your time. RELAX because life happens very fast.

Good luck.

If you live close enough to one try gymboree classses. You get to bond with your child and interact with other parents. I enjoyed it with my first child. Most of all just relax and enjoy your child...you can spend a long time just watching them and holding them. I like the baby einsteins...you just have to interact with them and talk to your baby about them.

take her for a stroller walk, just have her there by your side with whatever you are doing.....talk to her and explain what you're doing...she'll just love hearing your voice. take her to a Gymboree class, storytime at the library...start meeting other moms w/ little ones...join a mom's club/mops....enjoy!

Been there! I was a project engineer and always with a long list of tasks to accomplish. Suddenly, there's a thousand things I want to teach my baby, but he's not ready for most (if any) of them yet!

At 3 months, they're still kind of blobs, but starting to make more eye contact and wiggle around some. Try these things if they're not already part of your rotation:

- Propping her up in various places so she can get different perspectives on the house and you (nowhere too high if she's liable to scoot or tip herself out of position)
- Reading her books with pictures. She may not pay attention for too long, but she'll love hearing your voice and the rhythm of speech, especially if the book rhymes!
- Turning on music and dancing with her, either in your arms, or putting her on her tummy and dancing for her (this was the means to the longest "tummy-time" sessions I could get out of my son).
- Taking her for walks, either carrying her in a sling or pushing in a stroller, you can go around the mall, or around the block, or just carry her in a sling or "backpack" as you pick up/vacuum/do dishes around the house.
- Learn to juggle. She will get a kick out of watching you throwing balls up in the air (even if she's not laughing yet, she'll love it).
- Go people-watching. Hold her in your lap on a bench at the park, airport, mall, bank lobby (just don't look too much like a terrorist!) and point out things to her. She won't respond, but someday she will.
- Sing or play an instrument for her.
- Dress her up and prance her in front of the mirror in different outfits so she gets to see what's changed and what stays the same.
- Put her naked in the clean sink and let her play with the faucet running cool water (as long as she can't change it to hot!).
- At the park, place her on different textures - grass, wooden bench, shaded concrete (test the temp first so it doesn't burn her), the bottom of a plastic slide, sand, etc. and see what she thinks!
- Blow bubbles for her, though she can't chase them or even really intentionally pop them, they'll be new and different.
- Make up an aerobics routine that involves lifting her in various ways (on your shins as you roll backwards from sitting, with your arms in all directions, in front of you as you do squats, etc.) Play some music that you like as additional stimulus and entertainment.
- Buy a clown nose and/or some hats to put on and take off so she learns that you are still you even if you look a little different.
- Make a picture-book of relatives and friends that don't see her much and describe them to her as you flip through it.
- Take pictures of her. Find pretty places to put her in her cutest outfits and snap away. (this one's more for you and prosperity...)

I know it can be boring and often unrewarding, but it gets SOOO much better. My son is 13 months now and is very interactive, demonstrates his likes/dislikes clearly, and cuddles with me at every nap, which is the most awesome feeling on earth. (Edited to add: He also plays by himself for 15 minute periods now and then, which is great for both of us, so I agree with some other posts to make sure she learns to be comfortable on her own as she gets older, and if she'll let you be out of sight for 2-3 minutes while she's playing, encourage that. Come back before she cries and be excited to see her and proud of her "self-sufficiency.")

Greetings,

My daughter has cerebral palsy, one activity that she enjoys at school is sitting under a card table with grasping objects suspended with velcro on the underside of the table.

I recommend getting a pipe cutter and shorten the legs a bit. Your kiddo will enjoy the play time.

Cheers

While not disagreeing with those who say don't watch the videos, keep in mind that just putting the baby in front of the tv with the videos is what's not a good idea. If you are sitting on the floor with your baby and talking to her about what you're watching and clapping with her to the music, etc., the time watching a baby einstein movie (or whatever) can be very rewarding and fun.

Find a friend who has a child the same age or close to your baby's age. Go to the zoo or park together. These will stimulate your baby and the socialization does wonders. Plus such outings wear them out and you will find that your baby will take longer naps. These suggestions worked for me. Good luck.

NO TV is you can help it. Join a moms group because little babies love baby company. Find things to do that keep you happy and the baby will just love being with you. I know exactly how you feel but it gets easier. It just takes a little getting used to. Your baby is lucky!

Hi, I know what you mean, but at 3 months old just looking at interesting things (not TV) is activity. And floor time. I remember just hanging out with my kids when they were babies, and when my husband got home I had trouble explaining what I gotten done all day! There is a book called "Slow and Steady Get me Ready" by June (Obermeyer?) that has specific daily things to do starting at birth to get ready for kindergarten, which may be a good place to start. They are little age appropriate activities to keep your baby engaged, it's nothing hard-core.
Hope that helps!

