Do Babies Get Bored? Why a Bored Baby is a Good Thing
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- Do Babies Get Bored? Why a Bored Baby is a Good Thing
Many parents are concerned with how to entertain a newborn, when in reality, boredom in babies can actually help with independence and cognitive stimulation. Dr. Mona Amin shares insight on the how and why boredom in babies can be beneficial.
Parents often think that they need to continuously engage their baby to support their developmental growth. Pediatrician and infant development expert, Dr. Mona Amin, shares insight on why a bored baby isn’t a bad thing. In fact, boredom in your baby can actually be beneficial for their early development.
Do babies get bored? Is it okay for us to allow our babies to be bored? There is a common misconception that we need to be attached to our infants and toddlers all the time, engaging with them, and if we can’t do that, they won’t feel secure or know that we are there for them.
What is Secure Attachment?
Secure attachment is when our child feels confident to explore the world around them, try new activities, and meet new people with an understanding that they have us, their parents, as a safety net if they need it. Teaching secure attachment not only means being a loving presence to our child but it also means teaching them independence and encouraging them to learn that they are capable of doing new things. This means that sometimes we must allow our babies and toddlers to be bored.
Boredom is something we commonly forget to allow our children to express. We feel we need to constantly entertain them but in actuality, boredom can result in creativity and learning. Boredom doesn’t mean letting your baby constantly cry during play time while you ignore them. Boredom means:
- Allowing baby to play in a play gym and stare at the simple baby toys hanging around them.
- Giving them some independence at the beginning of play time to see what they can do for themselves before we assist.
This boredom can encourage them to reach for an object, track a toy, roll around, and eventually crawl towards a favorite toy.
Autonomy/Intervention Model
I practice an autonomy/intervention model with parenting. It means from a young age, taking pauses with our child before we intervene. When they are playing, see what they can accomplish first on their own before we jump in and show them. If they cry, whimper, or are upset, we gently show them how to play with a certain item and encourage them to learn the skill we are trying to teach them.
Let’s say you have a two-month-old practicing tummy time, who continuously cries during this activity. It’s something new for them, so they are unsure of what else to do. By practicing autonomy/intervention, you are allowing them a moment to figure out tummy time on their own before you jump in. Do this by:
- Letting them fuss a bit more before you intervene.
- Laying down with them on your belly and making eye contact, use visually stimulating items, like a mirror or black and white contrast cards, to entice and encourage them to move and look around.
Eventually, they will learn that this new skill isn’t so bad. By practicing autonomy and intervention, you are building your infant’s ability to be independent. Subsequently, you will see that they will play independently and be “bored” more, when they see that boredom is not a bad thing.
A bored baby makes an independent baby.
Boredom allows your child to explore on their own, encouraging them to learn how to problem solve and play with an item in their own way without any interference. For example, if your child was bored with a teething toy, they may start to shake it to see if it makes a sound. Boredom for babies will be subtle, but it goes a long way in teaching them problem solving skills which will serve them well later in life.
Remember, you are always going to be there for your child but teaching them independent play and how it’s okay to be bored is a skill that will serve them well in the long-run.
Overthinking your babies’ development? Learn about milestone anxiety and how to tame it.
Still thinking about ways you can help your little one’s development? So are we – learn why feeding your baby Enfamil NeuroPro fuels their mind and body.
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FAQs
A bored baby makes an independent baby.
Why do babies get bored? ›
Babies can get bored, even when they can't talk or do much other than eat and sleep. Sometimes, boredom is a sign that your baby needs a sensory boost, so you may want to try to offer more stimulation.
Do babies get bored of the same toys? ›
They get bored of looking at the same toys or scenery and they often cry as a result of that boredom. So go ahead, give them a change of scenery, change their position, interact more with them or give them a new toy to look at.
What do babies look like when they're bored? ›
Your baby will give you little clues that she's bored which include yawning, looking away, squirming and crying. If you think your baby's bored, show her that you're listening to her by changing what you're doing. Move her to a different area of the room, pick up a different toy or just give her a little quiet time.
Why do babies need to be entertained? ›
Play is essential for your newborn baby's overall development, learning and wellbeing. Through play, your baby learns about the world around them and how they can interact with it. New play experiences also help parts of your baby's brain connect and grow.
Do babies feel boredom? ›
Your baby will give you little clues that they're bored, such as yawning, looking away, squirming and crying. If you think your baby's bored, show them you're listening by giving them something different to do. Move them to another area of the room, pick up a different toy or just give them a little quiet time.
Why do babies not get bored? ›
This is their way of prioritizing learning opportunities. However, that is not to say that a younger baby, even a 2-month-old, cannot experience moments of boredom as well. Every baby is unique - and while by seven months the boredom can be more obvious, younger babies may experience boredom too.
Do babies get lonely? ›
Crying is the main way your newborn baby can let you know something is wrong, and soon they may start having different cries for different things – hunger, pain, wet, cold, fear and loneliness. You will begin to recognise these different cries in the first few weeks.
Do babies cry from boredom? ›
Infants may cry because of any of the following: Boredom or loneliness. Colic. Discomfort or irritation from a wet or dirty diaper, excessive gas, or feeling cold.
Is too many toys bad for babies? ›
Some of them likely experience challenges with even making a choice about what to play with. To find a balance, we should start by acknowledging that infants and toddlers have low levels of sustained attention. Therefore, having more toys presented to them makes it harder for them to sustain attention on one toy.
You're one of your baby's favorite companions and their first teacher. That said, you don't need to interact with and entertain your baby during every waking moment. Babies need time on their own, too, so they can gradually start to understand that they're independent from you.
Why do babies look up at nothing and smile? ›
Their Little Brains are Developing
Thus, if your baby is staring into space, it's probably because s/he's working overtime on developing his/her mind. Some parents worry if their baby is staring at seemingly nothing. Nonetheless, it may be a sign of their brain working extra hard!
How to tell if baby is understimulated? ›
If your baby isn't trying to reach out, play with toys, or move around, they may need more stimulation. Your baby is making less noise. Before your baby talks, they will make noises to practice using their voice. They will only make vocal explorations if they are interested in their environment.
What happens if you don't play with your baby? ›
Our children risk lacking in emotional understanding and empathy. They may not be as resilient as they need to be. They may replace your influence in their lives with the influence of others. Playing with our children also creates a sense of safety and comfort that they will miss.
Do babies cry for fun? ›
Crying is your newborn baby's main way of communicating needs and feelings. Your baby cries when they're hungry, tired, uncomfortable, sick or in pain. Sometimes they cry because they need a change of scenery or comfort, or because they need to know you're there. Babies cry and fuss on average for almost 3 hours a day.
What age are babies fun? ›
Honestly to me babies are fun at any age. But I think the most fun for me was around one year old, when they start talking and find joy in all the new things they are learning. As they grow, try to enjoy all the little things because they do not stay young for very long.
Do babies need to be entertained all day? ›
Playing develops language, math, and social skills, and even helps kids cope with stress. Playtime is so important that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends pediatricians write a "prescription" for it. But the AAP doesn't recommend any specific amount of playtime – that's up to you.
Should babies be entertained all the time? ›
Even young infants just a few days old should get two or three tummy time play sessions per day, each lasting three to five minutes. Playing doesn't have to mean entertaining your baby with toys all day long.
