Hello all! This is my first ever post. We just got back from spending 6 weeks with my family for the holidays and I'm trying to get into some sort of routine. My b/g twins are 4 mo old (2 mo gestational age). What do you/did you do with your babies all day at this time? I'm concerned they're not getting enough stimulation, but I really don't know what to do (or are sleeping too much). They've just started sleeping at night. My son will sleep until about 8am. We get up, eat, play for a bit, nap, then my daughter gets up and it's the same plan. Though, frequently she won't take any sort of nap. I have no idea what to do with her for all of that time. I feel guilty just leaving them in the swing/bouncy seat (which is where they spend the majority of their time and sleep) or on a play mat. I guess I feel like we should be interacting more, but I'm not really sure how. Basically, I'm just a nervous, stressed out wreck -- welcome to parenthood, right? Any suggestions? Thank you for any information and Happy New Year!! Jenny
Hi Jenny, My twins are close to the same age as yours so I know how you feel! When my babies aren't sleeping then they are usually out in our living room either in their bouncy chairs, laying on the floor with some toys around them or under their activity mat (which they love!). I do try to sit down with them at various times during the day to actually engage them by talking to them, trying to make them laugh, helping them to hold their toys, etc. If I'm going to be in any other part of the house, such as the kitchen, for any length of time I will bring them in with me (sitting in their bouncy chairs). They love to just watch me cook or wash dishes. Sometimes I will also just turn on different kinds of music or walk around with them to just "explore" the house or look out the windows (too cold here to go outside!). I used to feel very guilty that I wasn't doing more but I really don't know what more I could actually be doing! The babies seem content and when they start crawling then it will be whole different story! Good luck and welcome to this website. It has been a wonderful source of support and advice to me!
Hi Jenny and welcome! Try not to stress too much. That age is a difficult one because the babies are awake more but can't sit up by themselves yet so it is difficult to interact with both at the same time. Out of necessity mine spent a fair amount of time in their bouncy chairs and swing. I'm pretty sure you will find a lot of company in this respect on this board. In another month or two they will be that much more interactive which does make it easier. To make myself feel better I read them stories (even if they didn't seem to be listening) and put on children's music for 15 minute sessions of "music time". I also learned a few nursery rhymes that had some actions you could do with the babies (Wheels on the Bus, Grand ol' Duke of York, Head & Shoulders, 1 little 2little 3 little fingers, etc.). Also I would move their bouncy chairs to watch me as I did my chores and would talk to them about what I was doing. I think at that age just hearing you speak and a change of scene every now and then is stimulating for them. Added on to that was a bit of tummy time each day and that's about what mine got. Oh and one other thing - I tried to have friends or family over fairly often. I didn't always feel like having people over as it meant I had to have the house in some kind of order, but I did feel good that the girls were getting held and stimulated by the guests. By about 5 months the girls had a more established nap routine and were doing all their sleeping in their cribs. This added much more structure to the day. Then when they start sitting up it is a whole new world and so much easier to play together! I hope this helps a bit. Just don't stress too much - you are doing the best you can and they will be fine!!
The 4 month mark was hard for me too - Natalie did not want to nap at all - I was sleep deprived and had no idea what to do with them. It sounds like you are doing fine. depending on their neck control - I'd just move them from "station to station" include tummy time etc. I also went for alot of walks - but I live in california - so it was easier for me as far as weather etc. I also went through the feeling of "neglecting" them - or should I being doing more to stimulate them etc. - It will just get easier for you from here on up as they will be more interactive with you too.
I feel the same way sometimes because all I can do with them is "play" with them on their activity mat or put them in their swing or bouncy seat. For Christmas I got this "Mom and Me" yoga video from my MIL. On the menu you can choose to either do the entire workout, or just the baby yoga portion of the video. The baby yoga portion is just about 15 minutes long, and it's about 1/2 baby yoga and 1/2 baby massage. Both of my girls absolutely love it! I put a blanket out on the ground and lay one of them on it and we do baby yoga once every day. It's only about 15 minutes long, but I'm not strong enough yet to do the whole 50 minute video and I don't think their attention spans are long enough for that yet, and it makes me feel like I'm really doing something that we can all enjoy together, interacting with each other, I just love it. And after the yoga and massage they are very relaxed and ready for a good nap! Plus I really enjoy doing workout videos and this way I can include my babies!
QUOTE(PgTimesTwo @ Jan 3 2008, 09:44 PM) [snapback]556711[/snapback] I feel the same way sometimes because all I can do with them is "play" with them on their activity mat or put them in their swing or bouncy seat. For Christmas I got this "Mom and Me" yoga video from my MIL. On the menu you can choose to either do the entire workout, or just the baby yoga portion of the video. The baby yoga portion is just about 15 minutes long, and it's about 1/2 baby yoga and 1/2 baby massage. Both of my girls absolutely love it! I put a blanket out on the ground and lay one of them on it and we do baby yoga once every day. It's only about 15 minutes long, but I'm not strong enough yet to do the whole 50 minute video and I don't think their attention spans are long enough for that yet, and it makes me feel like I'm really doing something with them that they enjoy. And after the yoga and massage they are very relaxed and ready for a good nap! Oh I want that!! It sounds fun!
