Are they bored?

For the past week, the twins have been staying awake for longer periods of time 90 min-2 hours. They seem to get bored during this time, but they won't do tummy time & don't like lying back on the play mat. They'll be happy as they can be & suddenly start crying. They're not hungry, have dry diapers & don't need a nap. Are they bored? What can I do for/with them to make them happy? Are they old enough to start entertaining themselves? We do a little story/song time with them, but are looking for things they can do independently/with each other.

 

At how many weeks were they born?

I think they are a little young to be doing things by themselves or with each other, but it will come soon (depending on whether they were full term). One thing I did was take them to whatever room I was in and talk to them while I did chores. They loved to hear my voice, see my face and smile at me. They also loved to stare at things--bouncy seat toys, hanging stuff, mirrors, faces, etc.

 

Do you have a mobile? We also started with black and white books and small squishy toys at this age. I would hold a fish above their heads and say (silly) things like "Fishy, fishy, fishy.... glub, glub, glub". Yes, it makes me feel a bit foolish, but they really liked it. I found after I showed them how to hold the toys and played with them for a bit, they'd enjoy holding/chewing on them (which is when I would slip away!)

 

I rotated rooms when they were that age. As soon as they seemed to start getting bored or cranky, we would move into another room. Sometimes just a change in scenery was enough to make them happy for a little while. Or we would go for a walk, or if I got really desperate I would give them a bath. They always loved bath time!

 

I found that to be the hardest stage! I would wake up in the morning wondering how on earth I could keep them entertained until bedtime. I remember being SOOOOOO relieved when they started to notice and reach for the dangling toys on their bouncy chair or their play mat. Or really, when they would follow ANYTHING with their eyes and hands. If I recall correctly, I sat in front of their bouncy chairs and sang endless action songs to them (eensy weensy spider was/is a fave). If the song didn't have actions, I made some up. Or danced in front of them. It wasn't pretty, but it amused them for a little while. We have a small, open-concept house, so moving from room to room wasn't particularly exciting for them.

Oh, we also went for 2-hour power walks each afternoon (they could sleep in the stroller then) - even in the worst snowstorms! By that point, I had cabin fever and a HUGE headache from singing all day!

Good luck.