InfantReflux.Org Forums: Baby not interested in toys

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jlsolomon
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Joined: 24 April 2007
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Topic: Baby not interested in toys
Posted: 04 May 2007 at 10:12am

My son is almost 5 months old and has absolutely no interest in toys -- the only thing he seems to want to do is put his hands in his mouth. We dangle all kinds of toys in front of him and put him on his playmat with lots of toys above him, and he has absolutely no interest in him. He'll definitely interact with us. He loves to play peekaboo and when we sing to him, but he has no interest in toys.

He was born 3.5 weeks early, so I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it. Or maybe is reflux is contributing in some way. I seem to remember reading somewhere that reflux babies like to put their hands in their mouths an inordinate amount of time. Any thoughts?

Jessica

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hellbennt
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Posted: 04 May 2007 at 10:45am

does he reach out to things? does he follow objects with his eyes? does he follow you or family members with his eyes/head?

if he likes peek a boo- try playing it with a toy- cover your eyes with the toy, play a few rounds of peek a boo and then hand him the toy- sing the whole time, LOL, since he likes singing...

keep us posted

ps; instead of 'toy's try a teether- Ari loved (& still does) his butterfly teether- it has various textured surfaces & he can hold it easily- I tried to google it to show you but the one that keeps coming up is a bit different than the one he has- anyway, also try a cloth w/ teething corners- we even have them in our supermarket- like this: http://www.shopping.com/xPF-Munchkin_Munchkin_Teething_Blank et_with_Pacifier_Attachment_3545 3902

you can play peek a boo with it and then show him how to munch on the corners

oftentimes with Ari, I had to 'initiate' his playing/using toys but we did seem to start w/ teethers so I'd take his hand out of his mouth and put in the teether to show him- all the while making a big fun deal out of it-

I have songs for everything, so maybe since he loves songs, make up songs and include some toy action in the song?

Edited by hellbennt - 04 May 2007 at 10:52am

~laura~
Jonah 7/03:GERDfree@12mos! Silent Reflux@birth(apnea episodes/NICU);Past Sandifer Symptoms, breastfed->15mos
Ari 7/06 REFLUX FREE, so miracles do happen!

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jlsolomon
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Posted: 04 May 2007 at 11:07am

He doesn't reach out to things, but he will follow objects and people with his eyes (though not all the time).

Thanks for the suggestions -- actually his teether is the one thing that he does seem just a bit interested in. I like the idea of making up a song with the teether.

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pkkb
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Posted: 04 May 2007 at 1:54pm

Alex has only recently started playing with actual toys. Before that, she only wanted things that weren't meant to be toys - shoeboxes, pieces of paper, Kaelyn's wooden puzzle pieces (used as a teether), shoes, etc.

Kaelyn didn't really like toys until she was almost 9 months old.

Kim
Kaelyn 6-04 reflux- Off prevacid -- Outgrew Allergies to wheat, milk, peaches, and apples
Alexandra 6-06 - 36 weeks, reflux, laryngomalacia, asthma, no allergies!!

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Bensmama
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Posted: 04 May 2007 at 2:35pm

I used to, and still do actually, dangle toys in front of Ben while feeding him. Originally this was to distract him so that he would stay on the breast long enough to eat. Now that he isn't in pain anymore while eating, he wants to look all over the place and doesnt' want to sit still long enough to eat, so I still use the toys. I started this when he got really bad around 3 1/2 - 4months, and this is when he would start paying more attention to toys, reaching out for them, etc.

If you think that it won't cause problems with his feedings, maybe it would help?

Naomi - mom to

Claire 11/5/03 - former refluxer. Med. free at 9 months. Breastfed 17 months

Ben - 9/14/06 - former refluxer; TED for 6+months; med free at 20 months. Breastfed 21 months

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evergreenie
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Joined: 27 October 2006
Location: Australia
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Posted: 04 May 2007 at 7:37pm

Technically he is a prem (37 weeks is full term) so you can look at milestones in terms of corrected age (take 3.5 weeks of). He might take a little longer to do some things. Alana was 5 weeks early and I noticed it took her a little longer for the first 6 months. Now she seems to have caught up (most children do by 2 years if they are prem).

Have you tried those little rattly things on feet or hands. This might get him into the idea of touching things.

I'm sure he will get it

Therese

Alana Nearly 3-Former refluxer and Milk Intolerant. No meds and full milk!

Nick- 8 weeks and milk and soy intolerant (we think!)

