Ways to promote baby bonding and development part – I

Having been a mother as well as watched so many young mothers I find that in the first few months a baby changes the entire lifestyle of parents and makes them feel stressed and anxious and desperate if they are doing everything right. However it is also important to know that the first few months is also important time to help the development of the baby and also promote parent-baby bonding.

I will be discussing in 2 parts about the various newborn activities for parents that promote the basic goals of speech, movement, strengthening and bonding – these activities are little more fun and entertaining for those of us who are sleep deprived.

Activities to promote speaking and language:

Read out baby books to him/her often. You could read any novel aloud.

Sing Adele and nursery rhymes to him/her; he/she is sure to enjoy them.

You could say your baby’s name again and again. It would also be appropriate to recite the names of family members.

You could touch and recite the parts of the body like leg, arm, hands, tummy, toes and fingers.

It would be a great idea to recite the ABCs with different accents.

You could take turns making noises; wait for him/her to make a noise before you make another one; this is your baby’s first conversation. You could also imitate her/his noises and repeat sounds he/she makes and add words.

Could have a pretend conversation about the weather; you could also walk around the house and point out your favorite keepsakes.

You could talk to him/her when one is not looking when he/she is in the crib and when you are in the bathroom. You could also answer your baby when he/she calls out.

It would be a great idea to make meals when he/she is watching and recite the recipe out aloud.

You could go through your favorite photo albums with your baby and tell stories behind the pictures.

Activities to promote hand movement:

Let him/her hold your finger

Clap his/her hands to the beat of your favorite song.

Next let him/her to flex and extend one’s hands; encourage your baby to touch one’s hands to his head and use his/her hands to cross body touch.

Help your child to hug a stuffed animal.

You could also use a textured glove to touch his hands and encourage him/her to touch various objects with his/her hands. Babies learn about lip movement when you allow them to touch his/her hands on your lips when you move them.

Activities to promote foot movement:

Make the baby flex and extend his/her feet and make a scissor motion with the legs.

You could encourage the baby to make various motions with the feet like straddling and kicking.

You could dance while holding the baby and use a textured glove to touch his/her feet.

You could make the baby do cross-body touch with his/her feet.

To conclude these activities provide warm, loving attention, build trust and help your baby reach important milestones; take your time, follow your baby’s cues and do not force him/her to do new things when he's fussy or not feeling well.