Newborn Activities: The First Month
What do you do with your newborn in the first month? I have 8 great activities to fill those very SHORT wake windows- check them out:
Look at black & white cards.
Baby’s vision is still developing in early infancy and they can’t see so clearly! These high contrast cards help baby focus and track objects as they can see them clearly. Then when they are older you can use them like a book and label for vocabulary!
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2. Read books with 1 picture/ page.
The simpler and shorter the book, the better for newborns! They can focus on one item per page and start to pair the item to the vocabulary word as you repeatedly read the book over and over.
Pictured: Baby’s First Touchy-Feely Book
See a list of Newborn Favorite Books here!
3. Practice head turning in tummy time.
Baby’s head strength is still developing in the first month, and tummy time can help! Flat on the floor is NOT the only way to do tummy time, but it should be included in baby’s daily routine to help build neck and core strength. Try to prompt baby to look the other way in tummy time by talking to them from that side and making lots of noise to motivate them to turn their head!
Pictured: The Play Gym from Lalo
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4. Read high-contrast books with surprises
Again, baby cannot see so well! So, along with black and white pictures and books with only 1 item on each page, books with high contrast and bright colors are great for newborns! Plus, as baby’s motor skills evolve, they will start to reach for books with flaps and touch and feel components. The earlier you introduce books like this, the earlier this can happen!
Pictured: Baby’s Very First Lift-the-Flap Peek-a-Boo
See a list of Newborn Favorite Books here!
5. Play in side-lying position
Placing baby on their side to play is helpful for many reasons! First, it can bring light to any noticeable tension on one side of the body- if baby doesn’t like laying on one side, they will let you know! Plus, if you don’t want to place baby on their back all the time because you’re concerned about time spent resting the back of their head, sidelying is a good position to break up play on the back! It can also help baby look at items, especially if you put high contrast or black and white items in front of them!
See all my favorite Newborn toys on Amazon here!
6. Practice tracking objects
Lay baby on their back and hold a fold-out book like this one above their face and move it slowly from side to side! This practices tracking of objects and moving the head in both directions. Picking books or items that are black and white and high contrast are best!
Pictured: Crinkle Pets Fold Out Book
See a list of Newborn Favorite Books here!
7. Practice kicking and reaching in the play gym
When newborns move their legs and arms, those movements are usually spontaneous or reflexive, but start to become more intentional as baby nears the end of the newborn stage. Giving your baby ample opportunity to touch items will teach them the concept of cause and effect- that a movement results in another movement or response! This concept is important not only for playing with toys but eventually for speaking too!
8. Give baby a swaddle bath
Baths can be jarring to little ones! Wrapping them in a muslin blanket in a supportive tub can help them enjoy the experience! Lalo’s bathtub has good support for an infant and transitions all the way to toddlerhood, plus it’s easy to clean so NO mold!
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