As a parent or caregiver, it’s important to keep your baby engaged and stimulated while at home. Here are 25 activities that are perfect for infants:
1. Explore textures with jelly: Fill a shallow tray with jelly and let your baby touch and squish it. This sensory activity is great for developing their tactile skills.
2. Give baby a massage: Use baby-safe oil or lotion to gently massage your baby’s body. This can help with relaxation, bonding, and promoting healthy development.
3. Make and play with sensory bottles: Fill empty water bottles with different materials like rice, beads, or water. Seal them tightly and let your baby shake and explore the different sounds and textures.
4. Make salt dough hand and footprints: Mix together salt, flour, and water to create a dough. Press your baby’s hands and feet into the dough to make imprints. You can then bake or air-dry the dough for a keepsake.
5. Blow bubbles, and let baby pop them! Babies love watching bubbles float around, and popping them can be a fun and engaging activity.
6. Finger puppet play: Use finger puppets or simply use your fingers to create characters and put on a mini puppet show for your baby. This can help develop their visual tracking skills.
7. Make and play with edible finger paint: Mix together baby-safe food coloring and yogurt or mashed fruits to create edible finger paint. Let your baby explore and create art with their fingers.
8. Have all-important tummy time: Place your baby on their tummy for short periods throughout the day. This helps strengthen their neck and back muscles and prepares them for crawling.
9. Sing nursery rhymes: Singing to your baby not only entertains them but also helps with language development and bonding.
10. Read board books: Choose age-appropriate board books and read to your baby. This helps promote language skills and a love for books.
11. Explore different fabrics: Give your baby different pieces of fabric to touch and explore. They will enjoy the different textures and colors.
12. Play with stacking cups: Stack and knock down cups to help your baby develop their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
13. Play peek-a-boo: Cover your face with your hands or a blanket and then remove it, saying “peek-a-boo!” This game helps develop object permanence and can lead to lots of giggles.
14. Play with sensory bags: Fill a ziplock bag with colorful water, hair gel, or other materials and seal it tightly. Let your baby explore the different textures and colors by squishing the bag.
15. Play with soft toys: Provide soft toys for your baby to explore and cuddle. They will enjoy the different textures and shapes.
16. Dance to music: Hold your baby and sway or dance to music. This helps with their gross motor development and can be a fun bonding activity.
17. Play with a baby-safe mirror: Place a baby-safe mirror in front of your baby and let them explore their reflection. This can help with their self-awareness and visual tracking skills.
18. Play with a ball: Roll or gently toss a soft ball to your baby. This helps develop their hand-eye coordination and tracking skills.
19. Play with water: Fill a shallow basin with warm water and let your baby splash and explore. Always supervise your baby during water play.
20. Go for a nature walk: If weather permits, take your baby for a walk in a stroller or carrier and point out different sights and sounds in nature.
21. Play with homemade sensory bags: Fill ziplock bags with different materials like rice, beans, or sand. Seal them tightly and let your baby squish and explore the textures.
22. Play with soft blocks: Introduce soft blocks for your baby to stack and knock down. This helps with their hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness.
23. Play with kitchen utensils: Give your baby safe kitchen utensils like wooden spoons or metal bowls to explore and make noise with.
24. Have a mini obstacle course: Set up a safe and age-appropriate obstacle course using pillows, cushions, and soft toys. Help your baby navigate through it to encourage their gross motor skills.
25. Enjoy cuddle time: Sometimes, the best activity for your baby is simply to cuddle and snuggle with them. This helps with bonding and provides a sense of security.
Remember to always supervise your baby during these activities and ensure that they are safe and age-appropriate. Enjoy these precious moments with your little one!