Infant Play

What can I do to help promote play in my baby?

All children are different and may enjoy different toys and interactions, but the following are suggestions for activities and toys for the baby:

Birth to 1 month

• Hang brightly colored objects near your baby

• Hang mobiles with high-contrast patterns

What you can do as a parent:

• Sing and talk to your baby

• Play music

• Rock your baby and 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 baby

• Play music

• Rock your baby and 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 baby

• Encourage your baby 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 baby by name

• Speak clearly to your baby and encourage different sounds

• Name body parts, foods, and people

• Tell your baby simple commands

• Play pat-a-cake

• Begin saying words that tell what you are doing

• Encourage your baby 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 baby to different places and outings

• Play ball with your baby

• Read to your baby

• Tell your baby names of body parts

Toys for babies

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