Newborn babies
love games!

Newborn babies - the first three months

Need some inspiration for games for newborn babies? Here you'll find practical suggestions for games little babies love. You can encourage their mental development, help them understand the world around them - and give them lots of love all at the same time!

A precious time.
When my son was very young, I remember being told that the time you invest in your little children is repaid in love a thousand times over when they get older. And I believe it.

Never think that those five minutes spent playing baby games with your newborn are wasted. To your child they are the most precious moments of the day.

Newborn babies' games - the first month

Two days old. But my little one was soon ready to play!

She can see objects that are about ten inches away, but at this stage won't start to reach out for them. Newborn babies' hearing is well developed even at birth, and she'll respond to sounds - loud noises startle her, but the sound of your voice is comforting.

She'll start to coo and gurgle, and will be practising her crying skills! She loves physical contact with you.

Face to face
When baby is looking intently at you, move your head slowly from side to side. Look at her and stick out your tongue. Close your eyes, open them again and smile. Do this again and again.

Repetition is so comforting to children and is also how they learn. Talk to her about what you're doing. Tell her how much you love her. Repeat words and say her name. She won't understand you - but rest assured - she soon will!

What's that?

Eleven days old - is that a grin... or a little wind :)

Staying close again, shake a rattle (a quiet one, if that's possible!) in front of her face. Look surprised and laugh. Shake it again a little to one side, then the other. Tap her tummy with it.

If she is happy, see if she is willing to unclench that little fist and try holding it with your support.

UFOs
Hold a soft toy up in the air and slowly bring it down close enough for baby to see. Use the tone of your voice to whoooooooo.... going up.... and then down.... to associate the movement with the sound.

Bring teddy or ducky down slowly and touch your baby's nose or tummy with it. She probably won't be able to follow the toy with her eyes this month, but she will know you are having fun with her.

Go mobile
Introducing a mobile this month, particularly one that plays a tune, will attract your baby's attention.

You may also want to start using a baby gym, which baby can lie on, looking at the bold colors. This will provide another environment other than her crib or your arms.

Song and dance
There's a song for every occasion. Diaper changing, putting on booties, having a bath, looking out of the window - you name it, you can sing about it!

Babies love music. Play your favorite songs and sing along to them. You can go for a slow waltz with your little one, holding them firmly and moving around the room, humming along to the music. Put a small baby cotton sheet or blanket over your shoulder, let your baby's head rest on it as you move about, and baby will probably fall asleep!

You can also introduce your baby to lullabies and nursery rhyme songs. Rock your baby gently as you sing, and look into her eyes.

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Newborn babies' games - the second month

At one month old, baby is much more aware and wanting to interact.

She likes bright colors and is becoming more interested in sound and texture. When you talk to her she'll respond with little noises.

She may be able to grasp a rattle, and that first smile is beginning to appear!

Touchy-feely
Soft baby books that can be attached to the side of the crib will give your baby something to look at, and she may be able to try touching it and holding it. Her hands are slowly becoming more flexible, and you can start introducing textures to her - cotton wool, a wooden spoon, the inevitable blankie, soft toys and plastic bottles.

Who's that?
Pictures of faces will fascinate your child. She can look at herself in a safety mirror and wonder who that beautiful baby is! Stand in front of a large mirror holding baby and talk to her, pointing at your reflections. Give names to some of her cuddly toys and repeat the names as you play with them and touch them.

Heads up
Lay your baby on her tummy. Hold a colorful toy near your baby's head, just a little higher than you normally would, to encourage her to raise her head to see. Give her lots of praise when she lifts that heavy head - she's working hard!

Get moving
Hold baby firmly and rock her back and forth or swing her from side to side, to get her used to the sensation of moving around. If you are still feeling a little tender, sit in a rocking chair and sing a song.

Heading into the third month!

Nine weeks old. "Don't disturb me, I'm thinking!"

By now, your baby's grasp reflex is almost gone, and she can hold objects with both hands and hold her head fairly steady.

She recognizes your face and voice, will turn towards sound and is beginning to practise rolling a little to the side. She'll start staring wide-eyed at objects, concentrating and thinking what they can be!

Looking, listening, feeling
Use the baby gym and objects in her crib or pram to talk to your baby.

Describe everything she can see. Point to things, let her feel them and try to hold them.

She'll begin to use her hands and feet a bit more to express emotion. Let her look at her hands. Stroke them, tickle them, kiss them and start to play "round and round the garden, like a teddy bear"! Let's not forget "this little piggy" either. At diaper change, hold her feet up in the air and do the same.

At bath time you can sing "this is the way we wash our feet" and so on. After the bath you can clap her hands together and her feet too, and blow some raspberries on her tummy :)

Keep on keeping on!
You'll find that many of these newborn babies' games will come in handy for the months to come.

Children up to the age of three or even four still delight in many of these activities and will relish their familiarity - and they have you to thank for nurturing them in such a fun way!

Newborn babies can be so loveable and yet so frustrating. It's easy to imagine that they are in a world of their own, not paying much attention to you - apart from when they want their feed.