A Blog For Mums
As a new mum, I remember staring at my tiny, sleepy bundle wondering, “How exactly am I supposed to play with someone who can barely keep their eyes open?” If you’re feeling the same way, you’re not alone! Those early weeks can feel like an endless cycle of feeding, changing, and brief moments of alertness that vanish before you’ve had a chance to interact meaningfully.
But here’s the wonderful truth I discovered: even the simplest interactions with your newborn constitute meaningful play. Those precious alert windows—sometimes lasting just minutes between feeds and naps—offer perfect opportunities to connect and support your baby’s development from day one.
I’ve gathered some practical ideas and insights to help you navigate playtime with your newborn, making these fleeting moments both enjoyable and beneficial for your little one’s growth. Let’s explore how we can turn everyday moments into delightful play experiences that strengthen your bond and support your baby’s blossoming development.
When my first baby arrived, I quickly realised that “play” with a newborn looks vastly different from what I’d imagined. During those initial weeks, your little one is primarily focused on mastering essential skills—eating, sleeping, and yes, even pooping—which consume most of their energy and attention.
Your newborn’s vision is still developing, with objects beyond 20-30 centimetres appearing blurry. They’re also quite sensitive to bright lights and loud noises, which means gentle, low-key interactions work best. Rather than expecting interactive games, think of newborn play as introducing them to their new world through gentle sensory experiences.
Despite these limitations, your baby is primed for connection from birth. Their favourite “toy” is undoubtedly your face, and they’ll love gazing at you when held in your arms. This face-to-face interaction forms the foundation of your early play experiences together.
Remember that newborns typically sleep between 11 and 16 hours daily, often waking just long enough to feed before drifting off again. After the first few weeks, you’ll likely notice your baby staying awake for slightly longer periods—perhaps an hour or so—during which they’re more receptive to gentle play and interaction.
Playing with your newborn isn’t just about passing time—it’s genuinely crucial for their development. During the first three years, your baby’s brain develops at an astonishing pace, forming new neural connections at a rate exceeding one million per second. Every interaction you have contributes to this remarkable growth.
These early play experiences help shape how your baby processes information and understands their world. Through gentle play, your little one begins developing essential cognitive, physical, and social skills that form the foundation for future learning.
Play also serves as a powerful bonding tool. Each positive interaction strengthens your connection, helping your baby develop a sense of security and trust. This secure attachment doesn’t just benefit them now—it contributes to their emotional wellbeing throughout childhood and beyond.
Additionally, playtime provides wonderful opportunities for communication. As you chat, sing, and respond to your baby’s coos and movements, you’re introducing them to the patterns of language and conversation, laying groundwork for future communication skills.
Even simple play helps your baby learn about cause and effect—”When I make this sound, Mummy responds”—which represents significant cognitive development in these early weeks and months.
If there’s one “play activity” that truly captivates newborns, it’s looking at human faces—particularly yours! Your face is naturally designed to fascinate your baby, with its contrasting features and expressive movements.
Make the most of this natural interest by positioning your face about 20-30 centimetres from your baby’s—the optimal distance for their developing vision. Try slowly changing your expressions: wide eyes, gentle smiles, and raised eyebrows will particularly capture their attention.
Nappy changes provide perfect opportunities for this face-to-face play. While changing your little one, position yourself directly above them and maintain eye contact while chatting softly. This transforms a routine task into a delightful bonding experience.
You can also try simple games like gently sticking out your tongue and waiting to see if your baby attempts to mimic you. Even newborns sometimes try to copy facial expressions, which represents early social learning.
Another lovely face-based activity involves slowly moving your face from side to side, allowing your baby to practice tracking movements with their eyes—an important visual skill that develops during these early months.
One of the greatest gifts you can give your newborn is exposure to language. Your baby loves the sound of your voice above all others, and hearing you speak helps build neural pathways essential for language development.
Try narrating your daily activities as you move through your routine: “Now I’m changing your nappy. This one is clean and dry!” or “Let’s get dressed for our walk. Here comes your cosy jumper!” This running commentary might feel slightly awkward at first, but it provides valuable language exposure for your little one.
Singing is another wonderful way to engage with your newborn. Don’t worry about your vocal abilities—your baby will adore hearing lullabies, nursery rhymes, or even your favourite pop songs sung in a gentle voice. Songs with simple melodies and repetitive patterns are particularly soothing and engaging for newborns.
It’s never too early to start reading to your baby. While they won’t understand the stories yet, the rhythm of your voice and the closeness you share during reading time creates a positive association with books. Choose board books with high-contrast patterns or simple, bold illustrations that are easier for newborn eyes to focus on.
Remember to vary your tone when speaking to your baby—the sing-song, higher-pitched voice many of us naturally adopt when talking to babies (sometimes called “parentese”) actually helps capture their attention and supports language development.
