Playing with newborn babies

Time to Play!

After nine months of great expectations and wondering what your child is going to be like, the time is finally here! Now is the time for feeding, diaper changing, cuddling, and some fun tummy games with your new baby. Playing with your baby helps with with mental development and emotional health while building a strong bond with parents.

0-3 Months
Your newborn is doing much more than just sleeping, eating, and crying. He is learning and absorbing new things every day. It is important to keep it simple the first three months. Choose toys that are easy to grab and made with different materials and textures. It is easier for newborns to see high-contrast colors and patterns. Also it is important to give your baby one toy at time. Alternate toys and keep it fresh, you don't want to overstimulate your baby and allow them to get bored with their collection of toys quickly. You can always set aside some of their toys to reintroduce them at a later time. As your baby grows they will discover new aspects of their toys that they were too young to notice before! Here are some games we recommend playing with your newborn:

TICKLE, TICKLE, BEE!

• Start by gently placing your baby on his back. Now form a "bee" by pinching your index finger against your thumb.
• Now for the fun part: Start moving your bee above your baby in large, swooping circles while saying in a high pitched voice, "buzz, buzz, buzz...the bee is going to tickle you!"
• Buzz your bee around baby's tummy, almost landing, before rising again. Your little one will love the suspense!
• Now land your bee on baby's belly and give him a tickle, tickle!

*This game will help develop your baby's eye coordination.

TUMMY FUN

• Start by lying on your back and placing baby on your stomach (your babies tummy resting against yours).
• With your face just inches from hers, gaze into their eyes and start to sing, talk or make sounds. This will encourage your baby to lift her head so she can see where the sounds are coming from.
• As your baby grows, spice up the game a bit by gently rubbing her back in a circular motion. This stimulates the muscles your baby uses to hold up her head and push up with her arms
• Another idea: Place your baby on the floor on her tummy. Hold a toy in front of her at eye level. Now slowly lift the toy upward, which will encourage your baby to lift her head.

*This game helps develop your babies neck and arm strength - which helps pave the way for big milestones such as rolling over and crawling.

TOUCH

• Feed your baby's curiosity by giving her lost of interesting textures to touch and feel. Just gather some fabrics from around the house (like a soft washcloth) and a few things from outdoors (leaves or flowers).
• Now gently caress your baby's skin with these items. Some ideas: Tickle her toes with flower petals, brush her arms with soft grass, or rub a leaf against her hand.
• You can also use cotton, silk scarves, or anything safe and appropriate for your baby skin. And of course DO NOT let the baby put any of the items in her mouth.

*This game will help to boost babies sense of touch.

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Preparing your nursery for baby...

Paint and wall paper is one of the fastest and easiest ways to create a mood in your child’s nursery. Light colors are calming; bright colors create energy. Sometimes a nursery acts as both a bedroom and a playroom, so it’s important to consider what colors to use. Also, if you think another child might inherit the room, steer clear from gender-specific palettes. Along with painting the walls, you have the option of using decal stickers to create a theme.

Conventional Paint

When deciding on which paint brand to use, remember to take into consideration that most commercially produced paints include significant amount of volatile organic compound, or VOCs. These chemicals are what keep the paint wet while in the can and speeds up the drying process. VOCs are bad for our health and can lead to kidney and liver damage. If exposed in smaller doses, VOCs can cause dizziness, disorientation, loss of muscle control, and irregular heartbeat. Even if you don’t plan on repainting, check what’s on your walls. Older homes may still have lead present and can pose a serious hazard to your little ones.

Natural Paint

The great thing about living in today’s world is that many companies now produce beautiful nontoxic and zero-VOC paint. Paints and other products are now available that are manufactured from trees and plant oils, resins and herbal extracts, minerals and vegetables pigments, citrus-peel thinners and beeswax. You can even nowadays find food-based aromatherapy paint, with aromas like fresh lemons or vanilla.

With all the options and choices to pick from I don’t see why not have a little with your nursery. The underlying purpose of a nursery is to provide a stimulating environment for children learning, brain development, provide opportunities for exposure to new materials, and support children in helping them become capable and balanced in their activities. The goal is to have children gain an understanding of their world, achieve enriched development and be eager learners for the rest of their lives.

Extra Precautions

Unless the paint of your choice is 100% nontoxic or zero-VOCs, you shouldn’t really paint while pregnant. If possible paint when the expecting mother is not home. Most importantly, paint several months before the baby is due. You never know, your baby may come early and nobody wants to bring a baby home to a house filled with paint fumes.

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