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Author	Message
jlsolomon Newbie Joined: 24 April 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Topic: Baby not interested in toys Posted: 04 May 2007 at 10:12am
	My son is almost 5 months old and has absolutely no interest in toys -- the only thing he seems to want to do is put his hands in his mouth. We dangle all kinds of toys in front of him and put him on his playmat with lots of toys above him, and he has absolutely no interest in him. He'll definitely interact with us. He loves to play peekaboo and when we sing to him, but he has no interest in toys. He was born 3.5 weeks early, so I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it. Or maybe is reflux is contributing in some way. I seem to remember reading somewhere that reflux babies like to put their hands in their mouths an inordinate amount of time. Any thoughts? Jessica

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hellbennt Admin Group Joined: 28 August 2003 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13402	Posted: 04 May 2007 at 10:45am
	does he reach out to things? does he follow objects with his eyes? does he follow you or family members with his eyes/head? if he likes peek a boo- try playing it with a toy- cover your eyes with the toy, play a few rounds of peek a boo and then hand him the toy- sing the whole time, LOL, since he likes singing... keep us posted ps; instead of 'toy's try a teether- Ari loved (& still does) his butterfly teether- it has various textured surfaces & he can hold it easily- I tried to google it to show you but the one that keeps coming up is a bit different than the one he has- anyway, also try a cloth w/ teething corners- we even have them in our supermarket- like this: http://www.shopping.com/xPF-Munchkin_Munchkin_Teething_Blank et_with_Pacifier_Attachment_3545 3902 you can play peek a boo with it and then show him how to munch on the corners oftentimes with Ari, I had to 'initiate' his playing/using toys but we did seem to start w/ teethers so I'd take his hand out of his mouth and put in the teether to show him- all the while making a big fun deal out of it- I have songs for everything, so maybe since he loves songs, make up songs and include some toy action in the song? Edited by hellbennt - 04 May 2007 at 10:52am
	~laura~ Jonah 7/03:GERDfree@12mos! Silent Reflux@birth(apnea episodes/NICU);Past Sandifer Symptoms, breastfed->15mos Ari 7/06 REFLUX FREE, so miracles do happen!
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jlsolomon Newbie Joined: 24 April 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Posted: 04 May 2007 at 11:07am
	He doesn't reach out to things, but he will follow objects and people with his eyes (though not all the time). Thanks for the suggestions -- actually his teether is the one thing that he does seem just a bit interested in. I like the idea of making up a song with the teether.
	IP Logged

pkkb Senior Member Joined: 17 August 2004 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 3200	Posted: 04 May 2007 at 1:54pm
	Alex has only recently started playing with actual toys. Before that, she only wanted things that weren't meant to be toys - shoeboxes, pieces of paper, Kaelyn's wooden puzzle pieces (used as a teether), shoes, etc. Kaelyn didn't really like toys until she was almost 9 months old.
	Kim Kaelyn 6-04 reflux- Off prevacid -- Outgrew Allergies to wheat, milk, peaches, and apples Alexandra 6-06 - 36 weeks, reflux, laryngomalacia, asthma, no allergies!!
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Bensmama Junior Member Joined: 05 November 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 1831	Posted: 04 May 2007 at 2:35pm
	I used to, and still do actually, dangle toys in front of Ben while feeding him. Originally this was to distract him so that he would stay on the breast long enough to eat. Now that he isn't in pain anymore while eating, he wants to look all over the place and doesnt' want to sit still long enough to eat, so I still use the toys. I started this when he got really bad around 3 1/2 - 4months, and this is when he would start paying more attention to toys, reaching out for them, etc. If you think that it won't cause problems with his feedings, maybe it would help?
	Naomi - mom to Claire 11/5/03 - former refluxer. Med. free at 9 months. Breastfed 17 months Ben - 9/14/06 - former refluxer; TED for 6+months; med free at 20 months. Breastfed 21 months
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evergreenie Junior Member Joined: 27 October 2006 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1608	Posted: 04 May 2007 at 7:37pm
	Technically he is a prem (37 weeks is full term) so you can look at milestones in terms of corrected age (take 3.5 weeks of). He might take a little longer to do some things. Alana was 5 weeks early and I noticed it took her a little longer for the first 6 months. Now she seems to have caught up (most children do by 2 years if they are prem). Have you tried those little rattly things on feet or hands. This might get him into the idea of touching things. I'm sure he will get it
	Therese Alana Nearly 3-Former refluxer and Milk Intolerant. No meds and full milk! Nick- 8 weeks and milk and soy intolerant (we think!)
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