Though your newborn’s movements are largely reflexive at this stage, gentle physical play helps strengthen their developing muscles and introduces them to different sensations of movement.
Tummy time represents one of the most valuable forms of physical play for newborns. Start with just 2-3 minutes, 2-3 times daily, gradually increasing as your baby builds strength. Place a blanket on a firm surface and lay your baby on their tummy while staying close to offer encouragement. If your little one dislikes floor-based tummy time, try positioning them on your chest while you recline.
Gentle dancing offers another lovely movement experience. Support your baby’s head and neck carefully while swaying to soft music. The rocking motion is naturally soothing, and the close contact strengthens your bond.
You can also try simple exercises like bicycle legs—gently moving your baby’s legs in a cycling motion—which helps relieve gas and strengthens abdominal muscles. Always use slow, gentle movements and watch for signs that your baby is enjoying the activity.
For a calming movement experience, try baby massage using gentle strokes on your little one’s limbs, tummy, and back. Beyond the physical benefits, this tactile play creates wonderful opportunities for eye contact and bonding.
Your newborn is constantly processing new sensory information, and gentle sensory play helps them make sense of their world. Each sensory experience contributes to their developing understanding of different textures, sounds, and visual stimuli.
For tactile exploration, introduce your baby to different textures by gently stroking their hands or feet with various fabrics—perhaps a silky scarf, soft cotton, or fluffy blanket. Describe the textures as you explore them together: “This is smooth” or “Feel how soft this is.”
Visual stimulation is particularly engaging for newborns. High-contrast patterns in black, white, and red are easiest for them to see. You might place simple black-and-white images near their cot or changing table, or invest in a high-contrast mobile for them to gaze at.
Sound play helps develop auditory discrimination skills. Try gentle rattles, soft bells, or musical toys that produce different tones. Describe the sounds you’re making: “That’s a gentle tinkling sound” or “Listen to this soft rattle.”
Remember that everyday objects can become sensory toys—a wooden spoon to hold, a crinkly paper (supervised, of course), or a soft brush gently stroked across their palm all provide valuable sensory experiences without requiring special equipment.
One simple yet effective play activity involves giving your baby “tours” of their new home. This combines movement, language exposure, and visual stimulation in a way that’s engaging without being overwhelming.
Carry your baby from room to room, narrating what you see: “This is our kitchen where I make our meals” or “Here’s the window where we can see the garden.” The changing scenery provides gentle visual stimulation while your narration offers valuable language exposure.
You might point out different objects, describing their colours, shapes, or purposes. Even though your newborn won’t understand the concepts yet, this early exposure to descriptive language lays important foundations for later comprehension.
Try varying the lighting and atmosphere in different rooms—perhaps drawing attention to sunlight streaming through a window or showing them a gently moving curtain. These subtle environmental differences provide interesting visual experiences for your baby.
This activity can be particularly helpful during those challenging evening hours when babies often become fussier. The change of scenery sometimes helps soothe an unsettled baby while giving you both something engaging to focus on.
While your newborn certainly doesn’t need elaborate toys, a few simple items can enhance your play experiences together. Look for items specifically designed for newborns or repurpose everyday objects for safe, engaging play.
High-contrast cards or books featuring bold black-and-white patterns are particularly effective for newborns. Their developing visual system can process these strong contrasts more easily than subtle colours, making them naturally engaging.
Soft rattles or bells provide gentle auditory stimulation. Choose lightweight options that make soft sounds rather than startling noises. Some rattles are designed as wristbands or ankle bands, allowing your baby to create sounds with their natural movements.
Textured toys offer tactile exploration opportunities. Look for items with different surfaces—perhaps smooth plastic, soft fabric, or gently ribbed sections—that provide varied sensory experiences when touched against your baby’s hands or feet.
Remember that at this stage, you’ll need to guide these interactions by bringing toys within your baby’s limited visual field (20-30 centimetres) and helping them explore different textures and sounds. Always supervise play with any items, even those specifically designed for newborns.
Finding the right balance between stimulation and rest represents one of the trickiest aspects of newborn care. While play supports development, overstimulation can lead to fussiness and difficulty settling.
Watch for subtle cues that your baby needs a break: yawning, looking away, becoming increasingly active or fussy, or developing a glazed expression. When you notice these signs, gently transition to a calmer activity or help them settle for sleep.
I found that alternating more stimulating activities with calming ones worked well. Perhaps follow a session of animated talking and facial expressions with gentle rocking and soft humming to help regulate your baby’s arousal levels.
Remember that environmental factors contribute to stimulation levels too. Consider the lighting, background noise, and number of people present during play sessions. Sometimes simply moving to a quieter room with dimmer lighting can help an overwhelmed baby regulate.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. You’ll quickly develop sensitivity to your baby’s unique thresholds for stimulation, allowing you to tailor play experiences to their changing needs throughout the day.
Baby Care
