Hi!

FINALLY I have a spare 3 minutes to write this! My twins are about 3 weeks old now (corrected) and this is definately the hardest thing ive ever done in my life!

I was hoping i could get some advice from other mothers out there on how they get the time/energy to fit in PLAY!! I try talking but run out of things to say...and theyre not smiling yet so its not like i get any response...i sound so very selfish. I have a play mat but theyre probably still a bit young so they dont respond to anything...Also, i have this feeling like i want them to sleep more so i have more time to do other things!! what a terrible mother..

One of them gets over stimulated really easily too - so theres such a fine line between play and "im too excited now and wont sleep for the next 5 hours!!"

any advice would be great!!

thanks heaps!

Ali

Hi Ali and congratulations on Jayden and Connor. At that age I didnt really play with my two. As you said what can you do? They spent most of their awake time in the rocker, which had a toy bar on top. They just used to watch the toys. Unfortunately it is not a very exciting age play wise, it does get alot more fun when they start responding. As for time, what is that? Sorry it doesnt get any better. I get most things done while bubs are asleep or when DH gets home from work. Sorry to disappoint (lol). At lease you know they will be in the same spot you left them.

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Hi Ali

Congratulations on your little bundles

I found in the first few months that they seemed stimulated enough just watching what I was doing from their bouncers. I would just take them from room to room and chat about what ever I was doing. I also have a wiggles CD and would do the dnaces as I washed the dishes etc.............must have been a little sleep deprived lol!!!!!!

Now that they are a little older and I can get them down together during the day for a decent sleep, it makes a little time to get things done. I too though do a fair bit once they have gone to bed. But having a teenager as well I also like to make that his time - to help with homework assignments etc.

Things will fall into a pattern, and it won't be long before they girgle away at each other a bit. My boys are just going through the stage where they panic when I leave the room..........so I just make sure I have a good amount of things to keep me occupied (and worth getting done......like sorting the washing) and just chat away as I do it, then they are quite happy lolling about on the play rug with their toys and trying to eat each others arms.

I know I probably only have a few months before I am wishing they were back to that rocker stage........as TwinMumAli says: then at least you know where they are!!!!!!

Take care

RACHEL
DS - BARNABY 14
OSCAR AND BRODIE 28/03/05

Hi Ali

You are not a terrible mother - we've all thought the same thing at one time or another! Like the others have said, play does get more exciting when they can start to respond to things. I tended to give 'running commentary' of everything I was doing - like you said, you run out of things to say after a while! We would also go for walks too with me yabbering on like an idiot about what we were passing.

I would put on music and as well. My personal recommendation is to avoid the Wiggles and similar until they are old enough to appreciate it. You will get sooo much Wiggles when they are older, you might as well listen to your music while you still can!!! Another bonus of listening to your music is they learn to like it too - my girls' favourite (non-Wiggles) song is 'Shiny Disco Balls'!

Nicolie
DDs Paige & Hannah (23/09/03)

Hi Ali!

Congratulations on your boys.

I found that by the time they had fed (after falling asleep about 3 times and an hour later) and I had changed both nappies, I found that play time was non-existent for a while. You are definitely NOT a bad mother for wanting them to sleep. I remember just trying to get any sleep I could in the early days, basically still in survival mode until you work out what makes your little guys 'tick' (and where to draw that fine line!).

I agree with the others, play for us was talking to them because it takes a while for their eyes to focus properly on things anyway. I think I started using the playmat (with the dangly things over the top) from about 6 weeks. They still didn't do anything with it but seemed to like the colours. My sister has a front-loading washing machine that her baby LOVES to watch go round n round, maybe if you have one of those you could kill 2 birds with one stone?! LOL.
Enjoy lots of cuddles in the meantime.


Lisa
Jessica & Isabel 1/3/05