Activities for a New Baby
Stimulate and Care for your New Baby's Development
Use activities and soothing music to stimulate your newborn baby's development.
You have waited nine months to see your baby and your baby has spent nine months in the womb growing and preparing to see you. Now that you are home with your newborn you want to provide the stimulation, nurturing and care that she will need to adjust to life outside the womb.
Developing the Sense of Love
For a newborn infant, developing love and trust is one of the most basic and important needs. Even as a new parent providing the activities to meet this need will come quite naturally. You easily provide your baby with a sense of love and trust by spending soothing time with her. Cradling her while she eats, telling her stories, rocking her while singing a lullaby or simply holding her so that she hears your heartbeat let her know that she is loved and she also develops a trust that you will provide for her.
Developing the Sense of Sight
Newborns also need to experience the world around them. Your baby will need to see and hear the world around her. To help stimulate her vision, provide colorful patterned crib sheets and black-and-white patterned designs in her room. Babies are more drawn to patterns, especially in black-and-white. Providing these eye-catchers will help to support your baby’s vision. You can also go for walks, even around the house, while holding your baby on your shoulder. This allows her to look at objects around her. Stay for a while near something interesting to let her get a good look at different objects. When your baby is one month old she will begin focusing on objects longer and maitaining eye contact with you.
Developing the Sense of Sound
You can help stimulate her sense of hearing by singing to her or playing soothing music for her during the day. A fun game to play is the rattle game. Take a rattle or bell and shake it near one side of your baby’s head keeping it just out of her line of vision. Soon, you will notice that she will turn towards the sound.
Avoid Over Stimulating
Though you want to help your newborn learn, be careful not to over-stimulate her. Over-stimulation can cause your baby to experience stress. Arching her back, crying, yawning and sneezing can be signs that your baby needs to be comforted after her social interactions. If your baby is over-stimulated take her to a calm room or quiet corner and settle in for some quality comfort time. Rock her, gently stroke her, sing or talk to her and hold her so she can hear your heart beat with the love you have for her.
