Playing with your newborn will bring you closer and help your baby learn about the world. Play ideas for newborn babies are pretty simple – try talking, making faces, singing nursery rhymes, smiling and blowing raspberries.
About newborn babies and play
You’re the best plaything for your newborn, and playing together is easy. All you need to get started is you and your baby.
Playing with your newborn isn’t about games and toys – it’s about the interactions between you and your baby. That’s why it’s enjoyable – and it’s only play if it’s fun.
Why playing with newborns is important
Playing together helps you and your baby get to know each other.
When you play with your baby, your baby learns to trust and depend on you, and the bond between you and your baby gets stronger. This helps your newborn feel loved and secure, which is important for her wellbeing
Play helps your baby’s brain to develop and supports his overall development and learning. This is because new play experiences help parts of your baby’s brain link together and grow. And through play, your baby learns more about the world around him and how he can interact with it.
Playing with your baby helps her learn to talk and understand words. You might not always have time to stop everything and play, but you can still chat to your newborn about what’s going on – for example, cooking dinner, shopping or folding clothes.
Play can tell you a lot about your baby’s personality. Rough and silly or quiet and calm, you’ll soon know what your baby likes.
Play ideas for newborn babies
Play is the natural way that babies and young children learn. Here are some play ideas for newborn babies:
Follow your baby’s cues. Even babies with lots of energy need down time and might feel overwhelmed if you keep trying to play with them when they’re tired. If your baby seems startled or upset, try playing a quieter game a bit later.
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