Playing With Your Newborn Baby
Playing with your newborn baby is certainly one of the more pleasurable aspects of becoming a parent.
To wait in anticipation for that first wide smile and to hear your baby giggle for the first time is a precious moment.
Essentially, play is key for your baby’s overall development, learning and wellbeing. It develops your baby’s verbal and non-verbal skills.
Additionally, it will teach your baby a variety of motor skills and help to grow their muscle strength.
According to research by the American Academy of Pediatrics, play enhances brain structure and function, allowing us to pursue goals and ignore distractions.
Why Playing With Your Newborn Baby Is Important
Playtime is central to your baby’s learning, well-being and confidence. Your baby will feel loved, happy and safe.
It will help your baby to develop both physical and social skills, similarly build confidence and encourage language and communication.
Here are some engaging ways in which you can play with your newborn baby:
Stretch, Pedal and Tickle
While laying your baby on a blanket, gently hold their hands while you move their arms up, out to the side, and around.
Give your baby’s toes a little squeeze and pedal their legs. Gentle massage and tickles from the bottom of their feet to the top of their head can offer fun for both parent and baby.
Singing to Your Baby
Your baby likes the familiar sound of your voice and takes great comfort from it.
You don’t need to sound as good as Adele!
A soft lullaby in the evening as the baby is settling, or something more uplifting coming from your playlist.
Singing to your baby is a soothing way of helping them to settle.
The familiarity of your voice is comforting and increases the attachment bond with you.
Babies instinctively react to the sound of your voice and respond by communicating their needs and feelings.
In the early weeks, a newborn will start to settle to a familiar voice.
An older baby may react by cooing which is their own way of singing and talking back to you.
Dancing With Your Baby
If there is one thing that babies love its motion; this is something you may already be familiar with.
Therefore why not slip on your sling or cradle your baby to your favourite tunes?
Dancing can be a welcome distraction, not only for an unsettled baby but for you too.
It promotes the release of feel-good endorphins, which help improve our mood when we’re tired or stressed.
Playing Peek-A-Boo
This activity is sure to bring your baby’s focus and create fun.
Watching Mummy or Daddy disappear underneath a towel, only to suddenly reappear again with a big smile.
This game is not only fun, but starts to teach your baby “object permanence”.
Babies are reassured that as you appear and disappear that you are still there.
What if Your Baby Is Not Engaged in Playtime?
What if your baby is not engaged in playtime?
There might be times when your baby simply isn’t engaged in playtime.
He or she could just be tired or bored by engaging in the same activity for too long.
Follow your baby’s cues. If they start to repeatedly look away, show signs of restlessness, or start to cry, then it is time to stop playing.
Often your baby is showing you they are tired and it is time to help them settle to sleep.
Babies develop in their own time. The NHS website Start For Life has lots of tips, advice and activities to help you care for your baby.
Talk to your health visitor if you have any questions or concerns.
Playing With Your Newborn Baby Conclusion
Playing with your baby on a regular basis will certainly help with their development in the early weeks and months.
If you find yourself struggling to settle your baby, then feel free to contact Margaret Maternity.
If there is an overseas trip coming up this year then feel free to read my guide on taking your baby overseas for the first time.
