What Should I Be Doing With My Newborn, Seriously

OK, so my daughter is one month old. As expected, she eats, sleeps, pees, poops and repeat.

Should I and Mrs. Incaviglia be doing anything with her to encourage mental or physical development? I mean, I constantly talk to her. But outside of that, she can't play.

I do read to her. Sing to her (badly). Rock her.

We weren't swaddling her for a while because I didn't think she wanted it. Plus, swaddling too long hinders the development of her legs.

But outside reading some books, talking to friends (and our shitty, shitty midwives) I haven't heard much else I could/should be doing.

Any advice, ideas that worked, etc?

 

You might want to play Texas Hold-Em with her now. In a few months she'll probably be beating you.

 

That's all one month old babies do. Don't fret.

We swaddled one of the twins because it calmed him down. The other twin and the eldest were fine for the most part without it.

Hold them, feed them, keep them warm and safe.

We had a tape deck (old days) in their room and played some nice quiet music from the time they were young

Other than that, teach her to skate.

Good luck and be thankful that she's healthy.

 

Music, primary colors, your voice, your face....at one month, their little brains are exploding with the basic sights and sounds. They can barely see further than the distance from the crook of your arm (where you hold her) to your eyes.

Too much at that age, you're going to have an overstimulated screamer.

 

Start putting money away for college.

 

Flash cards. Educational tapes with a different foreign language each night. Expand that little mind!

Sorry. Had to do it. Seriously, it sounds like you are doing fine and the advice above is good stuff. Don't make yourself or the baby crazy trying to do too much.

 

Talking to her and paying attention to her is enough, and everything. Don't overdo things for the sake of "development." You'll end up mostly with nothing but a lighter wallet. I'm reminded of the episode of Cheers where Frasier shows off the highly educational toys for little baby Frederick, bragging that they will help stimulate the child and help him with his overall happiness. Norm responds (and this is from memory), "I bet they will! He's going to look at these and say, 'Great, my parents are loaded!'"

 

You're doing fine, Pete.

 

Step one is to log off of sportsjournalists.com. Then follow the suggestions about just spending time with kid, and taking kid outside. And yeah, start saving for college.

 

She is not supposed to be in public until she hits six weeks. That's when her immune system is built up enough to take it.
Talk to her a lot. Play with her as much as she can handle. Bright colors are great.
Outside of that, she'll give you signs when she is ready for more. It will happen sooner than you think.