Every month of your baby’s first-year is full of surprises. From their first smile to the first steps, each one brings a new surprise. Your child’s developmental needs will change as they grow. Finding fun activities that nurture your baby’s growth is essential. What was exciting in month two may seem a bit dated by month six. Play is more than just entertainment for your children. It’s a crucial part of their development. From building confidence, to helping them understand how the world functions, to strengthening parent-child bonds.
We’ve created a list of fun activities for your baby that are tailored to the month in which they’re growing.
Why is it important to play with babies?
Play is essential for the development of babies’ cognitive, sensory and motor skills, as well as their social, emotional and language abilities. Play promotes an holistic approach to education, allowing children to discover and explore the world while having fun.
Simply put, babies and young kids learn most through play. Playing helps babies develop their executive functions, which are essential for learning. Play can also help to develop resilience, self-control, and attention.
What do babies learn from their parents? A primer for parents
What is developmental play?
Play activities that promote development directly contribute to the achievement of developmental milestones, including head and neck control and communication skills. Tummy time can be a great developmental activity for infants to improve specific skills and promote overall growth.
You could set up an obstacle course indoors for your child to crawl through. Or you could help them clean their dolls’ teeth. The development of motor skills, cognitive thinking and communication, along with social and emotional growth, are all enhanced by developmental activities.
What is sensory play?
Sensory play can contribute to developmental milestones. Sensory play is any type of play which engages a child’s senses. Sensory play is usually centered around the sense of touch. For example, playing with playdough, or using a table filled with water, can be considered sensory play.
Sensory play has many benefits, from improving communication and language to enhancing critical thinking. Sensory play allows your child to integrate sensory inputs into their brain and supports their cognitive, social, and physical growth. Your 4-month-old might be able to identify the colors in the leaves, while your 7-month old sings “Bingo” or your 11-month child can experiment with finger paint (that is washable). These are all examples of sensory games.
Sensory play for children of all ages: Benefits and activities.
Baby Activities by Month
Activities for 1 month old
You’re still a newbie and your little one is learning about the world. You are their favorite teacher and guide. You should focus on giving them lots and lots of love and attention, and responding to their wants and needs. That’s the only thing newborns need to do in the first month. But if you really want to maximize those few wake window, then try these tips.
Have a conversation: Tell your baby what you do every day, such as making tea or going on a walk to look at trees. Even diaper changes are interesting to babies if they hear you talking about them.
Copycat: Make fun facial expressions that your baby can imitate. For example, wrinkle your nose, stick out your tongue, and smile. Can they copy you?
Tummy time. Lay your baby on its stomach while sitting, and they will know that you are right there. Then, progress to a play mat that has black and white graphic toys or books for the baby to flip through.
What to do with your baby after 1 month?
Massage can help improve the relationship between parents and their infants, relieve stress and reduce crying. A massage before bedtime can also promote sleep and relaxation, which could lead to a few more winks.
Related: Activities for 1-month-olds: Promoting baby’s growth
Activities for 2-month-olds
As you learn more about your baby, they are also learning more about yourself. Activities that encourage connection and communication will help you to strengthen your bond and attachment.
Sing a song. Your child will benefit by hearing you sing sweet songs or lullabies as you go about your day. Whether cooking, driving, doing the dishes, or getting ready to bed, your little one can hear your voice and learn rhythm and music.
Stretch out your baby’s body: Help them stretch their arms wide by clapping their hands and encouraging them to reach out. Move their legs gently like they are pedaling a bike to create movement.
Reading time can help strengthen parent-child relations and improve language skills. It will also encourage your baby’s love for books.
What to do with your baby when he is 2 months old?
Babywearing your infant during the day will help to reduce crying and promote comfort. Babywearing can be done while doing other chores, taking care of children or going for a walk outside. Baby will be able to sleep better if you wear him for naps. He will also enjoy the extra skin-to -skin touch.
Related: Activities for a 2-month-old baby: Promoting development
Three-month-old activities
You’ll find that your baby is much more alert and awake during the day, which should translate into longer sleep stretches at night. You’ll have more time between feedings to do some fun activities with your baby.
Play back-and-forth: If someone smiles at you, smile back. Make the same sound if they coo. This sensory game helps to lay the foundations for future emotional development, receptive speech and cause-and-effect.
Tummy Time 2.0: Are you ready to take your baby up a notch? Encourage your baby to continue building strength by placing a nearby toy that is just out-of-reach. Will they reach up and grab it?
Name it: Help them build their vocabulary by pointing out their body parts, naming them and helping them move them: “See that? It’s your elbow. “Look how it bends.”
