When you’re a new mom, you will probably feel overwhelmed and exhausted. Playing with your baby may be the very last thing on your mind, and I don’t blame you! But eventually, that feeling that you are trying to take a sip from a fire hydrant will go away and you’ll be left wondering what you’re supposed to do all day with a baby. If you’re coming from a full time job, with a busy schedule and a never-ending list of things to do, staying home all day with a baby will feel like a shock to the system. Suddenly all your urgent ‘To Do’ lists are gone and in their place is a child who can really only entertain themselves for a few minutes at a time.
I wanted to be intentional about interacting and playing with our daughter each day, but I had no idea where to start. So, I read a lot (because I’m a nerd), talked to a few more experienced moms, and came up with a pretty good list in my head of ways to play with a baby. Then when we had time set aside to play, I forgot every single thing on my mental list (Mommy Brain is real, you guys!).
It was helpful for me to create a list of 50 Ways to Play with Your Baby. I thought I’d share it with all of you, just in case any of you are stuck in the mommy brain haze.
Now, I don’t want you to think that I have this perfect, Stepford life where I spend my whole day catering to my daughter’s every whim. Obviously there are chores that need be done and my baby has fallen into the natural rhythm of our family, but there are times (that sweet spot of 15 minutes three times a day when she’s not eating, not sleeping, not crying – just happy) when I can glance through the list and pick a fun activity for us to complete that day.
- Read books
- Make shadow puppets
- Pay Peek-a-Boo
- Sing and dance to a Pandora radio station (I created one that I love based on “Under the Sea” and my husband’s favorite is “Monster’s, Inc.”)
- Make shadow puppets
- Go on a walk
- Tell a story with finger puppets
- Mommy and Me Low Impact Cardio YouTube Video
- Wave ribbons, scarves, or scraps of fabric through the air
- Find new books at the library
- Act out a book
- Go to a free trial class (places like The Little Gym or Gymboree usually offer a free class on your first visit)
- Roll a ball
- Play in the grass
- Songs with Gestures YouTube Video
- Put water on their high chair tray
- Turn off most of the lights and play with a flashlight
- Make up a story
- Blow bubbles outside while baby sits on a blanket
- Check out your local library or book store’s Story Time
- Put on your swimsuit and take a bath together
- Make faces in a mirror
- After bath, put a few towels on the floor and them roll around *ahem* uninhibited by clothes
- Play Tug-a-War with a washcloth
- Exercise with your baby – they will probably giggle if you kiss them in between each push up!
- Put messy food like yogurt or applesauce on their high chair tray and let them explore textures.
- Make an obstacle course with pillows, blankets, couch cushions, and laundry baskets
- Make a ball pit in their Pack n’ Play or an empty kiddie pool
- Sing songs with actions (This Old Man, Itsy Bitsy Spider)
- Find a baby friendly play space at a local mall, church, or library
- Make a simple DIY Flannelgraph by gluing felt to a piece of cardboard, then cut shapes in colorful felt and make up stories
- Walk around the house pointing out and talking about different items
- Put plastic containers or empty boxes in a low cabinet or drawer – older babies will love taking everything out of the drawer
- Practice eating bananas
- Get down on your stomach during tummy time – smile and talk with your baby
- Make up a song
- Swing at the park – either in the baby swing or on your lap
- Roll around on the bed
- Mom & Baby Yoga YouTube Video
- Stack soft blocks for them to knock down
- Fold laundry – you can brush something over their head, talk about what you’re folding, and let them ‘help’ by chewing on a bib!
- Give them a bath – sing songs and splash around
- Walk through a store or the mall talking about what you see
- Practice rolling over, crawling, or walking across the room
- Songs with Movement YouTube Video
- Play pat-a-cake
- Go into your closet and the your baby feel the different textures (soft, silky, embellished)
- Play drums with wooden spoons
- Look through a photo album and talk about family members
- Put paint in a plastic bag for mess-free finger painting
Of course this list isn’t complete, these are 50 Ways to Play with Your Baby, but there are hundreds more ways to play with your infant – what are some of your favorites?
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Great list! My girls loved when I would sing to them.