25 Ways to Have Fun with Your Newborn Babies!
Congratulations! You’ve just given birth to a baby who you’re learning to feed, change, sleep, and keep happy.
But now you’re wondering how you’re going to play with your new infant.
Isn’t it true that one of the first things they teach you when they hand you your newborn is how to play with your 0-3-month-old baby?
25 Ways to Play With Your 0-3 Month Old Baby
1. Sing to your baby and “dance” with his or her arms and legs.
Take out your phone or ask Alexa to play a song (or sing one yourself!) and then assist your baby in dancing! To the beat, she moves her arms and legs
Playing patty-cake or the itsy bits spider with Babies arms moving to generate the actions is another option.
2. Carry on a discussion using exaggerated facial expressions.
Start conversing! Chat with your child to begin developing the concept of language right now.
Using large facial expressions or changing your voice might help keep your kid engaged.
3. Encourage your baby during tummy time by lying close to him or her.
Woohoo! You’ve got this!” “That’s my girl!” exclaims the narrator. – You can hear us cheering these things to our baby during tummy time.
While the Babies may not understand what you’re saying, it encourages social skills and family bonding (even our toddler joins in!).
Lay down next to the baby so she doesn’t have to perform tummy time alone, just to add a little more fun to the mix. We like to tell our toddler that she should “teach her how to do it!”
4. For a fresh twist on tummy time, lie down on your back with your baby on your chest on his or her belly.
While yourBabies may not be able to see very far or very clearly yet, she does appreciate one thing: your face!
Laying on your back with your baby on your chest provides your infant a new viewpoint on tummy time (while also giving you a great opportunity for cuddling!).
5. Allow the baby to examine himself in the mirror.
Imagine not understanding what a mirror is for and seeing someone who looks exactly like you!
A baby will have a lot of fun with a mirror, and it will help you capture his attention in a fresh way!
Your infant will like it, from merely examining that baby in the mirror to seeing his reactions!
Aside from that, make sure you have a baby-safe mirror! We like this one, but we also have one on our property.
6. Take your Baby on a walk and chat about what you notice.
Take your baby for a walk and talk in your favorite stroller.
Point out the trees, the sky, the birds, and the automobiles, and talk about everything you observe.
Everything is up for discussion!
If you run out of things to say, try describing what kind of tree it is, what it looks like, how trees provide shade, and so on…
Do you have a tendency to talk a lot?
If that’s the case, this one will be a breeze!
If you don’t, it can be difficult to chat and receive no reaction – but I guarantee! The more you do it, the less difficult it becomes.
7. Show a toy to the baby and move it slowly from side to side or up and down.
Here’s another fun way to check on yourBabies progress!
Move a rattle or other toy up and down or from side to side so that your baby can view it. Keep an eye on your infant to see if he or she follows the toy!
Note: If she still won’t follow the toy after a week, try again! Remember that every baby develops at a different rate.
8. Prop baby up on a boppy pillow for a new view during tummy time
Are you ready for a new tummy time idea?
To give your baby a new perspective during tummy time, prop her up on a boppy cushion.
I like to combine this small baby activity with placing a few toys in front of her to keep her occupied (apart from being on her belly!).
9. Walk or bounce with your baby in an outward position.
Walking about or bouncing your baby outward is a fun way to play with your new baby.
This allows your infant to observe the world from a different perspective than he is used to.
10. Give baby kisses and say, “I got you!” This becomes a pleasant game for them to play.
This game is entertaining and interactive for your new baby, as well as a wonderful opportunity for you to bond and show your love for him or her!
Each time you give your infant a kiss on the cheek, belly, arm, or foot, say “got you!” Your baby will look forward to the kisses and the amusing “got you!” phrase.
11. Try sticking your tongue out at baby and see if she imitates you!
Play a game of “copycat” with your child.
To test if your baby copies you, push your tongue out, copy your baby’s coos, and make other amusing sounds.
You can also reverse it and mimic your Babies behaviors! You’ll know your baby is capable of performing the motion, and she’ll be more likely to imitate you!
12. Cycle your Babies legs (this also helps with gas!)
Are you looking for a fun baby activity for your baby who is between the ages of 0 and 3 months? Get those little legs moving like a bike!
It’s a pleasant method to move your Babies body and stretch them out, with the added benefit of:
This new baby exercise can help your baby feel better if he or she is gassy or uncomfortable.
