Infant Stimulation Activity 12: Circular Motion

Of all the stimulation activities, I have always enjoyed motion the most. Linear motion is important (forward and backward, up and down), but I always found rotary motion more fun and relaxing. Rotary motion? Yes, circular motion. . . dancing! If you hold your baby upright in your arms or have him in a sling and you begin to move, then your baby is experiencing rotary motion stimulation.

Infant Stimulation Activity 11: See and Touch

Is your baby tracking you or objects in your hand? (This is really fun to see when they start watching you eat – around 4 months or so!) For infant stimulation have some fun watching your baby track an object. Hold a soft toy up in the air and slowly bring it close to baby and then back out. Bring the toy in and tickle your baby. Bring it back out and repeat. Watch his reaction as he waits for the tickle! See if he can track the object as you move it side to side – perhaps tickling on hand and then the other.

Even if your infant is not old enough to track the object or expect the tickle this activity is still fun and interactive. Your baby can still see the object when close and feel it when you tickle him and most importantly know that you are having fun together.

Bonus: Add sound: sing a song that matches the movement, make noises that match the movement (whoo whoo, train sounds, airplane sounds)

Infant Stimulation Activity 10: Reacting to Sound

Infant stimulation activities for hearing are fun; they are exciting and hold a lot of entertainment for you and your baby. As your baby reacts to a sound, then looks around for it, and is ultimately rewarded with your encouragement and smiling face you will find that you are having as much fun as your baby.

Using a rattle gently shake it in front of your baby and allow her to see the object that makes the sound. Then shake it off to one side and see if she looks in that direction. Try it again. Then try it on the other side. How about standing behind her to see what her reaction is. Eventually you will see your baby begin to focus her hearing to find where the object is. Then reward her with a big smile, then ultimately the final cuddle!

Infant Stimulation Activity 9: Texture and Touch

Tactile stimulation activities – offering infant stimulation through touch – is as easy as giving your baby lots of different things to touch. Make sure nothing is too rough, but expose your baby to different fabrics and textures. Start with a soft blanket and allow your baby to feel its texture for a minute or so. Next, let him feel something harder, like a rattle or teething ring. If you have a baby toy that crinkles, offer that one next.

For newborns, you make take an object and stroke it through his hand; within a couple of weeks your infant will be holding the objects himself. And be sure to smile and enjoy right along with your baby.

Infant Stimulation Activity 8: MOTION

We haven’t discussed motion yet. Yes, this is a stimulator for your baby. She is learning her preferences and learning about motor coordination as you stimulate movement. For newborns, this is as simple as varying positions – putting baby on her back and putting baby on her stomach. Does your baby prefer being picked up to being put down? That is 4 stimulators for you to try today!

CAUTION: NO MOVEMENT YOU DO WITH YOUR BABY SHOULD EVER ALLOW HER HEAD TO MOVE SEPARATELY FROM HER BODY; YOU MUST SUPPORT YOUR BABY’S HEAD AND NECK DURING ALL ACTIVITIES AND BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL DURING INFANT STIMULATION ACTIVITIES FOR MOTION

AND: NEVER TOSS A BABY IN THE AIR – WHICH GOES ALONG WITH ALWAYS SUPPORTING HER HEAD AND NECK

Infant Stimulation Activity 7: Sight

There are so many infant stimulation activities because even the newborn looks for something newer and different. For a two-month old, checkerboard shapes become interesting because they are more complex. He still enjoys the contrast of the black on white geometric shapes, but it is already time for something more interesting.

You can draw a checkerboard shape for baby on a white card and may I also recommend a Stage 1 Babysmartees t-shirt! If you are wearing your shirt allow your baby to focus on the checkerboard shape. Allow her to reach out and touch – hey, two sensations – the visual stimulation of the checkerboard and the softness of the shirt. Complement this activity with the checkerboards on a white card and slowly move the card up, then down, then to one side, then to the other – continuing only if your baby is still alert and interactive. When she is finished, you are finished!

Give her a big cuddle!

Infant Stimulation Activity 6: Make a Face

Within her second month of life your baby begins to focus on the center of objects. Faces in particular hold her attention. Naturally mom and dad’s faces are the most interesting, but I doubt you have the time to allow your baby to stare at your face all day. So make a face for her! It is as simple as getting a white paper plate and with black ink make a simple but accurate drawing of your face (eg, if you have bangs draw them on the plate). Hang the paper plate on the crib rail or prop it up on a box! Allow your baby to enjoy the stimulation, but don’t leave her too long. She need s you more! Pick her up with a big smile.