Infant Play

What can I do to help promote play in my infant?

While all children are different and may enjoy different toys and interactions, the following are suggestions for activities and toys for the infant:

Birth to 1 month:

• hang brightly colored objects near your infant
• hang black and white mobiles

What you can do as a parent:

• sing and talk to your infant
• play music
• rock your infant, take him/her for walks

2 to 3 months:

• likes bright objects
• enjoys pictures and mirrors
• likes rattles
• enjoys infant swing
• enjoys car rides

What you can do as a parent:

• sing and talk to your infant
• play music
• rock your infant, take him/her for walks

4 to 6 months:

• likes brightly-colored objects
• likes to hold toys
• enjoys rattles or bells
• likes to splash in the bath
• likes swings and strollers

What you can do as a parent:

• talk to your infant
• encourage your infant to crawl and sit by placing him/her on the floor

6 to 9 months:

• enjoys large toys with bright colors that move
• likes to play peek-a-boo

What you can do as a parent:

• call your infant by name
• speak clearly to your child and encourage different sounds
• name body parts, foods, and people
• tell your infant simple commands
• play pat-a-cake
• begin saying words that tell what you are doing
• encourage your infant to crawl by placing toys beyond his/her reach

9 to 12 months:

• enjoys looking at books
• likes hearing sounds of animals
• enjoys large toys that can be pushed and pulled

What you can do as a parent:

• take your infant to different places and outings
• play ball with your infant
• read to your infant
• tell your infant names of body parts

Toys for infants:

• birth to 6 months:
  
  
  • mobiles
  • mirrors that will not break
  • music boxes
  • bells and rattles
  • stuffed animals
  • swings
    
    
• 6 to 12 months:
  
  
  • blocks
  • brightly colored toys
  • books
  • balls
  • cup and spoon
  • jack-in-the-box
  • rattles
  • teething toys
  • toys that can be pushed and pulled

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