50 Things To Do With Babies During the First Year

August 15, 2020

Early parenting inevitably feels like “Groundhog Day”. In addition to breaking up the feed-change-sleep grind, an outing can build parents’ confidence! Around week 8, when babies begin to be more wakeful for longer periods, parents may wonder What do I do with my baby? Or what activities are stimulating to for my little one? 50 Things to Do with Babies During the First Year, gives ideas of everyday activities that we hope baby -and you- will enjoy.

All major medical organizations agree that infants age 2 and under should not use screens unless they’re engaging in video chats with loved ones. In addition to being associated with behavioral changes and speech delays, children can also experience sleep disruptions. You Should Know: Blue Light, Screen Time and Babies explains this is greater detail. The good news is that your baby is interested in everything so even simple activities, like sitting on the porch listening to birds is an screen free activity.

Baby Activities Around the House

The activities below are all things you can easily do in your home or hopefully close to it. For example, there’s no need to go on a daylong outing to the zoo if you’re not up to it…the pet store with it’s up close views of fish and small animals can work just as well! You also don’t need expensive toys; soft books that make crinkly noises, homemade maracas or using a sensory mat during tummy time are all interesting science experiments to your infant. Of course, your baby should always be supervised during any activity.

Bonus activities:

• Grow a Kitchen Scrap Garden!– Place stump of a celery in water and new growth will start after just a day or 2
• Throw a Kitchen Dance Party – We made you a playlist and everything
• Make a Homemade Sensory Tray – Use cupcake tray and put different sized toys and balls in each of the cups.

50 Things To Do With Babies During the First Year

A Word About Screens

According to KidsHealth.org, “toddlers 18 months to 24 months old can start to enjoy some screen time with a parent or caregiver” and by ages 2 and 3, it’s “OK for kids to watch up to 1 hour a day of high-quality educational programming.” Little ones should be monitored by an adult who can reinforce the lessons shown in this programming. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics says that children ages 2 to 5 should get an hour or less of screen time per day. The exception to these rules is video chats with loved ones.

Please download the PRINTABLE PDF version of this checklist below! For more ideas check out Toys Siblings Can Play with Together. As always please let us know your ideas too!

Download here: 50 Things To Do with Babies During the First Year