How to Pick the Perfect Stroller For Your Baby

 8 Easy Activities for Baby's First Year

Your newborn has been home from the hospital for about a week now, and you’re eager to spend some quality time with him or her. You want to play with your baby, but aren’t sure what activities are best in those first few months of life. 

Luckily, there are plenty of fun and easy activities that you can do to pass the time with your little one, even before he or she reaches the crawling stage! Here are eight fun activities that you can play with your newborn at any time during his or her first year.

1) Feeding

Newborns eat every couple of hours, so you can feed your baby while bonding with him and playing some easy games like peek-a-boo or pattycake. 
Always hold a newborn in an upright position during feeding to reduce risk of choking. If you’re breastfeeding, new moms can prepare for feeding sessions by bringing along a comfortable blanket or chair to nurse their child on, as well as burp cloths and extra clothes in case of spit-up or accidents.

2) Bath time

Babies love baths, and you’ll get to relish in one of your sweetest moments ever—the first time you hold your baby post-delivery. 

Holding her will feel like a dream come true, but bath time is also a good opportunity to play with your new little bundle of joy.

3) Diapering

Diapering isn’t all about poop; sometimes it’s fun to play with your baby in a diaper, too. Some babies love being tickled and rubbed with a wet wipe as you change their diaper, while others just want to sit and kick their legs. 

If your baby is over 3 months old, he or she can play some fun games while on a changing table, but don’t leave him or her unattended.

4) Playing peek-a-boo

Why not introduce your baby to a childhood classic by playing peek-a-boo? Babies are often mesmerized by simple games that adults tend to forget. 

To play, simply hold your baby about 10 inches away from your face, ensuring that his or her eyesight is focused on you, then cover one eye and tell them peek-a-boo! When they do look away, say Boo! in an excited voice before making eye contact again.

5) Sing to baby

Singing to a baby is a great way to get them interested in hearing different sounds, and to expose them to new vocabulary. 

Research has shown that babies who are sung to regularly have larger vocabularies than those who aren’t—but there’s no need to make up elaborate songs; simple tunes work best. 

Try looking at popular songs and singing only one or two lines at a time. It may sound silly, but babies do enjoy it!

6) Read to baby

Reading to a baby is one of those simple activities that offers many benefits to you and your child. 

Reading aloud gives you a chance to spend time together, practice communicating with your baby and expose him or her to new vocabulary. 

It also aids in cognitive development, since babies enjoy listening to language, even if they don’t understand it yet. The rhythmic nature of reading aloud helps newborns relax and soothes them in times of frustration.

7) Make funny faces at your baby

Here’s a fun activity that you can do with your newborn baby to stimulate its senses and help him or her develop motor skills. All you need is your baby, an interesting expression on your face, and a good imagination. 

Make faces at your baby—he’ll love it! And if his little arms and legs get flailing about, be sure to provide lots of soft pillows (and maybe even a blanket) so he doesn’t accidentally hurt himself.

8) Look out the window together

Although your baby will probably spend most of her waking hours in your arms, it’s a good idea to set her down on a blanket and let her learn to entertain herself for short periods of time. 

Play peek-a-boo through a window shade with your little one, or use an infant seat to swivel from side to side so she can watch you move around.