Keeping Baby Interested

Materials You Need: Only the usual objects or playthings your baby often likes. 

What You Can Do Together: At this age, your baby cannot say “I am bored” or “I like this, please do not stop!” By observing how your little one behaves, you may know whether your baby might be interested in looking at or doing something new. Your baby might start fussing or turn away from something that he or she was interested in before. Or perhaps she or he just needs to be in a new place or position.  

Try a few things to keep your baby curious, alert, and satisfied. You know your baby best. Maybe a new object to hold will fascinate her or him a bit longer.  Or you might pick your baby up, walk around a bit, and look at new parts of the room. Or perhaps there has been enough “tummy time” and your baby wants to be on her or his back with something to look at. 

You do not need to do something different every minute, but just pay attention to your baby’s signals and make some simple changes if a bit more, or a bit less, stimulation may make your baby contented and interested. 

What Your Child is Learning:  Even before your baby can move around or talk, your baby has ways of telling you what she or he needs. Simple changes in objects to look at or hold, or small changes in your baby’s position, will open the door to new learning opportunities. Over time, you’ll find out what works to give you time for yourself and your baby time for learning.