Newborn babies are a joy for a family, and when it comes to finding fun ideas at home with the newborn baby, there are lots of things you can do. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDCP, a three-month-old baby can reach certain milestones like social, emotional, language, physical, and cognitive development.
Between all those diaper chases and breastfeeding your baby to sleep, there are lots of fun ideas at home that you can perform with the newborn. For a newborn, every experience is fresh, and each activity gives them a chance to learn and bond with the little one. Repeating these choros will help to develop and bond with
In this article, we have outlined seven fun at-home ideas or activities for the little one.
1. Offer them FaceTime
This fun activity will help your newborn recognize faces and bond with you. Offering them FaceTime means getting close to them and allowing them to study your face. Studies show that by offering FaceTime, little ones can recognize faces much faster and long before they can distinguish between patterns or shapes.
When you go close to their faces, babies will focus on the parts of your face near them, giving them time to study and connect with you. This helps babies distinguish between social emotions.
According to studies, babies can mimic some of your facial expressions. A fun game can be getting close to your baby and sticking your tongue out slowly and repeatedly. They should be able to stick their tongues back at you as well. As they grow older, you can also mimic their sounds and facial expressions and laugh together, strengthening your bond.
2. Talking to your Baby
Talking to your newborn is a delightful part of their early development. Your voice is the most powerful tool for bending with the little one. This activity is comforting and stimulating, and it lays the foundation for future communication. Thus, talking plays a vital role in the development of the baby.
One of the fun at home ideas to bond with your newborn is by narrating your day. Although they may not even understand the words you say, they will learn the rhythm of your language and your comforting voice. You can narrate your daily routines and activities while changing your morning diaper. You can discuss what you are going to do the whole day.
3. Singing Lullabies
One of the best fun activities with a newborn baby is singing lullabies. Lullabies are a classic way to bond with a baby. Singing lullabies aids in the development of your baby’s memory. The gentle rhythm and soothing melody capture the baby’s attention, making it easier for them to connect with the tune.
Consider creating a routine where you sing classic lullabies like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” or “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.” Feel free to personalize the songs by incorporating your baby’s name. As you sing, gently rock your baby and maintain eye contact. These actions strengthen the emotional connection, keep the baby entertained, help your little one relax, and drift off to sleep.
4. Lots of Skin-to-Skin Time
Skin-to-skin time is another fun home activity for newborns that strengthens emotional bonds and promotes physical development. Studies state that skin-to-skin contact helps regulate body temperature and stabilizes heart and breathing patterns. It also reduces stress and supports breastfeeding.
This activity should begin immediately after birth to help settle the baby’s skin with the mother’s friendly bacteria and protect against infections. Not only mothers but also fathers can connect with their newborn babies through skin-to-skin contact. Skin-to-skin care is a natural way to connect with your baby and support better physical and developmental outcomes.
5. Bi-lateral Movement
Engaging in bi-lateral movement supports a newborn’s brain development and coordination. Bi-lateral movement activities promote fine motor skills like walking, jumping, and writing. These movements also aid in babies’ balance and coordination, which are important for their overall physical development.
Here are some ideas to incorporate bilateral movement for your newborn:
- Clapping Hands
- Leg Cycling
- Reaching for Toys
- Rolling Movements
- Touch Explorations
- Encouraging Head Turns
- Crawling and Scooting
6. Give them Visual Contact
Another important fun at-home idea with your newborn baby is giving them lots of visual contact. Visual contact, or eye contact, is crucial for brain development and emotional connection. It helps increase your baby’s sense of security and enhances emotional, and cognitive development. As babies start to grow, they begin to follow your gaze and exchange information with their eyes.
There are several ways to make visual contact with your newborn, such as:
- Holding the baby close and gazing into their eyes
- Making different facial expressions
- Sitting in front of a mirror with the baby and pointing out the best features of your face
- Moon mobiles in front of the babies
- Moving colorful toys in front of the baby and around the room
- Playing peekaboo by covering and uncovering your face with your hand
- Using bright-colored toys or flashcards to capture the baby’s attention and stimulate visual development
7. Give a Baby Massage
According to Allison Lorna Agwu, a physician from Johns Hopkins Medicine, massaging helps strengthen muscles and improve flexibility. A gentle touch and soothing strokes can help calm your baby and ease discomfort. Abdominal massage can also help relieve pain and promote better digestion for your little one.
Here are three key points to follow before you start massaging your baby:
- Find a quiet, warm room: Ensure the baby can relax without distractions.
- Use Natural and Baby-Safe Oils: Use oils such as coconut, mustard, olive, or grapeseed oil.
- Start with the baby’s Legs: Then move to the chest and tummy, arms and hands, face and head, and finally to the back and shoulders.
Avoid applying pressure to your baby’s head or neck. Stay calm and responsive during the massage, and enjoy this special time together.
Wrapping up
In this article, we have covered the top seven fun-at-home ideas for newborn babies. FaceTime helps develop a relationship, bi-lateral movement and baby massages support bone development and muscle movement, and singing lullabies provides comfort and joy. Talking to your newborn helps familiarize them with your voice.
Handling a newborn baby is a challenging job. If you find it difficult to perform these activities, you can always consult with Meaningful Beginnings. They have years of experience providing valuable consultation services to new mothers and families. Their popular courses and curriculum will help you learn more about child development. Meaningful Beginnings’ personalized approaches and daycare services are beneficial for child care and development.