What to do with your baby when he is 3 months old?
Spending time outside with your baby can help you bond and improve both physical and mental well-being. Take your baby for a walk every day in the stroller. Keep the conversation going and label what you see in order to help build your child’s vocabulary.
Related: Activities for 3-month-olds: Promoting baby’s growth
Activities for 4 month-olds
Your baby may begin rolling at 4 months. They will also start putting things in their mouths and play the “game” where they throw toys on the floor to be picked up by you 36 times. Here are some more ideas.
Baby chef: Offer your child safe kitchen objects to explore, that aren’t toy, such as a wooden spoon or a silicone container for them to grasp, look at, and mouth.
Babys love to look at themselves in the mirror! When you point to the baby in the reflection, they’ll laugh and smile (because they don’t know that it’s themselves).
Roll a ball around the room to help your baby develop their hand-eye coordination. Even though they may not be able fully to participate, watching them play catch will be amazing.
What to do with your baby when he is 4 months old?
Have a dance-off. Turn the music up (put on your favorite playlist mama so you can get into it). While safely carrying your baby or wearing them, gently twirling is an exciting way to help develop their muscle tone, rhythm and spatial awareness.
Related: Activities for a four-month-old baby: Promoting the development of your child
5 month-old activities
Your 5-month-old’s bubbly personality is working to refine the skills he has learned thus far in preparation for him to sit up and start eating solid food. Playing in new ways will help to maintain progress.
Toy hide and seek: This mini version of hide-and -seek will delight your child: hide a small lovey or toy underneath a blanket with only one edge showing. When your child finds the toy and you’re happy with their success, ask them to hide it somewhere else.
Magic box: Fill a tissue box with small, baby-safe items, such as silk play scarves that can be pulled in and out. This will help develop their fine motor skills, and understanding of permanence.
Bubble up: Watch as your child focuses on the bubbles floating in the air (great for tracking eyesight) and reaches to touch or pop one. Discuss the size of bubbles with your child to encourage their visual discrimination.
What to do with your baby when he is 5 months old?
It can be very helpful to teach your child some baby sign language before they are able to speak. You can use the signs to communicate with your child.
Related: Activities for a five-month-old baby: Promoting the development of your child
Activities for 6 month-olds
This month, your growing lovebug will be working on a variety of new skills: sitting without assistance, eating solid food and making new noises.
Stacking blocks – Your baby will enjoy helping you build a tower and then knocking it all down. Find a set that is soft and easy for small hands to hold.
Play peek-aboo. Put your hands on your face, then ask “Where is Mama?” Remove them. This game teaches your baby that you can go away, but come back. It’s also a lot of fun!
Play with food: Are you ready to introduce solids? Another way to learn is by feeling the new food. Foods allow babies to explore textures, colors and smells. Food is a vital part of sensory development.
What to do with your baby when he is 6 months old?
This week, if your baby is able to sit up on his own, it may be time for bath time. You or your partner can bond with your child by bathing him every evening (with soap, every other night). Bathing before bedtime improves sleep, and provides an opportunity to sing songs or teach concepts such as “sink or float” or “wet or dried.”
Activities for a 6-month-old baby: Promoting development
7-month old activities
Babyproofing is a great idea for your 7-month old. He’s eager to move around and explore. You might be amazed at your baby’s growing abilities and how much they enjoy playing.
Indoor playground: Could you create a mini obstacle-course out of cushions that your baby can scoot in? You can send balls, cars or stacks of pillows over a couch cushion or use your hands to knock them down.
Face it, baby is obsessed with faces these days. We’re sure spotting some of their favorites will bring them great joy. Bring out your photo albums and name the people by pointing to their familiar faces.
Listen to your favorite soundtracks (Moana or Encanto, anyone?) and clap along. There are many opportunities to clap along with the music. Soon, your child may start to imitate you clapping!
What to do with your baby when he is 7 months old?
Baby classes with parents are a wonderful way to build your relationship with your child while simultaneously developing their socialization abilities. Can you teach them to play an instrument in a music class for babies or join them at storytimes at the library now that they can sit up on their own? Both of you might begin to enjoy your new weekly schedule.
Related: Activities for a 7-month old: Promoting baby’s growth
Eight-month-old activity
Today, there’s so much going on. From scooting to crawling! Separation anxiety can start as early as the first steps of scooting (or crawling!) It can be helpful to help your child adjust to the new caregivers after you leave. Once they start to feel more at ease, they will begin to play.
No-mess Art: Encourage your baby’s growing art skills by putting a piece paper in a resealable plastic bag. Add a few finger paint squirts inside. Demonstrate how you can use your fingers and the closed bag to blend the paint together.
