Newborn activities: Fostering baby’s development
Bonding with your newborn can be a bit bewildering, but we've got expert tips on what to do in the early days.
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So you successfully brought baby home from the hospital—or will soon!—driving approximately six miles per hour. Now what? Bonding with your newborn can be a bit bewildering as you two figure each other out. As far as newborn activities go, beyond all the sleeping, feeding and diaper changing, lots of snuggling and skin-to-skin time may be your top priorities. But you can also start boosting baby’s brain and sensory development from day 1 in the things you already do, like talking and showing affection.
While your baby may not yet have gotten the memo that nighttime is for sleeping, what they do know is you. According to Tovah Klein, PhD, director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development and author of “How Toddlers Thrive,” even during the very first month your newborn can recognize your voice and smell. They’ll even turn their head toward you when they hear you speak. Here’s how to boost your bond and your little one’s growing brain through a few low-key newborn developmental activities you can do together.
Related: What are the best ways to stimulate baby brain development?
Sensory activities for newborns
While it may seem like newborns are only capable of sleeping, crying and generating lots of laundry, there are simple things you can do to stimulate their newly forming senses.
To build a strong bond from the get-go, Dr. Klein shares a few low-lift tips with high reward—perfect for those bleary-eyed days when everyone’s sleep-deprived.
1. Talk to your baby
Whenever you’re doing something with your baby, tell them all about it. “Now mama is changing your diaper. You’ll feel so much better with a dry diaper, won’t you?” Not only are these words soothing, but the more they hear you talk, the easier it will be for them to learn intonation, vocabulary and other language tools that are key for future communication.
2. Offer lots of comfort
Always go to your crying baby. Sometimes a newborn just wants to be held closely and cuddled, or simply needs to know you are there. Sucking on a pacifier or your clean pinkie finger also helps ease fussiness and is actually good for helping their brain grow in the first few months.
3. Make eye contact
If you look right at your baby’s face, they’ll look right back at you. This helps them get to know you—and helps develop their eyesight by giving them something to focus on.
Related: Science proves there’s no such thing as ‘spoiling’ a baby, mama
Developmental activities for newborns
In the early days, newborn babies need lots and lots of sleep, and their wake windows are pretty short. In the times in between naps and feeding, here are a few newborn developmental activities to add to your roster.
Related: Newborn sleep patterns: What to expect and when to rest
1. Starting tummy time
Starting with just a few minutes, try placing your little love tummy-down on a flat surface to help them build up more trunk, neck and head control. Their reward for completing the challenge? Lots of snuggles!
2. Reading aloud
Even newborns can benefit from read-aloud time. Beyond the board books, try reading baby some poetry, the newspaper, a magazine, a novel or whatever you’re in the middle of. They just want to hear your sweet voice, mama.
3. Making time for massage
Infant massage has been shown to support weight gain in babies and promote increased pain reduction, improved alertness and better immune system function.1Juneau AL, Aita M, Héon M. Review and Critical Analysis of Massage Studies for Term and Preterm Infants. Neonatal Netw. 2015;34(3):165-177. doi:10.1891/0730-0832.34.3.165 Massage also can help boost bonding and your sense of parenting confidence, too.
Things to do with a newborn
Try these week-by-week tips from child development psychologist, Dr. Holly Ruhl.
Week 1: Lullabies and snuggles
Baby heard your voice in the womb and will love listening to you sing lullabies. Skin-to-skin snuggles promote bonding and baby’s health. But when you need a break, ask visitors to cuddle with baby so you can rest peacefully.
Related: 5 important reasons to practice postpartum rest, according to a midwife
Week 2: Go tummy-down
It’s never too soon to start that tummy time. This week, let your babe lie on that squishy little belly for three to five minutes a few times each day to work out that tiny upper body. Baby should always be sleeping on their back, so make sure your little love gets plenty of tummy time during the day to prepare for crawling, an important skill for developing spatial awareness and advanced motor skills.
Week 3: Find a mom’s group
If cabin fever is setting in, look for a new mom’s group for you and your new bundle. This week, check with local hospitals for “mommy mixers” designed to connect new moms seeking encouragement in those tough first weeks. Friend and community support are related to more satisfaction for new moms. Plus, other mamas offer wise advice—and may become fast friends.
Related: 3 things your doctor might not tell you about postpartum
Week 4: Start sensory play
Your little bub’s senses will rapidly develop during the first several months. This week, promote visual development with a high-contrast toy, as newborns see in black and white. Entertain baby with high-pitched songs and conversation, as those are preferred to lower pitches. Nurturing the senses now means baby will be equipped for more fun in the upcoming months.
Our favorite products for newborns
Look ahead: Activities for an 1-month-old: Fostering baby’s development
A version of this story was originally published on Nov. 24, 2015. It has been updated.
Source(s)
- 1Juneau AL, Aita M, Héon M. Review and Critical Analysis of Massage Studies for Term and Preterm Infants. Neonatal Netw. 2015;34(3):165-177. doi:10.1891/0730-0832.34.3.165
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