Interaction and play between you and your newborn baby are essential for creating a bond and helping your baby feel safe. In addition, it helps them learn new things and develop important skills. Having a good bond with your baby will also help you when things get more challenging, and you’ve had very little sleep. In this article, we take a look at several different ways you can play with your newborn baby. 

Singing and talking

When your baby was in the womb, they would have heard your voice frequently; hearing it again can be soothing and comforting for your baby. Singing is also a great way to bond with your child; you don’t need to be great at singing; just the sound of your voice will make your baby happy and get them to engage with you. Try singing different nursery rhymes or songs to see which one your baby prefers; you might find they have a favourite which makes them smile or one that sends them to sleep. 

Cuddling and tickling your baby

Another great way to play with your baby is to cuddle and tickle them, babies will enjoy feeling your touch, and it can be a great way to help them feel at ease. Tickling is a fun activity that can put a smile on your baby’s face. You’ll get to know where they like to be tickled and what areas they don’t enjoy. In addition, touching and cuddling your baby can help you get to know what’s normal and recognise any medical issues sooner. 

Let your baby feel different things

Babies learn all of the time through what they see, hear and touch. Feeling different textures helps your baby learn about the world and keeps them entertained. Rattles, soft toys, musical toys and crinkly toys are all great for your newborn baby to play with; just make sure the toys are suitable for their age and always supervise them when they’re playing.

Read to your baby

You don’t have to wait until your baby is older to start reading to them; they will love to hear the stories and characters from a young age. Reading at bedtime once you’ve bathed them and put them in their baby onesies is also great to start establishing a good sleep routine. Read a range of books that are short and suitable for babies. To make sure your baby can see the pictures, hold the book close to their face. After a while of reading and getting used to the routine, they may start to turn the pages themselves.

Have a conversation with sounds 

Your baby will start to make sounds as they grow and develop; a great way to play with them is to talk to them or make sounds in response to theirs. This helps them with the basics of conversations. Your baby will also try to imitate the sounds that you’re making; this can help them begin to understand and develop their language skills. Start off with easy words and sounds that your baby naturally makes on their own. Once they have the hand of them, you can move on to more complex words. 

Make faces at your baby

Your baby will be drawn to your face and the faces that you make. Making funny faces, smiling or sticking out your tongue will get your baby’s attention and could make them smile, laugh or try to imitate your facial expressions. This is a good game to play with your baby when you’re changing their nappy, as it will get their attention and keep them distracted whilst you do the necessary change.

Playing with a newborn baby doesn’t need to be complicated; everything is new to them, so even the most basic things can be entertaining. If you plan on using toys or objects during play, make sure they are safe and suitable for your baby’s age. In addition, if your baby doesn’t enjoy any of the activities, move on and try something else; you might be able to go back and visit the previous game in the future. The key to playing with newborns is to keep things safe, interactive and simple.