Now that your baby is growing up, it’s one of the most crucial stages of parenting - the baby is forming habits, learning skills, and also interacting with the world around him or her. They have also grown out of the newborn stage and their sleep schedule is better synchronized. Thus, in short, it’s time for you to increase your activity levels. Increasing the activity levels has multiple benefits - they can pick up words, skills, interact with everyone, and also tire out in time for bedtime, for a good night’s rest, which is crucial for baby growth. So, how do you go about choosing the best activities? Well, we are here to help you out with just that - you can follow these simple seven tips to keep your baby engaged and also promote growth.
These tips are ideal for babies from a few weeks old to eight/nine months old
Make eye contact and talk to them
Language is an important skill that must be inculcated in the little ones. Even when they are too young to understand words, babies do pick up emotions from words and your tonality. As they grow a little older, it’s a good idea to make eye contact with them frequently while talking to them - you can narrate everyday life or try and teach specific words!
Sing to them
Even when they are in the tummy, babies can still hear and react to the noises around them - especially voices and music. Music also plays an important role in a baby’s brain development as it helps develop language, memory, and reading skills as they grow up. Music also inspires emotions and helps soothe them. And when you sing to them, you also help deepen that bond with your child.
Make faces at them
Another great activity for parent and child bonding, making faces, and encouraging them to register emotions is another great tip to keep your baby engaged. As they get a little older, they also learn to recognize emotions through facial expressions. They can mimic you and greatly engage with you through facial expressions.
Take them on a walk
Whether you’re more comfortable with a stroller or a baby carrier or even if you’re exploring - baby-wearing, there’s nothing like enjoying a quiet walk with your little one. This is the stage where they are exploring the world around them and observing every little thing. From a flower to an insect - everything can amuse at this stage and keep them engaged.
Tummy time
Another great activity with many health benefits - tummy time is a recommended activity for babies. It ensures that the back and shoulder muscles get stronger which ultimately aids in better growth and faster milestones like crawling and sitting. It also helps aid digestion. You can scatter some toys around your baby to make this activity more fun.
Read to them
Although they may not be able to fully understand you - they can pick up on emotions and the excitement of reading a book. You can choose age-appropriate books with plenty of pictures and sounds to keep your little one engaged. This also helps set a routine for your baby - like a bedtime story!
Let them explore textures
At this stage, babies are exploring sounds, colours, and even textures. So you can introduce them to various toys, ribbons, and other baby-safe things that have different types of textures. As they grasp things, they not only develop hand-eye coordination but also motor skills, all the while having fun with textures!
FAQ's
Q. Why is it important to increase activity levels as my baby grows?
Ans.As your baby grows, increasing activity levels supports their physical, emotional, and cognitive development. Activities help them build motor skills, learn language, and interact with their surroundings. Engaging play also helps them expend energy during the day, ensuring better sleep at night, which is vital for healthy growth.
Q. How does making eye contact and talking help my baby?
Ans.Making eye contact and talking strengthens bonding and builds language skills. Even if your baby doesn’t understand words yet, they learn emotions through tone and facial expressions. Narrating everyday life or repeating simple words helps improve recognition, while consistent communication encourages early speech and better social interaction skills.
Q. Can singing really benefit my baby’s development?
Ans.Yes, singing stimulates brain development in babies. Music enhances memory, language skills, and emotional understanding. Singing familiar songs can soothe them, while new tunes spark curiosity. The rhythm and melody aid recognition, while your voice provides comfort and reassurance, building both cognitive growth and a deeper parent-child emotional bond.
Q. Why should I make funny faces at my baby?
Ans.Making funny faces helps babies recognize emotions and develop social skills. They start mimicking expressions, which improves interaction and bonding. Babies learn to associate certain faces with feelings, building emotional intelligence. This playful activity also stimulates curiosity, keeps them entertained, and encourages early communication through gestures and expressions.
Q. What are the benefits of taking my baby on walks?
Ans.Walks expose babies to new sights, sounds, and sensations, helping them explore their environment. Outdoor time sparks curiosity, sharpens observation, and stimulates sensory development. Fresh air can calm fussy moods, while movement encourages physical comfort. Walks also give parents quality bonding time, strengthening trust and connection with their baby.
Q. Why is tummy time so important for babies?
Ans.Tummy time strengthens a baby’s neck, shoulder, and back muscles, which are essential for crawling and sitting milestones. It helps improve motor skills, reduces flat head syndrome risk, and aids digestion. Adding toys around them during tummy time makes the activity engaging, encouraging exploration and strengthening hand-eye coordination too.
Q. Should I start reading to my baby even if they don’t understand words yet?
Ans.Absolutely! Reading aloud fosters emotional bonding, builds listening skills, and introduces rhythm and tone of language. Picture books engage their visual senses, while repetitive sounds aid memory. Storytime can also create bedtime routines, helping them feel secure. Early reading habits develop lifelong learning, communication, and concentration skills gradually.
Q. How can exploring textures help my baby’s development?
Ans.Exploring textures sharpens a baby’s sensory awareness. By touching soft, rough, or bumpy objects, babies strengthen hand-eye coordination and motor skills. Safe textured toys encourage curiosity and problem-solving. These experiences help them understand the world better, while stimulating brain pathways that support future learning, communication, and creative thinking.
Q. How can activities help improve my baby’s sleep schedule?
Ans.Active engagement throughout the day helps babies expend energy, making it easier for them to settle into a consistent sleep routine. Activities like tummy time, walks, or play stimulate growth while tiring them healthily. This balance ensures deeper, longer rest at night, crucial for brain development and overall health.
Q. What types of activities are best suited for babies up to nine months old?
Ans.For babies up to nine months, activities should be simple, safe, and sensory-driven. Talking, singing, reading, tummy time, exploring textures, and short walks are ideal. These stimulate growth without overwhelming them. Each activity supports motor, cognitive, and emotional milestones, making everyday interactions both fun and developmentally beneficial.
