Playing with your baby, from birth to 6 months.

Young babies are so dependent on mom and dad, pretty much all they do on their own is sleep, eat, poop and pee. But even at this early stage, you should connect with them and engage them in play.

Play makes babies learn about the world around them, and play is what builds strong connections with you.

So how do you play with a tiny human being that just lays down wherever you put him? We have some suggestions.

Babies develop fast. One day they only go from quiet to crying. The next day, they suddenly discover their hands and feet. Then they start reaching and grasping. Playing with your baby will make you learn a lot about his personality and temperament. If you have had more than one, you know how wonderfully different two children can be.

Infants have different likes and dislikes. They vary in thresholds for physical activity, noise and stimulation. My son enjoyed being rocked as I sat on a rocking chair, while my daughter liked to be bounced while I’d gently bob up-and-down on a core ball.

What do all babies like? You! Babies like it when mom or dad sings and talks to them. They love spending time with people who love them. Here are a few specific activities you can do during those moments of love-at-play:

Peekaboo!

When your baby learns to recognize your face, peekaboo games are always a hit. There is good reason why peekaboo is a classic baby game. There’s nothing more comforting to a baby than his mom or dad’s presence. He loves seeing you smile and make funny faces. When you add the now-you-see-me now-you-don’t dynamic, it takes the fun to a whole different level.

Peekaboo is also their first lesson in object-permanence – that mommy can disappear, but she also comes back.

There are many peekaboo variations. Have fun with it. One kind both my kids really loved was peekaboo under the bed sheets.

Bicycling

While baby is on his back, move his legs back and forth as if he was pedaling a bicycle. The scissors motion is another variation. Move his feet to the beat of a song. Change tempo and rhythm with a variety of tunes, sing it yourself or play your favorite CD. It doesn’t have to be Barney! Expose baby to your favorite music. Tell him “these are your feet and toes.” Show him his legs and get him started on lessons about body parts.

Dance!

Another playtime activity my kids loved when they were young babies was to be carried around while I danced to some child-friendly music. Like I said, it doesn’t have to be saccharine-sweet kids’ tunes that annoy you. Choose something from your own playlist – just avoid heavy rock or x-rated lyrics.

Who knows, you may continue to bond with your child over music even during those crazy teen years…. Happy play time!

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