Point and Tell: While reading a book, walking or doing your grocery shopping, point out to your child what you are noticing. Then tell them about it.
Mini maze: Create a maze in your living room with pillows and cushions. Then, have the children follow you around it. This is a cute version of ‘Follow the leader’ that will also improve their crawling/scooting abilities.
What to do with your baby when he is 8 months old?
You don’t have to be the cruise director of your little tot at this age. When possible, include your baby in the day. However, it is perfectly acceptable to do things for yourself while they are playing safely nearby.
Related: Activities for a 8-month old: Promoting baby’s growth
Activities 9 months old
Your 9-month old is learning to communicate in many new ways. You may see them raise their arms to be picked up or to protest when you leave. They might also clap to get your attention.
Name it: Talk about what your baby is pointing at or expressing when they are excited. “Yes, it’s a bird!” This helps them understand their meaning.
Set baby on the floor in a place that is not likely to make a mess. Use a baking tray and some measuring cups filled with flour. They can explore the texture by pouring flour from one cup into another. Can they create a mountain?
Treasure Hunt: Take your child outside to find some natural treasures like fluffy dandelions, bumpy pinecones and smooth stones.
What to do with your baby when he is 9 months old?
With your budding socialite, find a place to watch people. Observe social behaviors such as laughing and talking, or children and babies. You can have the perfect coffee date now that your baby is able to speak and follow you.
Related: Activities for 9-month olds: Promoting baby’s growth
10 month-old activities
This month, your busy baby is working to perfect their pincer grip and pull up to stand. Encourage your child to develop their skills by completing activities that will help them with both fine motor and gross motor skills.
The idea of tunnel vision is to use a large cardboard box with both ends open. This can create a fun crawling tunnel for your baby. Consider having your baby draw on the outside of the box to decorate it. Is it a rocket? Is it a boat? A boat?
Mini masterpiece: It’s worth it to sacrifice one pack of Post-Its in order to create this mini masterpiece. It will provide hours of entertainment and hand-eye coordination training. Show your baby how to unstick them and then stick them back on again.
Teddy picnic: Take a basket full of baby’s stuffed friends, along with a few favorite foods and snacks. Then, head to the park. Make it memorable by inviting a few friends in real life.
What to do with your baby when he is 10 months old?
You can join in the fun too: pretend to chat on the telephone (TV remotes and bananas make great phones!). You can join in the fun too. Pretend to talk on the phone (TV remotes or bananas work great as phones). You can feed pretend vegetables to the teddy of your child. Imagine yourself as an airplane zipping through the sky or a train chugging down the tracks.
Related: Activities for 10-month-olds: Promoting baby’s growth
Activities 11 months old
Your busy bee is preparing to take its first tentative steps by building up strength, coordination and balance. You’re their biggest cheerleader if you continue to encourage and support their progress.
Splash zone: Bathtime can also be fun. Encourage your baby to sort colorful bath toys and cups by color, and to pour water from one to the other.
As an example of dramatic playing, read aloud. Set up some favorite stuffies to create a storytime with your baby. Is lion a bit rowdy now? Baby bunny fell asleep? Help your tot keep everyone in line.
Playground date: At this age, your child loves to watch other children, particularly older ones. They might enjoy tossing a ball around or swinging on the baby swings in a park with another toddler or tot.
What to do with your baby when he is 11 months old?
Why not have a dance party with your 11-month-old baby? Choose some fun songs to help your child spin and move to. Don’t forget to include your favorite tunes, too. They will try to imitate your movements.
Related: Activities for an eleven-month-old baby: Promoting the development of your child
Twelve-month-old activity
Congratulations, mama! Your baby has turned one. Congratulations, mama! Your baby is one year old.
Color World: Have you brought out the crayons? Now that your child is old enough to use crayons to color, rather than chewing on them, it’s time to get them out. Your child can scribble, make lines and create fun artwork while learning the colors.
Bubble Party: Now that your child is more mobile, bubble play has a new level of excitement. Show them how they can blow air into the wand by squeezing their lips. They will also enjoy the tactile experience of popping the orbs.
Sticker story: While they may need some help peeling the sticker off its backing, they will love sticking on their favorite colorful characters to a piece paper or another surface. Use their newly acquired sticker skills to create cards that are signed and dated for holidays and birthdays.
What to do with your baby when he is 12 months old?
Dress up your baby by filling a small basket or box with some hats and scarves that you don’t wear often. Costumes can get you and your baby in the mood for pretend play, which is something that babies are just learning to do.