It’s never too early to start engaging baby’s senses! Even before she is born, she’s tuning in to your voice and everyday sounds, feeling your movements and tasting the food you eat.
You can help to stimulate her senses with everyday activities. Even if she doesn’t seem to respond, you can be certain that she’s enjoying the attention you’re giving her. it’s just a start of a lifelong communication between the both of you!
Will sensory games or activities will boost baby’s development?
Sight
Until she’s around 5 months old, her eyesight will still be a little blurry. But she can make out the details and outlines of your face.
Between two months and four months, your baby will start making eye contact with you. She may even smile, “talk” or make gestures. Your responses to her little signals will help her understand her sense of self, as well as helping the two of you bond.
Another skill she’s developing in these early months is how to coordinate her head and eye movements. This will help her watch moving objects and understand how they relate to other objects around them. You can help her develop this skill by slowly moving a toy across her field of vision and encouraging her to watch it.
Touch
Your baby’s sense of touch is highly developed at birth. Her mouth is particularly sensitive to textures and temperatures, and she’ll be keen to use it to explore new objects.
From around five months, your baby may start to reach out for objects. You can encourage her physical development by placing a toy within her eyesight but just out of reach. Watch as she shuffles, stretches or rolls towards it! Hanging a rattle or mobile where she can kick at it, will also help to teach her about cause and effect.
Gently stroking and massaging your baby will use her sense of touch to soothe and reassure her. You’ll probably find it lovely and relaxing too!
Hearing
Your baby recognises your voice from birth. She can detect if you switch to a different language, and she’ll be more responsive to a happy tone of voice than a neutral or sad tone. Every time you talk to her, your baby is listening and learning about different sounds, rhythms and patterns.
When you’re speaking to your baby, give her a chance to respond with a smile, gurgle or laugh. When she responds, answer her back. This shows your baby that you’re interested in what she has to say, as well as helping her language and understanding to develop.
Babbling, playing and laughing with your baby is also important for your own wellbeing. It triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin, which helps create that close and loving bond between you. Your baby’s dad will also produce oxytocin when he holds, plays with or chats to your baby. The more oxytocin he produces, the more engaged he’s likely to become.
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