What do you do with your newborn while they are awake?

I'm not sure what's going on with my son but for the past 3 days he has been staying awake 3-4 hours at a time... He's about 5 weeks old and lately he's been drinking ALOT more breast milk (i pump and feed he won't latch everytime). He went from drinking 4 oz to about 7oz out of nowhere, so I'm thinking it's a growth spurt but would that make him stay up? Also, what do I do to occupy him while he's awake? I feel like reading books and singing to him is getting old, it makes him a little fussy but I don't want him just sitting in his swing while he's up!

Um...

I stare at them, play music, sit them in their swing/bouncer/play mat.

Nothing really they can do...

SO and I would hand her back and fourth talk to her, play with her, give her a bath, take a walk outside etc.

Pretty much just had a billion photoshoots.

Quoting JessieLeeAnne:" Um... I stare at them, play music, sit them in their swing/bouncer/play mat. Nothing really they can do..."

That's all I've been doing, I just feel like if I put him down while he's awake I'm neglecting him... I know I'm NOT but I just feel like if he's awake he HAS to be with me for some reason.

You could get a sling so that you can carry him with you while you do things around the house. Talk to him, sing to him. I had a play gym for DS and he loved that.

It's been a while since my oldest was that young and DD is only 2 weeks but I'm sure at 5 weeks he can grasp toys and things.

My DD slept less through growth spurts but your LO is5 weeks. They normally sleep less around that time. Id have.DD.on the.floor for tummy time or I'd hid her or have her laying down in her pack and play. She didn't need me to do much with her at that age. I miss those days....

Quoting ☼ Mª mª:" That's all I've been doing, I just feel like if I put him down while he's awake I'm neglecting him... I know I'm NOT but I just feel like if he's awake he HAS to be with me for some reason."

Naw. If you think about it, they never really seen stuff before, so as long as you are changing their scenery and position, they are memorized by that. lol.

I would play with him on his activity mat, do tummy time, carry him in my moby wrap as I vacuumed (he loves the sound), and read and sing to him...

Usually when he's awake he gets handed off to grandma or great grandma because they wanna see him when he's awake lol. Or SO or I will hold him and try our best to entertain him until he falls asleep again.

my daughter slept all day. lol my son ( 2 weeks) is awake for 4-5 hours a day. we cuddle, nurse, watch his sister play, talk and stare at each other. lol

My daughter is 8 weeks and we "play". We look at lights, take walks, play peek-a-boo (although she doesn't quite get it), and use our activity mat, bouncer and swing. It seems like they are becoming more aware of their surroundings so helping them explore is fun. Kerrigan has phases of more awake time and more sleep time. Your son might be nursing out of boredom. Tummy time and time on their back is good. I don't like to out K down either so ill have her on my lap/knees or lay on the ground with her when she's on her mat.

Quoting Katie[ღ]Siℓas:" Usually when he's awake he gets handed off to grandma or great grandma because they wanna see him when ... [snip!] ... wanna see him when he's awake lol. Or SO or I will hold him and try our best to entertain him until he falls asleep again. "

 

I get that too..."she's awake! I want her!" I get her back when she wants to nurse and then she gets taken away again. And they wonder why I don't want to pump bottles for her...

be lucky that he sits in a swing or bouncy. My lo since day one would not sit in a swing or bouncy for a long period of time at all. hes 4 months now and still has to be with me every min hes awake

Quoting Lizplustwo:"   I get that too..."she's awake! I want her!" I get her back when she wants to nurse and then she gets taken away again. And they wonder why I don't want to pump bottles for her..."

Same here! Thank goodness the inlaws went home 2 weeks ago!!! I held my baby the least in the first few weeks out of everyone... Even in the hospital... yikes.