3 Creative And Cost-free Activities To Bond With Your Newborn

Looking for new ways to entertain your baby? Fortunately, all you need is loving attention and some basics. Baby City is the best place in South Africa to get discounts and stimulate play in your baby.

Try these 3 creative and cost-free activities to bond with your newborn depending on age:

From birth to 3 months

• Puppet play: make a hand puppet out of a sock. Move it up and down and back and forth where your baby can see it, doing a silly little dance and singing silly songs.

• Free dance: dance gently with your baby leaning on your shoulder. He'll love the movement and, at the same time, learn to tolerate the light pressure against his tummy.

• Patting: hold your baby's hands and have them clap their hands to play pat-a-cake.

From 4 to 6 months

• Finger play: hold your baby's foot up and wiggle each toe in circles while teaching the classic “This little toe bought an egg” verse.

• Rider: sit on the floor with baby on your knees elevated. While holding him, move your legs as if he were a trotting horse and sing “To Paris.” When you say “At a gallop,” slide your feet forward!

• Crocodile Rock: hold the baby securely, with the tummy against your chest. Rock the body from side to side and sing a song like “Row, row, row”.

From 7 to 9 months

• Fly the moon: gently lift your baby above your head and lower him while playing or singing a song like Fly the Moon. If your child seems fearful, move more slowly and talk to him in a calm, soothing voice.

• So long, crocodile: with baby sitting facing you, hide a rattle under a blanket or behind your back. Shake the rattle, leaving it hidden, and watch what happens. If the baby loses interest when the toy is hidden, reveal a part of the rattle and ask, “Where is the toy?”

• If the hat fits: sit in front of the baby, put on a colorful hat and say, “Look! I put on a hat. Then take it off and say, “I take my hat off.” Next, put on and take off your baby's hat. Encourage your baby to grab the hat to continue playing.

From 10 to 12 months

• Bop baby: sit your baby on the floor, legs far enough apart to place a medium-sized ball between them. Show the baby how to roll the ball toward you and then roll it back to you.

• Marching: while you are seated, stand the baby on your thighs. Hold your hips and slowly make stepping motions, raising and lowering your legs, one at a time.

• You light up my life: shine a flashlight on a wall. Once your baby sees the light, slowly move it from one side of the room to the other, up and down to encourage her to follow you with her eyes.

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