Looking for Baby Activities at 0 – 3 Months of Age?

Most parents believe there are not many baby activities you can do with your infant up to 3 months old.  This is not entirely true and the purpose of this article is provide some baby activities and suggestions during this time period.

Your baby can hear, see, taste, smell and feel from birth but his senses will not develop fully until around 6 months of age. However, there are still plenty of baby games and activities you can enjoy with your infant. While many of these activities may seem basic or only for enjoyment, they all have a goal to help your baby develop.

Disappearing Toy – You should have a small object or toy that is bright enough that your baby can easily see it.  Make sure your baby is in a secure baby seat or have your partner hold him in a comfortable position. Show your baby the toy, then hide it behind your back asking “Where did it go?”. Pop it back out (not too fast so the baby is startled) with a “It’s Here!” Initially, it is better to be predictable so your baby can anticipate the toy’s reappearance.  This game will start building your baby’s memory and cognitive skills.

Pat a Cake – Lie your baby down on a soft flat surface such as the bed or blanket on the carpet. Start singing the Pat a Cake song and lightly tap your baby’s palms. When your baby gets to be older than 3 months, you can progress to light clapping!  This is a good game for language and coordination.

Imitation Game – Hold your baby closely or lie him down on a soft flat surface. Be sure to be close enough (8-12 inches) so that he can see you, especially for infants. Face-to-face, start with simple movements, like sticking out your tongue or opening your mouth in a wide grin. If you are patient, your baby may try to imitate you, though with very small movements. As your baby gets older, you can try larger body movements with your head or hands and arms. This imitation activity helps with motion coordination and also builds the emotional bond with your infant.

While we do not cover it specifically here, the tummy time baby activity is also a very important for infants.  There are many other baby games and activities you can share with your infant during the 0 to 3 month age period but we hope you give these three a try.  Some of the best and fun baby activites are the most simple.  Above all, have fun!