Sing to her or play music. It has been proven to do great things for the brain, before and after birth. Toys, rattles, different types of education toys for babys. Talk to her. God bless.

Wow, you sound just like I was when my daughter was born! I finally realized that if I stuck her in the baby bjorn facing out, and went about my business for the day, she was happy! 3 months really is young to worry that much about entertainment, and just seeing stuff is usually good enough. And wearing her gives you opportunities to talk to her about what you're doing, or where you're going, etc. Hope this helps!

I agree with Heather. Beware of creating an "entertainment" environment. Just go about your day. She will be happiest in a sling or carrier at the grocery store with you or in the stroller on a walk. I have two toddlers at home and believe me, it gets REALLY boring some days. But thats just life. You get bored. I try to stop myself from jam-packing my kids days with stuff to do. Sure, sometimes we stare at the walls, but we also sing to each other and make up stories.
My advice....For what it is worth....Create a schedule that you can live with. Post it on the fridge. Know when naptime is, know what day storytime is, start going to the ymca, have a certain day to go the store. It will keep you from getting bored and create order to your day and week.
It keeps my family out of chaos, at least.
Good luck!

i remember taking my son to one outside activity each day (storytimes at all the local libraries.) i started off each day with a long walk and he LOVED just watching the trees and clouds. i also read to him and sang songs in front of a large mirror so he could both hear and see me while he was in my lap. :)

I just happened to check out a library book called "Baby Play
--100 fun-filled activities to maximize your child's potential.

I needed some play ideas for my 9-month-old, but looking in the 3 months and up section, they have ideas such as:
swat the toy(attach a small plush toy or teething ring to a brightly colored ribbon or plastic links. dangle toy in front of her from side to side, encouraging her to reach accross her body),peekaboo games, target practice (hold a pillow within easy range of feet, guide feet to the target and praise her when she makes target),mirror play, pinwheel magic (show her the blur of beautiful colors that results when you blow on a pinwheel), belly roll (roll a small beach ball across her tummy and up and down his legs and arms), bubbles, etc.
The book also explains how it will help her developmentally--social, tactile stimulation, emotional development, upper body strength, etc.
Hope these ideas help.

Sing to her. dance with her - get some kid/baby/toddler CDs and have a ball reliving your own childhood - yes., those songs are still around. Go for stroller rides - outdoors, the mall. Go to babycenter. com for lots of ideas - sign up according to your child's age for appropriate activites. Have fun and relax!

O.,

Perhaps it is just a difference in our "semantics" - but at 3 months, your daughter doesn't need much "entertainment." That is not to say that she does not benefit from the TIME you spend with her, because babies are LEARNING from the first moment. But perhaps a different perspective on your part will relieve your concerns AND liberate you to communicate with her in a way that is "natural, and without pressure." Here is what I suggest:

- Just TALK to your daughter, about ANYTHING! Tell her about things you LIKE to talk about...perhaps your choice to become a chemist; what made you fall in love with her dad; his career in real estate (including describing his current listings); what your first apartment looked like; where you like to go on vacation; and if applicable, why you like the pets you do; what your parents/siblings are like; and so forth. There are no BOUNDARIES (other than wholesome and decent topics, for those who would "challenge" my statement about no boundaries) about which you can talk to your baby. Don't feel silly, just launch into a description or story about anything that interests you.

- If you are multilingual, practice speaking other languages with your daughter listening. Keep in mind, you are NOT teaching her to speak another language, but you are "wiring her brain" to HEAR other languages. For variety, when you DO let her watch TV occasionally select broadcasts in a different language.

- Sing to her. Babies just LOVE to be sung to, and they are not critical of our voices. It is like "singing in the shower" but with the added benefit of a fan base.

- Read to your daughter. Occasionally, pick a novel, or biography, some other book that you have wanted to read and read it ALOUD, with a lot of theatrics and inflection! You will soon really "get into" the experience - at times ending up in infectious laughter that you can share with your daughter.

These suggestions should give you the idea that it is NOT specifically WHAT you are saying to your baby that is important - but it is valuable to take her into the room with you and interact with her when she is awake. In large part, you can simply go about the tasks you need to accomplish at home by taking her from room to room with you, and talking to her while you do what is necessary (this can include setting her on the counter in the kitchen when you are preparing a meal and reading to her from recipe books that you are using, or letting her participate in folding clothes. lol! The cautions are, of course, keeping her far enough away from any cleaning supply fumes or dangerous objects that she might be near (especially as she grows older and wants to "get into things.") This way, you get things done AND interact with your DD.

I also believe there is great value in developing her spirit as well as her mind. If you are studying a Sunday School lesson, read it aloud to her. Read her a passage or two from the Bible - like a Psalm or two daily. The fact that you are using scripture, with a different linguistic style from our contemporary cadence, is developmental - and edifying for you. Pray with her and over her. It is never too young to model the act of speaking to God aloud about your hopes for her, and your concerns and needs. This can be a wonderfully "renewing" time of day for you.

