How important is play and stimulation to a tiny baby? Very!

Babies respond to sounds and movements from a very early age, as most mums will testify – how many of us had bumps which would kick and wriggle madly when certain songs were played, or when the vacuum cleaner or washing machine went on? A lot of the acrobatics and jigs performed by babies in the womb are a direct response to what is going on outside!

From the moment your baby is born, he responds to the world around him, be that by the way he blinks when a light is shone in his eyes, or the way he jumps or cries when a loud or unexpected noise startles him.

Amazingly, the ear is formed by the sixteenth week of pregnancy, and hearing is pretty finely tuned – although not fully developed - by birth, meaning babies will recognise their mum's voice immediately after they are born. And their sight - although somewhat fuzzy - is still clear enough to see around fifteen inches in front of them, which means babies particularly enjoy watching their mummy's face – so when your baby is staring adoringly at you during feeding or cuddle time, he really does have eyes just for you!

Despite this, we often consider our newborns 'too young' to understand – or need – sensory stimulation, yet a baby of just a few weeks old can briefly follow a toy moved in front of them, and from then on, as all their senses start to fully develop, life is just one big learning adventure!

Newborn timeline:

1 week – Blinks at lights and recognises mummy's face!

6 weeks - Starts to smile properly – not just from wind!

3months – Begins to babble and develop facial expression!

6 months – Reaches out with greater skill and starts to sit up unsupported!

1 year – Some babies are walking unaided by a year – others are still perfecting that bum shuffle!

Toys for tiddlers

Parental interaction is surely the most important stimulus in those first twelve months – from your baby responding to you blowing raspberries, to mimicking you by sticking out his tongue, or squealing with delight at tickles and peek-a-boo games – all those wonderful, cherished moments together are educational and aiding his development and arousing his senses – true 'learning through play!'

But there are some toys worth buying, even for the tiniest baby. Lying your little one under a baby-gym will help with his hand-to-eye coordination and focussing – even the youngest babies enjoy the bright colours and moving elements of activity centres or mobiles, and by around three months he will be reaching out for all those tantalizing, dangling toys!

Top Tip:

Not all your baby's toys have to be expensive, shop-bought offerings – try making rice-shakers (grains of rice in a safe and secure container) for your baby to hold and shake, or put crackly baking-parchment in the foot of his pram for him to rustle with his toes! Older babies will enjoy banging objects with wooden spoons or plastic beakers – as long as it is safe, non-toxic and non-breakable, let them explore!

Did you know?

Even the tiniest babies will enjoy looking at their reflection in a (safe, non breakable) mirror, but they won't know it is 'them' until around fifteen months old!