HOW TO PLAY WITH A NEWBORN | 6 things to do with your baby during awake time to maximize development

Having a newborn is all fun and games, except… what games can you actually play with the baby today?

First things first, I want you to have this free baby guide right now. This is a 50-page guide packed with information on what to do with your baby for the first four months of their lives. There are many charts and graphs for you to print out and write on, and guides for you to read and help you get through the first four months (because I know you’re probably feeling like you’re in survival mode) as well as establish healthy sleep habits.

Play is very important for your newborn’s brain development. So, in this article, I want to tell you about the top six things that you can do with your newborn during awake time and how it’s going to enhance their development.

Put your baby in your lap, and hold them up so that he or she is facing you. Look at them and talk to them. Making those cheesy baby sounds. You’re gonna feel stupid but it doesn’t matter, because guess what, your child is learning facial recognition and the sound of your voice! They learn a lot about your facial structure this way, so it’s important to do this several times a day.

Another thing you can do to enhance your child’s social and emotional development is to mimic their faces and the sounds that they’re making at you. Your child is growing and finding their own voice. You’re going to see that happening around three to four months. It’s very important that you mimic their baby noises as it helps boost your child’s confidence. By doing this, you are telling your child that these noises are okay and that you are encouraging them to do more. And eventually, these baby sounds will turn into “mama” or “dada”, and it’s going to be the cutest thing ever.

Help build your child’s physical motor skills by having tummy time several times a day. Yes, you can do tummy time from day one. When your baby is very little, and you’re not comfortable putting them on the floor or on a play mat, then you could put them on your stomach. So, basically, you are stomach to stomach or chest to chest. Tummy time also encourages them to use their neck muscles, so that they can see the world around them from different angles, learn about spatial awareness, and also about their own bodies. These moments are just so precious, so enjoy!

Encourage your child’s language development by talking out loud. You may feel a little bit silly at first, but really, it’s a longer game here. The more you talk to your baby about what you’re doing throughout the day, the more your child is going to pick up on that. And before you know it, your baby will be talking back to you. Simple things like “mommy’s going to brush my teeth”, “now mommy’s going in the kitchen”, “mommy’s making dinner now”, etc. This is one of the best things to do to help with your newborn’s language development.

There are many things you can do to help encourage your child’s social emotions as well as develop their playing skills. You can do some mirror play or shadow play. You can dance, play a musical instrument, take some objects around your house and put them together, or pour some rice in a cup and shake it in front of your child. All these things will get your child involved in the space around them. It is so fun to see the world through your child’s eyes. Even when they’re just a tiny infant, they are taking it all in. They are constantly learning every single minute of the day.

Start practicing baby sign language. For the first six months, your child’s obviously not learning baby signs yet, but the more you’re using them (and the more you are comfortable with using them), the more natural it is for your child to use them when they are older. When your baby turns 7 months or older, they may start to use these signs and be able to communicate with you this way, instead of just whining and crying.

So, on that note, I want to let you know that I have an amazing 101 Baby Signs Language Guide here that you can use. I recommend starting very, very early. You can start with the simplest ones first, and then move through the course and learn more new signs as you go. Baby signs are going to help them a lot with their communication skills.

Now, when you’re doing all of these activities and playing with your baby, make sure that they’re not getting overtired because when that happens, nobody wins. Keep an eye on the wake windows. Stay consistent with your sleeping schedule and routine. And most importantly, enjoy every single minute! I know that these are some seriously tough days, but I promise you, it goes by so fast. If you ever need anything, you know that you can reach out to me.

Keep Blooming!
Missy Yandow