Things to do with your baby

Here are some ideas, or just reminders, for those times when you finally have time to play with your baby and you can't think of one single thing to do.
This article is geared towards, but not limited to, babies between the ages of 4 and 12 months.

1: Babies love mirrors
Just hold a hand mirror up to her face or stand with her in front of a large mirror. Smile at her, call her name, bounce her a little;her face will light up every time.

2: Kitchen stuff
Babies like toys but I am sure you have noticed that they love non-toys even more! Find safe things in your kitchen for your baby to play with like plastic soup ladles, clean empty yogurt containers, wire whisks, and tupper ware lids. Sit with your baby and explain what each one is before you hand it over. She will love exploring these new objects.

Note: Always supervise your baby while playing with non-toys

3: Sing songs
At first, you may feel a little silly but once you get started your baby might get tired of it before you do! You don't have to sing anything fancy, ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle, and Happy Birthday, over and over again will keep your baby happy and feeling loved. You can even make up songs about whatever it is you are doing at the moment. Just look at your baby, smile, and make a lot of hand motions. Songs that are good for this are The Itsy Bitsy Spider and Where is Thumbkin?
See full songs below.

4: Tour of the House
Hoist your baby up on your hip and walk her around the house. Go into different rooms and point to different objects and say their names. Give simple explanations for what they do. Turn the lights off and on and say "Off" and "On". Open cupboards and drawers and talk about what is inside. Your baby will be enthralled.

5: Baby walk
If the weather is nice, go for a short stroll around the block and let your baby touch different plants, trees, fences and mail boxes.

Many of these things seem like common sense, but time and time again I find my self at a loss for activities. Perhaps because I am trying to think of things that will be fun for me and am forgetting that babies have fun doing anything as long as they doing it with you. Feel free to add any games or ideas in the comments section. Thanks for reading!


The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Went up the water spout!
Down came the rain and
Washed the spider out!
Out came the sun and
Dried up all the rain and
the Itsy Bitsy Spider
Went up the spout agian!


Where is Thumbkin?
Where is Thumbkin?
Where is Thumbkin?
Here I am!
Here I am!
Thank you very much sir,
You are very welcome,
Run away!
Run away!


Twinkle, Twinkle
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.