Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
Playing with Baby | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Needlman,
I am a first-time mother with a 2 1/2-month-old baby girl, whom I absolutely love playing and interacting with. I was wondering if you had any ideas on how to play with a young baby to properly encourage her development? She was two weeks premature.— Love to Play in Reno, Nevada | | | ANSWER |
June 13, 2001 | | | Dear Love to Play,
The wonderful thing about young babies is that they have a simple, foolproof, built-in system that tells their parents when they are learning and developing properly: They're happy. A baby who is learning is happy, interested, intent, alert. A very young infant, like yours, opens her eyes wide and may make happy cooing noises. You can feel that she is taking in what is going on around her, especially if that "something" is you.
You know your baby has had enough if she starts to fuss, looks sleepy, or turns away. That's your cue to give her some breathing space. I'm telling you this, but as a tuned-in mother you probably already know it! By paying attention to what feels good to you, you'll be giving your daughter the stimulation she needs to grow and develop.
There are lots of ways to play together. Think of using all your senses: sight, hearing, touch, movement, taste, and smell. Be creative. Talk to other parents. Don't invest in expensive developmental toys--none of them are nearly as beneficial as you are! There are some other ideas in our Toys and Play program.— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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