QUOTE(cohlee @ Jan 3 2008, 08:47 PM) [snapback]556720[/snapback] Oh I want that!! It sounds fun! I was trying to find it online to send you a link. It's from Parents magazine and it's called "mom and baby fitness. yoga, pilates, and baby massage" and the website listed on the case is parents.com, but I have to go feed the babies so I haven't found it on the site. I really enjoy it!
Thank you ladies so much! You really have made me feel a lot better. Early Intervention is coming today for some PT and baby massage, so hopefully that will give me some exercises to work on with the babies. It's really had being so far from my family. When we were up for the holidays it was so much easier because there was always someone to play when either was interested. Now that it's just me again, it's really hard to spread the attention around. It's supposed to be warmer next week, so hopefully we'll be able to get out for a few walks. That might help. Thanks again!!!
Besides all the other suggestions we do singing.I don't have a great voice, in fact it is terrible but they dont seem to mind. I sing anything I can think of they especailly like the ones with actions. Now mine love to lay on a blanket on tummies facing each other. It will get better soon.
QUOTE(PgTimesTwo @ Jan 3 2008, 08:54 PM) [snapback]556741[/snapback] I was trying to find it online to send you a link. It's from Parents magazine and it's called "mom and baby fitness. yoga, pilates, and baby massage" and the website listed on the case is parents.com, but I have to go feed the babies so I haven't found it on the site. I really enjoy it! Yoga
My guys were in swings, bouncers, exersaucers and playmats. They watched some videos too. I read them books sometimes but most of the time, they were stimulated by equipment. Not much you can do with 4 month olds. I feel your frustration! It is very hard to get into a routine when they aren't doing much. :hug99:
I completely understand the frustration of what to do with your twins every day.....Here are a couple of other suggestions. (I also move them around from their playmats to their bouncy seats to their swings). Mine are 4 1/2 months and we just found the Exersaucers...which mine both love. My son loves the bouncy one and my daughter loves the one that she will sit in and (eventually) move around but now she just loves to look at the stuff on the exersaucer. We found a Karaoke channel on our cable system and I often find fun songs to sing while they are eating. There is also a kids channel on cable with kid songs to also sing. (I do NOT have a good voice, but they don't know that.) Sometimes I put their bouncy seats in different parts of the house while I am cleaning/folding laundry/etc just to give them a different point of view. Good luck and have fun! -Ingrid
mine are barely 4 months (no adjusted age) and i end up putting one in the exersaucer and giving the other attention and then switching. and then i let them nap.. Mine are not sleeping thru the nite yet.. I wish they were but are still getting up 1 or 2 times each.. At least its not the every 2 hours like in the begining..
That is a tough age, but at the same time...enjoy it b/c pretty soon they'll be running everywhere clamoring for your attention, and you'll want some "you" time! I agree with all the pp...just move them around a lot to different "stations" like the mats and swing, etc. It does get easier though. Also, remember they LOVE your voice so talk, sing, etc. GL!
I know we're a bit behind in age, but I'm dealing with the same thing. What constitutes "play". So after a lot of reading and consideration we do a lot of the above mentioned, esp singing. I sing everything I know and put one or the other on my lap with knees propped and them facing - and sing with hand motions, the itsy bitsy spider. DD love it! I've also been listening to Dan Zane with them and trying to learn the lyrics. Dan Zane Sometimes I put them both in the rocker recliner and fold laundry, sort mail, etc and just talk to them about what I'm doing. I realized just this past week that they could sit in the recliner on the sofa, etc and didn't always have to be in bouncy seats, swings, etc - duh!
I hadn't even thought of exersaucers!! For those of you using an exersaucer, are your babies sitting up? Mine are not yet sitting. I've tried them in the Bumbo seat, but they're still a little short and look squished. Right now, I'm rotating them around. My apt is too small for them to get a lot of variation in the scenery. Since they're on different schedules, I try to give each a little exercise time, then mat time, then to the swing or bouncy to nap. I love being able to spend some one-on-one time with each, but I have a feeling this off scheduling is going to be the end of me shortly. For example, right now one is up and fed while the other has been sleeping for a couple hours. I have no idea when she's going to get up, but I can't stand the idea of waking her to get her back on schedule. Ack!!! Thanks again for all of your suggestions. . .
I'm going through the same thing! I just got back from a month with my family and I feel so guilty that they are not getting as much attention. Mine aren't sleeping through the night and are about 1/2 hour to 1 hour off schedule of each other. One of my boys sleeps more than the other so they end up eating at the same time about twice a day. That's when I lay them together for play time. I just bought an activity mat today and can't wait till they try it tomorrow. I don't have any advice, but just wanted to thank you for posting this. I seem to be forgetting all of the questions I have by the end of the day, so I really appreciate being able to read the answers to my question before realizing I needed them.
I didn't have time to read all the responses so forgive if I'm repeating. I'm sure you have gotten some excellent suggestions and reassurances from the ladies here. One thing I also did was to put one of the babies in my baby Bjorn (you know, one of those things you carry the baby in the front in? forgot what it's called) and then just walked around doing some chores (washing dishes, straightening up, folding laundry, etc.) and just talked and sang. I know some people may be against this but I would also sometimes put on Playhouse Disney or an Einstein dvd and put them in the Bouncers in front of the tv. They loved to see the beautiful colors, and pictures, and to hear the music. Well, they couldn't tell me they loved it but I think they enjoyed it. There really isn't much to do at this point except what you are probably already doing. I can tell that you are a very loving mommy since you already show so much concern that your sweeties are happy and learning and content. Keep up the great work!!!