13. Hold your Baby up to “walk,” “stand,” or “leap.”
As your baby approaches 3 months, she will most likely begin to get greater head control and may even be yearning to gain weight.
While I don’t recommend letting your baby accomplish any of them on her own, she could enjoy being able to “stand” or “jump” in your lap with your assistance.
14. Hold your baby and dance together
There’s more music! Hold your infant close and dance, whether Alexa is playing or you are singing.
Change up the music from slow to fast, but don’t get too crazy with your child!
15. Read to your child in a variety of voices and expressions.
At first, I struggled with this one since it seemed crazy to read to a baby who can’t see more than a foot in front of him!
BUT, because every study shows the importance of reading, even at a young age, you can guarantee we read!
Take out a book with opposing colors (think black and white or vivid opposites — this one has both!) and start reading!
If you don’t have one of those books, use a standard children’s book, and be sure to utilize a variety of voices and expressions. The variety will delight your baby!
16. Grab a rattle, book, or other item and place it in front of your baby during tummy time.
If your baby dislikes stomach time (believe me, I know it happens; both of mine did), put a rattle or toy in front of him to keep his attention.
You can either play with it in front of your Babies eyes or simply set it down and let him explore it.
The current favorites to look at for our baby are:
1. These wooden dolls from a Melissa and Doug toy we have
2. A book with bright pictures set up for her to see – we LOVE this baby-proof one!
17. Place baby on his or her back and gently touch various body regions, labeling or making a funny noise as you do so.
“Boop!” “Whoop!”
Try making any entertaining sounds you can think of while touching various body parts. (For example, “boop!” when you touch the baby’s belly, then “boop!” when you touch the baby’s nose.)
Your kid will begin to anticipate your amusing noises and may even begin to laugh about them.
To add variety, identify the body part as you touch it, which will aid in the development of the Babies language.
18. Look for picture books with brightly colored or patterned backgrounds.
Spend some time with your baby looking at picture books. Showing her images with a lot of contrast will keep her interested and help her eyesight grow!
So, what exactly are high-contrast images?
Consider black and white or vibrant colors.
If you don’t have any and want to print some right now, Parents.com has a free set of printable high contrast photos.
19. Shake a rattle toy on one side of the baby’s head to check if they shift their head in that direction.
Starting to test your baby’s milestones and growth at this age is a lot of fun.
Simply shake a rattle to the side of yourBabies head (if you don’t already have one, this one is incredibly affordable and delivers in 2 days!).
Check to see whether he turns to investigate the noise!
20. Tie a balloon to the bottom of your Babies foot and let them kick!
This is one of my favorite methods to engage a small child in play!
Grab a helium balloon (you can definitely find some at your local dollar shop!) and tie it loosely to yourBabies foot. Allow him to kick the balloon while watching it move and float.
21. Place baby on an activity mat
This one is easy, but it’s one of our faves because our infant enjoys it so much.
Place your baby on an activity mat and allow her to kick, reach for, and look at the toys that are suspended above her.
Here’s the updated version of the one our infant loves – it’s even held up to two babies!
22. Go to your baby’s side and chat with him or her; see if he or she will turn their head to look at you.
Talk or sing to yourBabies on one side of her head, similar to how you might with a noisy toy.
Check to see whether she looks at you!
23. Allow your child to kick a noisemaker (piano), tissue paper, or a baking sheet.
Giving your 0-3 month child something to stimulate multiple senses at once is another method to allow him to play.
In this situation, it’s all about touch and hearing.
Place your baby on his back and provide him with a baby-safe household object or toy to kick. Check to see if the object will fall on yourBabies if it is kicked.
Here are some suggestions:
a play mat with a built-in noisemaker (i.e. piano)
cookie sheet made of tissue paper
24. Experiment with different textures on theBabies hands and feet.
Allow your child to use her sense of touch. With a touch and feel book or other textured toys, try feeling your Babies hands and feet (or belly or cheek!)
Try these:
feathers
cotton ball
bumpy ball
25. Make bubbles.
Blowing bubbles is usually aBabiesactivity for a three-month-old rather than a brand-new infant.
Blow bubbles in front of your baby’s face, or even at his or her feet, to elicit a sensory response.
Let’s face it, bubbles are entertaining for all children and are likely something you already have on hand if you have other children.
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