Activities to do with a newborn – A guide to engaging with your baby

The first few months of a baby’s life are critical for bonding and fostering a secure attachment between parent and child. Engaging in activities with your newborn is essential for their development and helps create a strong emotional connection that will last a lifetime. This essay will explore various activities with your newborn that promote healthy development, stimulate their senses, and build a loving relationship.

Tummy Time

Tummy time is an essential activity for newborns to help them develop neck and upper body strength and prevent the development of flat spots on their heads. It is recommended to start tummy time as soon as you bring your baby home from the hospital, gradually increasing the duration as they grow older.

• Benefits: Tummy time helps to strengthen your baby’s neck, shoulder, and core muscles, preparing them for later milestones such as rolling over, sitting, and crawling. Additionally, it promotes cognitive development by providing a new perspective on their environment.
• How to: Place your baby on a clean, flat surface, either on a play mat or a blanket. Position them on their stomach, ensuring their arms are bent, and hands are close to their face for support. Supervise your baby closely during tummy time, and engage with them by talking, singing, or providing toys to capture their attention.
• Frequency: Begin with a few minutes daily, gradually increasing to 20-30 minutes daily as your baby grows stronger.

Baby Massage

Baby massage is a gentle and soothing activity that promotes bonding between parent and child. It can help relax your baby, improve their sleep, and relieve gas and colic.

• Benefits: Baby massage stimulates the release of oxytocin, the “love hormone,” in both parent and child. It also aids in developing your baby’s circulatory, digestive, and nervous systems.
• How to: Use a gentle touch with warm, edible oil such as coconut or almond. Massage your baby’s limbs with long, sweeping strokes, and use circular motions on their chest and stomach. Avoid applying pressure on your baby’s spine; always ensure they are comfortable during the massage.
• Frequency: Aim to incorporate baby massage into your daily routine after a bath or bedtime.

Reading and Singing

Reading and singing to your newborn are activities that promote cognitive and language development and foster a love for books and music.

• Benefits: Exposure to language, rhythm, and melody helps to develop your baby’s listening skills, vocabulary, and memory. Furthermore, these activities provide valuable bonding time and can be a comforting part of your baby’s daily routine.
• How to: Choose age-appropriate books with high-contrast images, simple text, and engaging illustrations. Sing lullabies, nursery rhymes, or even your favourite songs to your baby, using gentle and soothing tones.
• Frequency: Do reading and singing as part of your daily routine, with sessions lasting around 10-15 minutes.

Sensory Play

Sensory play is a fun and engaging way to stimulate your newborn’s developing senses, such as touch, sight, and hearing.

• Benefits: Sensory play helps to develop your baby’s brain, improve their motor skills, and encourage exploration of their environment.
• How to: Use age-appropriate toys or everyday objects to engage your baby’s senses. Examples include soft, textured toys for touch, high-contrast images for sight, and gentle sounds like rattles for hearing.
• Frequency: Incorporate sensory play into your baby’s daily routine, adjusting the activities as they grow and develop.

Babywearing

Babywearing, or carrying your baby in a sling or carrier, provides numerous benefits for both parent and child. It allows for close physical contact, promotes bonding, and frees up the caregiver’s hands for other tasks.

• Benefits: Babywearing promotes a secure attachment between parent and child, aids in the baby’s emotional and social development, and may help to reduce the risk of postpartum depression. It also allows for easy breastfeeding and can provide a calming effect for fussy babies.
• How to: Choose a safe and comfortable baby carrier that supports your baby’s neck and head and distributes their weight evenly. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for proper usage, and always keep your baby’s airway clear.
• Frequency: Babywearing can be incorporated into your daily routine as needed, with the duration depending on your baby’s comfort and physical limitations.

Outdoor Experiences

Exposing your newborn to the outdoors can provide a stimulating environment for their developing senses and help them become familiar with the world around them.

• Benefits: Outdoor experiences can promote healthy sleep patterns, provide fresh air, and help your baby adapt to sights, sounds, and smells.
• How to: Take your baby for walks in a stroller or baby carrier, ensuring they have dressed appropriately for the weather. Allow them to experience different natural environments, such as parks, gardens, and beaches while protecting them from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures.
• Frequency: Aim for daily outdoor outings as long as the weather permits and your baby is comfortable.

Engaging in activities with your newborn is crucial for fostering a strong bond, promoting healthy development, and creating lifelong memories. By incorporating tummy time, baby massage, reading and singing, sensory play, babywearing, and outdoor experiences into your daily routine, you can provide a stimulating and nurturing environment for your baby to grow and thrive. As your child develops, continue to adapt and introduce new activities that are age-appropriate and engaging, ensuring a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning and exploration.