Parents will agree that there’s nothing better than a healthy happy baby. As a parent of an infant, your job is to make sure they are cared for each day. That's a lot easier said than done some days. Sometimes what is seen as the simple task of keeping your baby entertained is incredibly difficult. It’s not like they can use words to tell you what they want, so it’s a bit of a guessing game.
We’re here to help with some baby decoding if you will. We’ve got five fabulous ways to keep your baby entertained and happy. You can cycle through this as often as needed, making sure it never gets stale for your little one.
Tummy Time Is Both Fun and Beneficial for Development
Tummy time is an example of a double whammy in terms of benefits. Babies will get a chance to play and stay entertained while working on physical development. There is no shortage of tummy time-style mats that have hanging teethers, mirrors, rattles, and other such toys for babies to play with. This can make tummy time more engaging, but they aren’t necessary.
If you don’t want to purchase a dedicated tummy time mat, just lay a clean blanket out on the floor and put a variety of toys within reach. Your little one can then grab whatever catches their eye.
When a baby gets tummy time they will be working on their arm, shoulder, and neck muscles. These muscles all need to be strengthened before they can start to crawl. The amount of tummy time given is based on your baby's age. Babies under two months should be given two three to five-minute sessions daily. Once they are older than two months, you can aim for a daily maximum of 30 minutes.
The final tip for tummy time is to make sure they are wearing something comfortable that makes it possible to move around. Lounge suits are perfect since they are often lightweight, have a relaxed fit, and allow for maximum movement.
Reading Can Start at a Very Young Age
One of the best things you can do for your baby is read to them. This can and should be started immediately. Just be sure you’ve got a selection of age-appropriate books ready to go once your baby is born.
Look for relatively short books, that allow you to use expression in your voice, have plenty of brightly coloured pictures, and may have different textures your baby can feel. Because they won’t have the fine motor skills to feel the book on their own, you can run their hand over the different objects. As they develop with age, they will start doing it on their own.
Singing Can Be Done Any Time and Anywhere
Sometimes you don’t have an arsenal of books and baby-friendly toys on hand, but you need to keep your little one entertained. Singing is a very convenient activity that doesn’t require any other items or gear. It doesn’t have to be an established children’s song, you can get creative and make the lyrics up. Babies can’t help but be in awe when people start singing. When you get a smile out of them you know they’re engaged and entertained.
Help Your Baby to Develop Their Voice
Babies are known for babbling and this is something you want to encourage. Babbling is the first step in learning how to make specific sounds, which then turn into words later on. You can babble along with them, or provide them with prompts. By sounding out letters, and words, your baby will start to learn through repetition and eventually do it on their own.
When teaching them words, make sure to point to the item it corresponds with. For example, when you teach them, mommy or daddy, point to who you mean. Use this same approach with the family pet, clothing, food, things you see while out walking, and so forth. You’ll be amazed how quickly they learn, and how entertained it will keep them.
Sensory Play Is Very Important for Babies
Our final tip is to include sensory play. This is a pretty big umbrella term and refers to any activity that uses your baby’s senses. The senses include touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. As long as the activity fits into one of these categories, it will be beneficial for your little one. Parents can make sensory play stations or buy toys meant to encourage sensory exploration.
A Happy Baby Makes for a Happy Home
There’s no question that a happy baby makes for a happy home. These engaging activities will keep them entertained and can even help them to build foundational developmental skills. Don’t forget, variety will be important. Activities can be done in short bursts before moving on to the next one. As your baby starts to get a bit older, their attention span will last longer and the activity can then be stretched out.