Congratulations! Whether you have already welcomed your newest family member or are still preparing for the big day, you might be wondering how to play with your newborn.
Play is a critical element for healthy childhood development, and babies experience changes in playtime as they grow! Your baby’s short waking periods and limited abilities (vision, motor skills, communication, etc.) can make it challenging to create engaging play experiences at this age. Here are a few ways you can support your child’s growth and have fun.
- Bike Time and Baby Sit-Ups
Strengthen your baby’s abdominal muscles and increase body awareness by gently moving their legs in a bicycling motion. This activity also introduces the idea of alternating movement (one leg, then the other), which the baby will need to understand in order to crawl and walk. To strengthen your baby’s neck muscles, lay the baby on a blanket and sit by their feet, facing them. Firmly grasp the top corners of the blanket near their head and gently pull them towards you. Gently lay them back down. Repeat this a few times until the baby shows signs of tiredness, such as wiggling or looking away. Each time you bring them closer, give them a kiss. You’ll surely enjoy it.
- Carrying and Rocking
Babies need physical contact and rhythmic movements, so carrying your newborn is the perfect way to meet these needs. There are various types of baby carriers, so choose the one that suits you best and carry your baby. You can also hold the baby and gently rock them in a hammock or swing. This is also a good way to bond and practice rhythmic movement.
- Stretching
After so many months in the fetal position, newborns are quite curled up. Gently stretch the baby’s arms and legs one by one. This helps in developing body awareness and stretches their muscles. Of course, if your baby does not enjoy the stretches, stop this exercise immediately.
- Imitating
Flatter your baby by imitating their sounds and expressions. This way, you communicate to your baby that they are important, that you are paying attention to them, and it also models the process of communication.
- Visual Exercises
Since a newborn’s vision is not fully developed at birth, mirror play is a wonderful activity for babies. Hold a mirror close to the baby’s face while they lie on their tummy or hold the baby in front of the mirror. They will love admiring their beautiful face, as well as yours. Since babies can most easily see high-contrast images such as bold black-and-white patterns, print or create your own high-contrast images and hang them where your baby can easily see them. Look at and talk about these images while playing with your newborn.
- Massage
You can help develop your baby’s circulatory and digestive systems by massaging them with gentle pressure and movements. Choose a time when both you and your baby are relaxed for this activity. Use baby lotion or natural, edible, unscented oil (such as grapeseed, almond, or olive oil) for the massage, and enjoy the touches that create a sense of security for your baby.
- Be a Bookworm
Reading with your child is one of the best gifts you can give them. Even the youngest babies learn when you read to them. Besides, your baby will enjoy cuddling and the sound of your voice, because talking is learning. It’s one of the most important aspects of language development, and it starts from day one (some even argue it starts in the womb). So, talk to your baby often throughout the day.
- Familiar Music
Research suggests that newborns are able to recognize music they regularly heard in the womb. If your baby had some common sounds they were exposed to in utero, play them so the baby can hear them. If your baby didn’t consistently listen to music in the womb to recognize it now, choose a few songs to start playing or singing for your baby right away. Familiar music will stimulate your baby’s mind and can help soothe them.
