Baby Play (Lu 0-5 mos old)

I've been meaning to do a post on baby play as I know I have some readers with infants. It can be challenging to find activities for your little ones, and I hope to be able to help. 

 L is 5 months old, and we began these activities when she was just born (as you'll see later in the post).

Water play. Of course, L is always, always supervised while near water. As well as the rest of my family - no matter the age of the child. 

I got these sponges at the dollar store ... they must taste yummy! 

Feeling the water - excellent sensory experience. "You're touching the water. It's warm, isn't it?" 

"Splash! You seem to really like splashing." 

"You  have the pink sponge. You put it in your mouth!" 

"Now you have the yellow sponge - it's full of water. You squeezed it and now you're all wet!" 

:) 

Soaking wet lol. I was going to do this activity outside. S wanted to make some necklaces, so we stayed in while she worked close by. 

Here we played with animals. We explained to her what the animals' names were, what they looked like, etc. Yes, the horse was a strange addition by my son, but she didn't mind! 

She loved looking at the animals and playing with them (aka biting them). However, I know she was absorbing our words and communication.

Exploring colors during tummy time. 

She was just about ready to start reaching for things during tummy time here. 

Exploring blocks with mirrors during tummy time. 

At this stage, she loved knocking things down. 

Mirrors just added a new element to the play for her. (It's an acrylic mirror.) 

More knocking down towers!! 

Great fun for a 3 month old and a 2 yr old at the same time! 

From day one of tummy time we've incorporated mirrors. 

She's only about 3 weeks old here. 

She has great family rooting her on during tummy time. 

Mirrors while reading books. Such nice cousins to read to her. 

And she plays doctor - she makes an excellent patient. 

She just lays there, and listens and laughs as the girls talk to her about her temperature, her broken bones, etc. She's soaking in every bit of communication. Since language development is so crucial from 0-3 yrs old, we'll just tell Lu everything we did together that day if we have nothing else to talk about. 

Bubbles! "Look at those round bubbles. When you touch them they pop!"

"You're reaching out to touch the bubbles. Pop, pop!" I loved this. It was just Lu and I while D took a nap. She really enjoyed it!

Bubble machines are so fun outside and inside. They're fun when you're playing, or taking a bath. The best thing is, if you're child has older siblings, it's fun for them too!

A few more that I do with my babies:

A big ball, and helping baby roll (safely/gently) up, and then back down to feet.

Water beads in a bucket under exersaucer - a sensory experience for her feet.

Yogurt play on high chair tray. Smear it around and eat with hands!

Lotion massage. I try to do this every night with both of my children (after bath or before bed). It's great for language development too. Put it on their elbow and tell them that! Put it on their knees and tell them, "I'm putting lotion on your knees. Are your knees ticklish? Yes!"

 

♥