[Stormster]

Ok so little Ethan is not really a napper. As I mentioned before he has long grazes (my little cow) and then hours later falls asleep just in time to wake up at midnight missing his bath and keeping us up all night!!!!

So I"m TRYING to have some kind of rhythm after he wakes up from a nap (only control I have!!!) so this is the general sequence.

He stirs I make bottle and wait. Slow to wake. When he really opens his eyes but before he yells for food I change him. then I feed him for what seems like two hours. Four ounces and then another 2 for desert.

Burp every two ounces blah blah and then hold him upright and still so he doesn't spit up. 20 minutes later I place him in his crib (only for this he sleeps in a basinette) and he watches his mobile for ten or fifteen minutes (getting longer I'm so excited) then I pick him up and look for poop etc...

Then I usually try the swing but he doesn't like it! and I have two more hours on average before he sleeps again.

What the heck am I supposed to do with a squirmy baby for two hours???? No toys, no more food, no more mobile.....Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[dawnrenee58]

How old is he? That will make a difference.

Marco is 4 months old, and loves to lay on the floor on a blanket and kick around. He is really advanced developmentally, and loves to practice all his cool moves. He is even sitting unassisted!!

You could wear him while you clean up, take a walk, do laundry, etc. I wore Marco all the time until he got too big to wear around the house all day. I have a hip carrier and a sling. He loves both! He is like a little chimp in the hip carrier. He will grab onto my shirt and just watch the world!!

Hope this helps!

[HBV]

I'm with Dawn on the wearing if he'll let you do that. You can also read to him, put on some music and dance around with him, strap him into the car seat and go do errands, go to the park and sit on a blanket or a bench, take a walk with the stroller, or---heck, just take him out with you and go get yourself a cup of coffee.

I actually loved that awake time---I just took him out w/ me. They enjoy the stimulation of a different environment.

[blessedbybug]

Wear him. Take a walk. Go shopping. Read YOUR book or magazine outloud to him. Put him on his tummy. Put him in a bouncy seat by the window to look out. A swing.

And I must ask... why no toys? Do you mean he's not old enough? There are play gyms that have arches that you can hang toys over him as he lays on his back. And some with blinking lights.

Really with my first, I pretty much did everything I did before except work my job outside the home. Baking. Cleaning. Cooking. Computer time. Scrapbooking. Reading. Bug just did it with me!

[Stormster]

is only 5 weeks old. We have tried hanging toys even a catapiller on the bar in his car seat. He's just too young. I'm happy he likes his baby enstein mobile though it is so over the top how could he miss it!

After I wrote that post I fed him another ounce and while burping him he fell asleep. That happens too I totally forget to do it. So I just had a nice 1/2 hour nap and feel better. He's still asleep.

I have a moby and a maya wrap. I always planned on wearing him but after being in the hospital for 9 days hooked to IV's and monitors he seems to dislike being constrained (at least that's my theory). I had him in the maya when he was 2 days old and he was a little too scrunched up (now I know the trick is to have him face you). But I'm saving the Maya (if he will oblige) for when he can hold his head up on his own.

I am totally going to try to Moby this weekend but I need dh to help me tie it the first time. When I did it, he was able to slip out at the bottom. But I am going to either try the belly nap when I"m exhausted or the moby for when I want to be mobile. totally great advice!! I kind of knew it but I 'm too tired to think for myself! LOL

[JenC]

I've got the Moby and DS, almost 6 mo, is in it daily if only for a few minutes. I think with Ethan being so young, the trick is to tie it as tight as you can around you. Once you put it on a few times it's old hat. I promise. Josh loves to be carried facing me and will tolerate the cradle hold if he really has too. We've tried the hip hold, but he's just not quite stable enough yet, and I'm still trying to get the hang of facing out. But since he's so young, I would think he'd like facing in!

[Stormster]

I'm going to try. I never thougth of a few minutes a day I guess I just oped he would love it immediately.

[nikkianni]

At that Age Eve was all about the swing, but if Ethan doesn't like it, try the bouncy seat. That went over well too.

[StorkWatcher]

My little guy hated the swing, but loved the bouncy seat. I also wore him in a sling (pouch/coccoon type) and vacuumed with him quite a bit. My carpets were never cleaner....

I used the pack and play downstairs w/ bassinet in it for some awake time when I needed to put him down, but I really held and wore him most of the time when he was that small.