When a baby first comes home from the hospital, new parents spend their days just fulfilling her basic needs. At first Baby will spend most of the day sleeping, waking to eat every 2 to 3 hours. As the weeks go by, she will gradually start to spend more and more time awake between feedings, and she will begin to be more aware of the world around her.
As Baby becomes more alert and awake, new parents may find themselves wondering – when and how do I play with my baby? In this article, we will discuss when and how babies learn to play, and we will give a few toy ideas to keep them engaged as they grow.
Newborn
The most important activity you can do with a newborn baby, besides feeding and taking care of his needs, is Tummy Time. For safety reasons, babies always are placed on their backs to sleep. But when they are awake, they should spend time on their tummy each day.
Tummy Time is crucial for babies’ muscular development – it allows them to strengthen their neck, back, and leg muscles that will eventually help them learn to roll, crawl, and walk. It also helps prevent flat spots from developing on their heads. You can begin Tummy Time the day Baby comes home from the hospital. Aim for 15 minutes a day, gradually increasing to 20 minutes a day by the time he is 3 months old.
You can do Tummy Time with a baby on any soft, flat surface, such as a blanket or playmat. As your baby grows, you may choose to use a Tummy Time pillow, like this one, to prop him up. Some babies do not enjoy Tummy Time at first. If that is the case, don’t worry. You can try laying on the couch or the floor and letting Baby do Tummy Time on your chest – just hold him tight! We also have an article dedicated just to tummy time toy ideas.
It is also important to spend some of your newborn’s awake time just interacting with him. Talk to him, sing to him, and make eye contact. Try making silly faces. Many babies show their first smile around 6 or 7 weeks old. At this age, he is just learning about the world, and your familiar voice is comforting to him.
2-3 Months
By 3 months, many babies are kicking their feet at objects and grasping toys in their hands. Consider a playmat or baby play gym, that has dangling toys she can kick and watch with her eyes. Many parents like the Music Activity Gym Play Mat This can also be used for Tummy Time, which should continue until Baby is crawling. When choosing playmats, try not to go for the ones that seem overly busy with too many distractions. We don’t want to overstimulate a baby. Allowing babies to focus on one thing at a time is the goal. The Play Gym by Loveevery is another example of an excellent play gym that was made with child development in mind.
At this age, your baby will not need many toys yet. Try giving her simple toys that she can hold in her fist, such as the Manhattan Toy Winkel Monkey. She may also enjoy toys that make noise, such as those that rattle or have crinkly paper inside. The Lamaze Zebra is a fun option. Another great crinkly toy is the Baby Newspaper. Babies will love squishing it and watching it immediately return to its original form. It’s also a great way to introduce babies to the concept of cause and effect. Here is an article on more cause and effect toy ideas and ways to teach cause and effect. Another favorite rattle grasping toy is this Giraffe by Sigikid.
It’s never too early to start reading to your infant. Try reading a story to your baby before bed as part of her bedtime routine. Young babies’ eyes are naturally attracted to high contrast images, so consider a book like this one.
4-6 Months
At this age, babies continue to become more alert and active. By 4 months, your baby may begin laughing at silly things Mom and Dad do. Some babies begin rolling as young as 4 months, and many, if not most, babies will be rolling by 6 months. Some babies even begin to sit unassisted at 6 months.
Babies this age explore with their mouths, which may be mistaken for teething. In reality, most babies don’t begin teething until at least 6 months, but all babies love putting things in their mouths! Teething toys are great at this stage, even if he isn’t cutting any teeth yet, because they are fun to put in his mouth. Consider a teether with interesting textures like this Infantino Good Bites Carrot or the Nuby Teether Keys. The Cactus Teething Toothbrush and Sensory Teething Bracelet are also adorable and helpful for teethers.
Now is a good time to start baby-proofing. As your baby gets more mobile, he may begin putting things in his mouth that are not for chewing. Help keep him safe by keeping all small objects off the floor and out of reach. You should also bolt large furniture to the wall and cover outlets.
If he is sitting independently, a wooden activity toy like this one allows him move and manipulate objects with his hands while he sits. This toy also teaches cause and effect and encourages curiosity and exploration. While he plays, talk about what he is doing. Name the animals found on the toy and describe his actions while he plays. The simple design of this toy will engage the child while allowing them to focus on one task at a time. Another great option is this wall mounted Crocodile Activity Set which allows the baby to play on a vertical surface. This is great for strengthening hands and wrists (which is important for good fine motor control as they grow).
7-9 Months
Many babies become much more mobile at this age, and some are even crawling and pulling to stand. Rather than a traditional baby walker, which can be dangerous and can encourage bad physical form (toe-walking), consider a Sit to Stand walker like this one. I love that it also has a functional and pretend play aspect.
At this age, your baby may begin to enjoy toys that stack and fit together. Some classic choices are stacking rings and nesting blocks. She may also enjoy the feel of different textures. Books from the “Never Touch a…” series, such as Never Touch a Spider can be fun for her to touch while you read aloud.
Reading aloud should be a big part of your daily routine by 7 months. While she may be too busy to sit and listen during playtime, you can read to her before her naps, while he is eating, or before bedtime.
10-12 Months
By 10 months your baby is more than likely pulling to stand or even beginning to cruise furniture or walk. Many parents choose climbing toys like a Pikler Triangle as babies become more interested in pulling and climbing. A soft climbing mat with multiple pieces can also give the baby a safe place to test out and strengthen his climbing muscles.
Older infants like to take objects in and out of containers as they begin to “organize” their space. A set of textured balls and a couple of empty boxes or bins might keep him interested for quite a while.
He may enjoy pulling wipes or Kleenex out of their box, much to your chagrin. Let him enjoy this activity without the waste with a toy tissue box. Or save money and fill an empty tissue box with pieces of a cut up receiving blanket.
At this stage, babies enjoy toys that are new and different. Rather than constantly purchasing new toys to keep him entertained, give him everyday household objects to explore, such as kitchen utensils, pots and pans, or empty boxes.
Incorporate outdoor play into your routine when the weather permits. Your baby will enjoy experiencing new sights and sounds. He may also like the feel of grass or sand as he explores his environment.
No matter how old your infant is, spend time each day talking to him. Narrate your actions and talk about what you are doing together. He probably won’t say his first word until he is close to a year old, but his brain is taking in language and growing so many connections just by listening to you talk. Spend time with him and give him a few quality toys to explore, and you will be amazed at how much he grows and develops in his first precious year of life!