As you move throughout your early days, you will likely find yourselves talking, singing, and making instinctive verbal and expressive responses to your baby. These are all wonderful ways of caring for and helping your baby develop in the early days, weeks, and months of your baby's life. Today, we're sharing expanded, but equally simple, ways you can interact with and help your baby thrive in the first three months of life.
The following ideas are based on the "Positive Parenting Tips" list from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. Think of this list not as a recipe you have to follow with precision, but suggestions for meaningful ways to interact with your baby.
Talk - Even though your baby can't yet speak (in words), they do love to hear the voices of their caregivers. Spend time talking to your baby throughout the day, even if it's just narrating through a diaper change.
"Mirror"/Respond - When your baby makes sounds or facial expressions, mirror back their sounds and expressions, or respond as if you were in a back-and-forth conversation. This is part of their building blocks for learning language. Plus, babies love to look at your face!
Read - Reading to your baby from a very early age also helps with language, even though they don't yet know things like why a fox wearing socks is funny. Pick a few board books and rotate reading them to baby when they are awake, alert, and not hungry.
Sing/Play Music - There is a proven link between music and brain development, so even if you think you can't carry a tune, sing to your baby, play music, or do both!
Praise/Attention - Giving your baby attention through words of praise or simply watching/gazing at your baby is good for development and bonding.
Cuddle/Hold/Touch - Touch is critical for ALL humans, and especially for babies. Skin-to-skin touch is ideal, but if that's not possible, holding, touch, massage, snuggles -- all are welcome and beneficial for your baby.
Play - All of the above ideas for interaction actually also count as "play" time for a baby this young. In addition, you can do things like hand motion songs (think Itsy Bitsy Spider), getting down on the floor with baby, showing baby pictures or toys, and providing different textures for baby to feel.
As you spend this time with your new baby, remember that simple interactions go a long way. This is a good news for a sleep deprived parent! Remember too, that one of the most important ways you can take care of your baby is to take care of yourself first, physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you're not in a place to be able to care for yourself in these ways, call in support via friends/family and professionals.
Tags
Infant Development Infant Play Early parenting Early child development 0-3 Months