Infant Stimulation Activity: touch a finger

Reaching for any object helps baby’s brain develop hand-eye coordination. And there is one object that newborns especially enjoy grasping, your finger.

Allow your baby to hold your finger and to feel it. Encourage by saying “good girl” or “you’re so strong.”

For a change gently stroke the inside of her hand then slightly moving your finger away. She will quickly learn to coordinate the feel, reach, and grasp.

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Infant Stimulation Activity: talk, talk, talk

No matter what age your baby is you should be talking, talking, talking - when he is awake and interested in a "conversation. "

When baby is a newborn keep your voice soft and soothing, always keeping in mind your baby's need for feeling secure.

When baby starts oohing and aahing, it is time for you to start responding! Get a conversation going. For example if you are in the kitchen and he begins to babble, say “Yes, Mama is making dinner. Are you hungry?” Then wait to see if there is a response.

Talk and teach your child. Offer pauses so your child has a chance to respond. Be sure to ask questions in addition to making statements so your infant hears the sounds, intonation, and general patterns of language and conversation.

Infant Stimulation Activity: walk & rub

Walk and rub is an especially fun activity to do with your newborn baby.

With baby in your arms and walk a few steps, then look into his eyes, then touch nose to nose and rub. Look into his eyes again and smile. Remember, infant stimulation is all about the connection between you and you baby, so touch is vital especially when your baby is a newborn.

Repeat this activity up to 15 minutes as long as your and your baby are enjoying it.

Infant Stimulation includes Routine & Predictability

Build stimulating interactive fun right into your baby’s daily routine. Babies like routine, they like predictability.

Baby likes that he sees you first in the morning and that his bath is before he goes to sleep at night (routine). He also likes that when he cries you come and pick him up (predictability).

Predictability and routine are important parts of your baby’s cognitive development and therefore part of your infant stimulation program.