16 Ways to Play With Your Baby (Ages 0-4 Months)

Playing with your newborn can be intimidating. A floppy head, shaky legs, and minimum motor skills can leave you feeling like you are boring your baby to pieces. Over the past few months with Brody, we've discovered fun ways to learn and play. Below are some of our favorites. 

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1. Baby Flying 

Once your little one has gained head control, try flying with them. Support their lower body with your feet and get ready for lots of giggles. Bonus points for fun airplane noises!

2. Baby Massage

Massaging your baby is a great way to bond, calm and help with minor health issues. Baby Wellness Expert, Megan Garcia, has a great free guide on her site to teach you the basics!

3. Mylar Balloon Kick

Loosely tie a mylar helium balloon to one of your little one's ankles. As they kick their feet, they will have fun watching the balloon move with each kick. The silver balloons work exceptionally well because they reflect a lot of light. This is a great activity to help with coordination and teaching your baby about cause and effect. 

4. Tissue Paper Kicking

Newborns love new sounds, particularly crinkly sounds. Laying a piece of tissue paper under you baby in the crib is a fun way for them to explore the crinkly sound as they move around.

Before I forget! I made a FREE handy checklist for you of the 16 activities to try with your baby. Click below and I'll email it to you. Try printing it out and hanging it on your fridge to see how many you can check off over the next couple of months. Enjoy!

5. Mirror Talking

Holding your little one in front of a mirror is a great activity to help your baby discover new faces and expressions.

6. Tippy Toe Dancing

Babies love to be on their legs. By supporting your baby under the armpits, they can play on their tippy toes and gain leg strength.

7. Exercise Ball Tummy Time

Using an exercise ball is an exciting way to mix up tummy time. By carefully supporting your baby, gently roll them forward and backwards and left to right while their belly rests on the ball. 

8. Bubble Blowing

As your baby begins to focus, they will have fun watching bubbles float in front of them. Keep a container of bubbles on hand for fun outside!

9. Read Board Books

Reading board books is fun for little ones of all ages. There are quite a few board books that integrate different materials teaching your baby new feels. We love the Usborne touchy feely books.

10. Squats with Baby

The up and down movement of squats is fun for the baby and an easy way to get in a little postpartum exercise for mom. Try different squats while holding the baby--wide squats, narrow squats, plié squats etc.

11. Swing with Baby in Wrap

Brody has loved movement from the time he was in the womb. In the early weeks, we would wrap him up in his wrap and swing gently at the park. The swaying movement almost always put him to sleep. 

12. Flashlight Play

Shining a flashlight on the ceiling in a dark room can be an enjoyable activity for your little one. 

13. Kicking in a Pan of Water

Filling a small pan with water and letting your baby's feet explore the wet sensation as they lay on their back is an easy way to entertain!

14. Superman

Holding your newborn in a superman pose is another way to mix up the tummy time routine. Brody loves being held in the Superman pose, especially when there are dogs walking around that he can look at. 

15. Jingle Bells in Sock

Place a large jingle bell in each of your baby's socks. Watch him or her have fun kicking their legs and exploring the noises it makes each time. 

16. Leg Bicycles 

Babies love to move their legs. Making a bicycle motion on their legs is a fun way to play, and also a great way to help relieve gas!

Below are a few of my favorite toys that we used with Brody and Isla

One | Geode Rattles | These are small enough to fit in baby's hand, but big enough to keep out of their mouth!

Two | Sensory Teether Toy | This is the perfect shape for those tiny hands to grab onto.

Three | Black & White Panel Book | The constrasting patterns are perfect for stimulating their little brains. Plus it sits up on its own, so its perfect for tummy time or diaper changes.

Four | Swan Rattle | Isla obviously needed this rattle.

What are some of your favorite activities for ages 0-4 months? Have you tried any of these?

RELATED: What I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me About Postpartum

Don't forget to download the FREE checklist!