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