Answer: There is no definite period of time where parents can feel utterly confident that their baby has had enough stimulation. It’s all about reading the individual baby’s tired signs and then settling them. But generally babies of this age are looking tired and ready for sleep within an hour or so of finishing their feed. Perhaps when he’s starting to fuss under the play gym this isn’t so much about wanting more stimulation but a tired sign/cue telling you he’s ready for sleep? This is a very common event for parents and babies.
Despite all of the current research around the importance of stimulation and parents spending lots of time with their babies, it’s still important for parents to look for a balance when it comes to stimulation. In the main, most parents and their babies do very well without needing to make the absolute most of every waking moment. As long as he is happy under the play gym and looking at the toys and moving around and focusing on you and your face sometimes and then on the toys then this is enough. When he starts to become grizzly and with jerky movements and generally cranky then he’s probably had enough and wants a cuddle or to be moved or have another feed or just go to sleep.
Bear in mind that power naps don’t really give enough time for babies to have enough deep phase restorative sleep so that when they wake up they feel refreshed and restored enough to be happy for a couple of hours. It can be worthwhile trying to encourage them to have longer sleeps, for at least one hour which allows for just enough of the restorative sleep phase.
Do check the Huggies site for more comprehensive information on sleep and settling management for newborns. Wrapping him may help too, he’s at the right age for wrapping/swaddling and these cooler winter months are ideal for this as a settling strategy.
Cheers
Jane