10 Ways to Play with Your Newborn

People tell you to get into an Eat, Play, Sleep routine with your newborn, but you have a 2 week old baby and now you need to play with them? How do you play with a newborn? All they do is eat, poop, and sleep. The good news is that when your child is little the play is little as well.

1. Sing them a song - Twinkle, Twinkle, The ABCs, Itsy Bitsy Spider, or just make one up on the spot.
2. Read them a story - It can be a baby board book or the novel on your nightstand, just make sure it isn’t too spicy. :)
3. Put them on your lap facing you and make faces at them. Show them happy, sad, etc. Remember they can’t see very far so you should be up close.
4. Take them into the other room. Sometimes as new parents you hang out in one spot. Walk your newborn into the foyer of your house and show them around. Point out different things and objects in the room.
5. Let them touch different objects. Show them the plants, dog, kitchen table, etc. Help them touch it and talk about smooth, soft, rough, etc.
6. Take them outside. Dress them appropriately for the weather and step outside for a minute. Talk about the wind, sun, trees, etc.
7. Count with your child. Count their fingers, toes, and arms.
8. Show pictures of your family. Print out pictures of Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt and Uncles. Talk to them about those people.
9. Go on a color walk. Walk around your house and point out all the red things. Pick a different color every day.
10. Talk to your baby. Remember, your baby loves to hear your voice. You don’t have to talk about anything specific. Just tell them about your day, yourself, how you met their father, they will listen without interrupting.

Remember, these play sessions with your baby are to be fun and not stressful. Don’t worry about your baby getting bored as everything is new to them. After feeding your baby, you may have 5 minutes or you may have 30 minutes before they are ready to go back to sleep. Don’t stress about making every minute count. Just enjoy being a new mom and love your awesome kid.

Rebecca is a postpartum doula and pediatric sleep consultant based out of Bolingbrook, IL. This article should not be taken as medical advice, but just some fun things you can do with your new child. www.doularebeccastiglitz.com