How to Play with Baby

Isn't it wonderful to see a child's eyes light up as he discovers something new about the world? Most parents want to make sure their child is appropriately stimulated. It's tempting to buy lots of toys with all the bells and whistles before Junior is even able to focus his eyes, but let's look for a minute at some low-tech ways babies can play.

The Watching and Listening Baby (birth to 8 weeks) Babies in this age benefit from a little face-to-face time with Mom and Dad. Just talking, smiling, singing, and staring at Baby helps build the bond between the two of you. My son was also fascinated by bright lights and celling fans at this age. Guard against over stimulation in young babies. They're small and can't take in everything. A little time by themselves without a toy in their face can be a good thing. The world is plenty interesting.

The Baby with Head-Control (2 months on) Now is a good time for a mobile in the crib. Baby can follow things that move in a circle. He can also imitate expressions which makes for a fun facial "conversation." Baby is just starting to see in three dimensions so the world's looking pretty neat. Wavy lines and faces are interesting to him now too. Since Baby doesn't have the mobility to move away from overstimulating situations, keep an eye out for fussing that means "I've had enough."

The Reaching, Grasping Baby (3 or 4 months on) Now's a great time to pull out those baby rattles! It's so fun to watch Junior begin to understand that he can cause thing to happen. Don't be surprised when everything goes in the mouth, either. It's a good way for Baby to study all these new objects. Even a soft foam hair curler or spoon makes a great toy at this age. One word of warning, though: don't give Baby things now that you wouldn't want him to play with later, like the remote or a pen. Right now he might not be able to do much damage, but it's easier to keep things off-limits than change the rules later.

The Rolling Baby (4 or 5 months on) Simple objects can cause endless delight as Junior can now chase them a little when they get away from him. Our 7-month-old loves rolling around on the floor with a few toys. Holding things and exploring a few rattles and blocks will entertain him for quite a while. Now is not a bad time to begin "Independent Play Time." Put Junior in his Play Pen or another safe place for 15 minutes or so with several toys and maybe put some music on. This will teach him that he's good company for himself. He won't always have to look to you for entertainment later on if this habit is established early.

The Sitting Baby (6 months on) Now Junior can pass objects from hand to hand and begin to make gestures. He also may lunge for toys and end up on his chest. Be careful not to rescue him from an uncomfortable position or give him the toy he's after too soon. Give him a little encouragement and time to figure it out for himself. You might be surprised what he can handle. Our son is remarkably tough! He'll bonk his head and not complain at all. It is OK to help out if Junior asks for it (by fussing or whining).

The Moving Baby (8-10 months on) When Baby really starts to crawl, a whole new world opens up! Some baby proofing is not a bad idea: electrical plugs need to be covered and a baby gate put across the stairs. Now is also the time when teaching the phrase "Don't touch" becomes important. I think it's a good idea not to take away everything that's not baby friendly. Junior will benefit from learning some boundaries. Now is also a good time for songs with gestures (Itsy Bitsy Spider etc) and plenty of time for active play. Keep a cuddle and book at nap time or bedtime in the routine too!

RESOURCES

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer