Infant Stimulation Activity 104: warm breaths

Blow warm breaths over different parts of your baby's body. You can choose body parts that he is progressively learning to control. Since babies develop motor skills from the top down you may first want to focus on his face, then his arms, tummy, then legs as your baby develops from month to month.

Infant Stimulation Activity 103: pompon drop

This stimulation idea incorporates touch, vision and tracking, and cause and effect: with your baby lying on his back hold up a large pompon. Say, "here comes the pompon" then let it drop onto baby's belly. You can then tickle his belly and then give him a kiss. Your baby will not only be stimulated, but very happy to be interacting with you!

And be sure baby gets a chance to check out the pompon. You wouldn't want someone dropping something on your belly unless you knew what it was!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM BABYSMARTEES

Infant Stimulation Activity 102: greetings

Of course your baby recognizes your voice when you are right in front of him or in the same room. By 3 months try something new: call out to your baby before you enter the room. This will teach him to recognize your voice and anticipate your entrance.

When you can, have someone in the room with baby to observe his reaction to your voice before you enter the room.

Infant Stimulation Activity 101: bouncing object

Attach apiece of elastic to a small stuffed animal. Make the animal jump and bounce. At one moth he will probably mostly enjoy the interaction with you. Eventually he will start to try and hit, catch, and grasp it - by that time, remember not to leave your baby alone with the elastic string.

Infant Stimulation Activity 100: which is it?

As early as one month babies can begin to associate sounds with objects. Show baby two objects that make specific sounds, perhaps a rattle and a bell. Show him each object individually and let baby hear its sound; do this a couple of times. Eventually hold up both objects at the same time, but only shake one of them. See if baby knows which object made the sound.

Infant Stimulation Activity 99: a change of scenery

Changing what a baby can see is a nice easy stimulator. If you change your baby's diaper on a changing table or usually in the same place, consider hanging a picture where she can see. Talk to her about what she sees, even after the diaper change is complete. What a great way to incorporate a stimulation activity into an every day (every hour!?) task.