Tag: infant

Bath-time Fun!

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Bathtub Fun (3)

Two months ago, I posted about Veronika’s switch to the big girl tub (well, big baby tub anyway). Now that she’s able to sit up for short spells on her own, we can make bathtime even more fun! As always, never leave your baby unattended in the tub, even for a moment, and keep a supporting hand on a baby even once they’re able to sit; everything is slipperier in the water!

One great new toy we have is a puppet washcloth. You can find these adorable washcloths with animal heads just about anywhere (ours is from Target), and they make bathtime truly entertaining. Veronika’s little fox likes giving kisses to toes and knees and tummies!

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She also loves to pat at the bubbles in the water.

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I pat my hand in the bubbles to add to the fun. You can do this rhythmically along to a song or nursery rhyme. Row Row Row Your Boat is a go-to in our tub.

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And as always, she has her plastic tub toys to play with; she’s getting much more dexterous at holding them even with slippery hands.

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At this age, I recommend skipping any fancy battery-operated toys. As long as its plastic and watertight, it can join baby in the water.

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Happy bathing!

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Exploring Taste & Texture

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Your five month old may have just begun solids, or tasted a few purees by this point – and even if he or she is still only drinking milk, babies this age love mouthing everything. Taste is such an important way in which little ones learn about the world, and this game lets them explore with the mouth safely!

I sat Veronika comfortably in her high chair and placed a few curated objects in front of her: a wooden spoon, a rubber spatula, a frozen teether, and a few toys.

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She got to pick what came first. Hmm, the wooden spoon looked so interesting…

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…but it was hard and probably not very nice in the mouth.

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The rubber spatula came next. Aah, this was a bit softer. I talked about the texture as she gnawed, as well as its bright bold color.

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She always loves her frozen teether, and that got picked up next. This time I talked about its cold temperature, the soft nubby texture.

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If you’re supervising closely, let your baby have a piece of banana to explore. Veronika loved holding this. It smelled good too!

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She seemed very surprised when she put it in her mouth and found that it was really food. Be careful, since you don’t want a five month old biting off chunks. I did then smoosh some onto her tray for her to play with.

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Any other small toys work great for this game, too. Talk about the different textures of each as you play, and help your baby learn so much about the world!

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Shadow Show

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I haven’t used a flashlight during play with Veronika since she was quite little, and today I wanted to put on a little show for her. To be honest, she was more into my hands than their shadowed counterpart on the wall, but either way, she was entertained!

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Set your child someplace dim, and shine a flashlight on one wall. First, I gave a simple wave to introduce her to the idea of shadows.

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Next, try making animal shapes! A butterfly was fun.

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And this was something like a barking dog.

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For each shape, you can act out a story, if your little one is captivated.

We then thought it would be fun to show her the shadow of certain toys. Big brother Travis loved helping with this part!

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So although she wasn’t as into the shadows as the whole process, Veronika sure enjoyed our show.

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Tickly Toes

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Ok, spring has only just begun, but today I tantalized Veronika with a hint of the summer to come… With sand, that is! No matter what time of year you play this game, sand is a fantastic tactile and sensory play ingredient.

Since you don’t want sand anywhere near a baby’s hands or mouth, this is strictly a foot game for a five month old.

I poured some sand into a shallow baking tray, and sat with Veronika on my lap. I dipped her toes into the sand for a little feel. She seemed intrigued, although also confused.

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Swirl baby’s toes around or press gently into the sand. You can also pick up a little handful of sand and trickle it down over the toes – this will both feel good and look exciting!

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Once she tired of her toes in the sand, I took some time to pour sand from a cup for her, so she could further enjoy watching the sand sparkle. It won’t be long before this girl is at the beach!

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All Fall Down

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Try this adorable game to improve your baby’s hand-eye coordination, as well as skills like concentration or cause and effect. It also introduces a love of playing with boxes, something that’s sure to continue throughout the toddler years.

Small boxes are ideal for this game, to fit a baby’s small hands. We had a variety pack of cereal boxes that were just right for the job. I taped the empty boxes shut so no edges poked up.

First, I simply let Veronika hold and explore one. She was instantly drawn to it – probably because of that grinning cute tiger!

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Stack a few of the boxes together, just out of baby’s reach. This was a bit tricky, since Veronika is just learning to hold herself upright in a seated position, and she wanted to lunge for the boxes. Concentration, being built!

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Once I had a tower, I let her take a swing. Bam! We all fall down.

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If your baby doesn’t seem interested in the boxes themselves, you can set a toy on top of the tower as enticement.

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Once baby reaches for the toy… Boom!

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The boxes fall.

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But honestly Veronika was so eager to get her hands on the cereal boxes, the toy was a moot point.

Once we’d had enough of sitting and knocking down, I set the boxes up for tummy time.

