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 mobiles with high-contrast patterns

What you can do as a parent:

• Sing and talk to your infant

• Play music

• Rock your infant, take him or 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 or her for walks

4 to 6 months:

• Likes brightly-colored objects

• Likes to hold toys

• Enjoys rattles or bells

• 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 or 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 or 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