Just one other thought: Be alert to "over-stimulation" which actually blocks the moments that we humans might be mentally creative. Sometimes we ALL need a little SILENCE and mental rest. Taking time to rest/idle/think - perhaps better termed as "Reflective Moments" - provides the environment for creativity. This is a good habit to cultivate when children are young. "Down time" is not something that our culture values and it can show up in frenetic lives and emotional disorders. So start you daughter off with the "gift" of some times of silence and wakeful rest, so that she has the mental time to be creative.

May God bless your days as you learn the joys of motherhood!

Hugs,
K.

Find a book with ideas. I can't remember the name of the one I read, but I remember it had play ideas broken down by ages from birth to one year or so. At three months anything is fun. Peek-a-boo, "hiding" things under a blanket for baby to find (let her see you hide it or she may not be able to find it yet), making her stretch and reach for toys or your hand, doing baby massage, throwing different things like balls and feathers and watching her reaction to different ways things fall. Treat her like a science experiment by doing stuff and watching her reaction! And repetition is good, so she wont be bored by a long shot. Read to her, point to pictures and colors and words and label everything around you. Carry her in a front pack or sling and then on your back as soon as she is old enough for a backpack so she can experience the world as you go about your day, always talking to her and telling her what you are doing, etc. I know there are lots of videos marketed to children as young as three months, but most experts agree that babies are too young for TV, so save those educational shows for her toddler years. Play music instead. And a wee bit of down time or boredom may help her learn to entertain herself (slowly, like for minutes at a time at first.) Have you heard of Family Connections, in Austin? They do parenting classes but also have an amazing toy and book lending library, so I know you could find some great books with new ideas plus educational,age appropriate games/toys to play with your daughter. Call them at ###-###-####.
Have fun playing together!

P. (mom of three boys...we play Starwars and I always get to be Princess Leah!) :)

Yes, I agree...turn the TV off. Being part of your day is DEFINITELY fine and you need that, but I think mostly she just needs some interaction with you and it doesn't have to take a ton of effort--just part of your day and a little bit of YOU and HER TIME set aside. Interactively read books to her daily, play music and sing to her, interact, interact, interact---human interaction in my opinion is key. HAVE FUN! The dishes can wait til tomorrow. Gather a box of different things to explore (with textures, natural sounds, etc.) feathers, mirrors, balls, blocks, things around the house...have her explore with you (she won't be able to do much but watch probably). Dance in front of her and with her in your arms, sit outside and watch the birds and squirrels, take her for nature walks, picnics, . Think mostly about interacting and talking to her. Let her look at your face, expressions, etc. Move her around to different areas/stations in the house while you interact with her and let her observe---and you clean or whatever (swing, bouncer, pack n' play, your bed, etc. for short 5-10 minute rotations or until she cues you). Do little physical exercise time with her...bicycle her legs, in-and-out, etc. She'll be wanting to roll over soon! Look up on the internet what is developmentally appropriate for a 3 month old and try to establish a little routine of things to do to fill up your time with her. Look in your 'hood for little gyms or places that have "mommy & me" classes that you can try out (usually first time is free) so that you can get ideas or if you like it...sign up (you may need to wait another month, but check it out!). YOu don't have to do A LOT...a little goes a long way especially for her attention span. It's her time to get to know you and you her, so cherish it...it goes by FAST! HOPE THAT HELPS!! :)

i know it can get really boring being alone all day with a newborn. at this point, your daughter really doesn't care WHAT you do with her, the important this is that you just spend quality time with her. put a blanket on the floor with some toys and encourage her to lay on her tummy and help her roll over. lay down next to her and talk and sing and read books. babies love games like "itsy bitsy spider" and "pat a cake". it's been proven that babies who are read to often, especially rhyming books, develop language skills much faster than babies who are not read to.
also, give her variety as far as where she is. put her in the swing, bouncy seat, floor, a walker (even if her feet don't touch the ground, my babies loved their walker! i had to prop them up with blankets LOL). take her outside and let her feel things like grass and flowers and trees and dirt. take her on walks in the stroller or in a snugli. let her swing outside. give her baths just for the fun of it!
it feels awkward at first, talking to a little baby who can't respond, but she will adore the time you spend with her and these moments go by so quickly, you'll be glad you experienced so much with her!

I would do things with her like read to her out loud, play some of your favorite music, take walks around the neighborhood. You can also exercise with her. Use her as your weights as you play with her and then let it be her turn. You can move her arms around and legs and massage her hands and feet. Wow, I can't wait to have my baby so that I can do these things too. I just got excited about this all over again:)