How to play with your 2-month-old
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Did you know that your baby can already play? Even though it looks different from the more active version you’ll start seeing in a few months, your baby is beginning to explore their environment in playful ways.
A simple interaction with you—even one that lasts 30 seconds—is one of the earliest forms of play and paves the road for more complex interactions and exploration later on.
How do I play with my baby at 2 months?
It can be hard to know how to entertain a 2-month-old all day long. The good news: You don’t really need to do much to keep them engaged. In the first few months of life, as your baby learns to filter sensory information, they get plenty of stimulation from the sounds, lights, temperature, movements, and other aspects of their environment. They don’t need to be surrounded by toys—just one or two playthings is plenty, or even just your face to look at ❤️
Eye contact and focus are often fleeting at this age, so a play session may be extremely brief. If you see smiles and eye contact, keep interacting with your baby. If they start to fuss, look away a lot, or yawn, they may need a break.
Play-based activities for your baby:
- Gently move a plaything or Black and White Card back and forth in their field of vision.
- Talk to them in “parentese”—a high, sing-song voice—about what they might be seeing.
- Engage in face-to-face interactions with them when they’re alert—the best time is right after they’ve woken up and are fed.
- Use routines, like bathtime, diaper changes, and feedings, to interact. You can sing them a song about what you’re doing: “I’m scrubbing your toes, toes, toes, and now your belly, belly, belly.” If this prompts your baby to glance at you, pause and give them a big smile before you continue.
- Practice eye-tracking skills with other playthings, like The Mobile, the Black & White Cards, and the Wooden Book.
Author
Team TurtleBee