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She also had fun with them while she played on her back. As always, boxes make excellent toys.

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Messy Play

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Veronika’s old enough now for her first messy sensory play, and this little game is a baby’s first introduction to ooblek!

As a reminder, “ooblek” is a fantastic substance that acts like a liquid in some circumstances, and a solid in others.

To make a very basic version, combine 1 cup cornstarch and 1/2 cup water in a bowl. Add just a few drops of natural food coloring.

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I sat Veronika down in her high chair – with sleeves rolled up and bib on! – and got ready for the mess.

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Drip some of the mixture onto the highchair tray. It will drip like a liquid, but solidify once on the tray. You can run your finger through it, and leave neat designs.

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She seemed hesitant at first, which surprised me; this is a girl who loves to get her hands in her food. But soon, her little fingers were squishing through the mixture.

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I very gently spooned some right into her fist. She squished and squeezed!

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Ooblek is fun!

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What sensory play does your baby like? Please share in the comments!

Bedtime Tape

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Back in the day, this activity would have required a tape recorder and cassette player. Now all you need is the voice recorder on your smart phone, and you can make recordings for your baby – songs, books, favorite nursery rhymes, you name it.

These little audio clips are great to have on hand when you can’t be there for bedtime. Pass along the files to grandparents or other caretakers, and your little one can hear your voice even when you’re gone!

First, I read through one of Veronika’s favorite bedtime books. As I recorded, she sat in my lap and looked at the pictures, cooing and gurgling.

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It makes the audio even more special that she’s on it!

Next I recorded a short lullaby, while she listened with wonder.

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She seemed to be asking why I was singing the song during the day!

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In fact, don’t feel like you need to save these clips for babysitting nights; Veronika liked listening to the book recording while she played.

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The clips are also great for car trips – it’s exactly like having a book on tape, except one that you made, instead of one you need to purchase.

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Exercise Outdoors

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Veronika was born just before the cold of winter set in, and all winter I couldn’t wait for fresh, spring weather. Not just so my baby girl could feel warm sun on her skin, but also because it means I get to exercise outdoors!

There’s no need to do anything fancy, but today, make a point of getting some exercise in the fresh air. You can find an easy walking or running trail near you – just make sure you have a true running stroller, if you’re going to be moving fast. Veronika loves the change of scenery when I do my power walks around the lake in our park, including a chance to see ducks and geese.

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For something a bit more organized, check out your local Stroller Strides. Veronika gets to check out the silly moves that mom does from nestled in her stroller, plus interact with the other babies! Our class has been indoors all winter, but I can’t wait for it to move out to the park once May rolls around.

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What’s your favorite way to exercise with baby outside? Please share in the comments.

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Jack-in-the-Box

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Here’s a cute and easy jack-in-the box that you can make for your infant. It’s a little less startling than the kind you buy where a wind-up figure pops out, making it a good intro to the toy. And you only need a few pantry items to make it!

Poke a hole in the bottom of a Styrofoam cup with a pencil.

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Push a straw through the hole, and attach a small   to the other end of the straw (I just taped one on).

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Hold the straw so the puppet is hidden in the cup, then… Peek-a-boo!

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Here’s a cute rhyme you can say before the big reveal:

Jack in the box, still as a mouse,

Deep down inside your little dark house.

Jack in the box, resting so still.

Will you come out? Yes, I will!

Lots of giggles and delight for this one.

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Big siblings will probably want to take a turn doing the popping, too.

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Yes and No

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I once knew a couple who were trying to raise their daughter without using the word “no,” the thinking being that toddlers start spitting this word back at us parents all too soon. I remember thinking this was brilliant; yet at the same time, there are moments when “no” is a very important word, especially when it comes to dangers a baby needs to learn. In fact, when my son was little I referred to outlets simply as “nope-ity nopes” for the first two years of his life!

So it is important for a baby to learn yes and no, and it’s good to start early. Today, I made a point of saying yes to all the good things Veronika did, and firmly saying no to the actions that were a little naughty. Of course, nothing she did today was terrible, usually just silly, but it’s good to set the precedent for when the real nos come along.

Whenever you say the word, you can also sign it. A fist “nodding” means yes, and your pointer pinching to your thumb means no. So, playing with toys always gets a yes.

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As does sharing with big brother.

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No, Veronika, you can’t eat big brother’s book!

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Yes, Veronika, play with your own soft book.

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No, Veronika, you can’t steal mommy’s list at the grocery store (and yes, she wants to eat this).

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Yes, Veronika, those are better toys to play with while in the cart.

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You can further highlight the difference between the two words by smiling for a yes, and frowning for a now. I definitely have an impish girl on my hands already, because she loves throwing her package of diapers off the diaper table. No, no, no sweet girl.

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But a hug from mommy or a nap on my tummy always gets a yes.

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