Losing my mind

[btwittey]

Oh my god I am going mental. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do with a 3.5 month old baby girl. She is just awake so much now and requires constant amusing. We read books, play hide and seek everything but I am running out of idea's. Also - can you teach them too roll? All her little friends can do it.

[Naomi]

How long is she awake for? At that age, "they" say babies should only be up 1.5 - 2 hours in total between naps ... but "they" don't know all babies! I have a 3 yr old and a 7.5 month old and I find it heaps easier this time around as the big brother is like a constant source of entertainment.

At this age, even leaving her in her rocker looking out the window, or sitting outside under a tree is plenty of stimulation. I find I am out and about a lot now running errands and activities for my pre-schooler and my little one just loves being out and looking at the world go by.

You can also just have her nearby you in the rocker/bouncer as you go about your normal activities and just talk to her as you go.

If she is like my [-]velcro baby[/-] girl, and wants to be held all the time, have you tried a sling or pouch? I use an Ergo and find I can still get stuff done around the house while I'm carrying her.

I wouldn't worrying about the rolling too much, but if you want you can do tummy time, put a mirror in front of her so she can see her reflection or lay on the floor in front of her and talk to her.

[Naomi]

Oh, and I just wanted to say, you don't HAVE to fill every waking moment with activities. It's fine for her to have quiet time on her own (well, not away from you, but without you actively entertaining her constantly).

[Heather]

Yes...even I can remember 15 years ago putting the TT (Terrible/Terrific/Teenage?Trial) in front of the big loungeroom windows so he could watch the sun dapples or in front of a mirrored door.
So many simple things amuse them.....the world is a constant source at that age.

[Di Nana]

Agreed with what is said above, my wee grandaughter was amused by the shadows of trees blowing, If she is up so often, summer is a great time to take them for a walk in a pram, find it makes them sleep to, maybe she is being over stimulated and becoming over tired.
But never compare her to your friends babies, she will roll when she is ready, babies do this in there own time and they are all different 3.5 is still a very young bub don't rush her they grow up fast enough, I know with your first you can't wait to see what they do next, but just enjoy her now, she will roll soon enough

[kezabelle]

Agree with all the above. She'll roll when she's ready and 3.5 months is considered early. Naomi had some great suggestions for entertaining your bub too. And, as also stated, it's important they learn to entertain themselves, even at this age - it sets a life long habit. My eldest still finds it difficult to amuse herself at 8.5 years! I was guilty of the same thing - giving her attention the entire time she was awake. If she's actually unsettled, try some soothing music in the background, a bath or a walk, or maybe look at her feeding patterns. It does get easier, but you need to make sure you don't 'jump' every time she squawks :)

[kimba]

, but you need to make sure you don't 'jump' every time she squawks :)

:brow:but then she'll learn to scream louderLMAO
Basically eo has given good advice about entertaining. bouncers are good and musical playmats too:yes:
As for rolling she will do it when she's ready but tummy time doesn't hurt either :yes:

[kezabelle]

oh yes, and Eb had heaps and heaps of tummy time... LOL

[Patricia]

I agree with Old Di...babies can become over stimulated very quickly and cause them to be unsettled.

Your little darling doesn't need you to be constantly amusing her, although it is very easy to fall into this trap..I remember feeling that I had to do it with my first child too.

Rolling is like every other milestone, babies do everything in their own sweet time so don't worry to much what other babies are doing :)

[PreSchool Mama]

I wouldn't worry about the rolling over at all. My niece didn't roll over till she was 6 months old and her mother was quite frantic with worry by then. She's two now, a perfectly healthy little girl and a bundle of energy. :)

[July]

When they first learn to roll over, they can only go one way and cry when they are stuck! :brow:

[Naomi]

yes but then they learn to keep rolling and all of a sudden they aren't in the same place you left them and that gets a bit :O when you walk out of the room and come back ten seconds later and they are wedged under the couch!

[Rachel]

Lots of tummy time is the best way to get them rolling. My DD loved tummy time and was a very early roller :) She was also crawling at 5 months old but she didn't start walking until she was 14 months old. And her little friends who started crawling at 8 months were walking at 10 months. They all do things at different rates but it all ends up evening out, so don't worry :)
Have you tried a musical mobile? My DD loved hers at that age. She also just loved watching me cook dinner or iron or sweeping the floor and any visual stimulation like that is still as good for them and I would talk to her as I did it and explained what I was doing. I think babies love the sound of their mums voices and it is cool when they start trying to talk back and you get that cute baby babble :)

[dragonfly97]

all very good advice they will roll when they are ready and let her have some alone time looking out the window or just lying on the floor while you are reading or watching tv or just relaxing and let her do her thing good luck

[zoopadoopa]

Hi
I had a similar problem with my child as he didnt sleep much. The one thing that kept him amused for the longest was being outside. I dont know if it was the fresh air or that the trees were moving because of the breeze but he loved it. Also, they love playing with paper and bottles with rice or anything that makes a noise.

Yes, you can teach them to roll at three and a half months. My child was crawling at four months.:)