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Activity for 0+ month olds
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Babies develop at a very fast pace during pregnancy. Once they are out they may look perfect and like complete little person, but in reality, many things still need time to develop and grow until they are fully functioning.
One clear example is sight. Babies are born being able to see 8 to 10 inches from their face. This distance increases with time, reaching sight's full development at age 10 (although most kids can see almost as clearly as a typical adult between ages 3 and 5).
Because of the short distance that babies' sight reaches, it is important to help them focus on things to train their eye muscles. The best way to do this is with highly contrasting images... mainly black and white, since those are the most opposite shades.
There are many things you can introduce to your baby to help with their development. Here is a list of a few things, ranked from first approach up to later baby stages, that can help you with this important task.
MOBILES
Mobiles are not necessary for babies. This is not a must have or something that will make a huge impact in your babies development. But, it is my opinion that having one will bring some good things.
Firstly, it will allow you to feel connected to your baby before they are even born if you spend time preparing a nursery or their own space. In second place, having a mobile can be a good distraction for your baby for them to fall asleep and wake up with something to do (listen and look at it). Finally, it will be a good asset for you to know they are looking at something that isn't just cute or fun, but it is also helping them focus their eyes to develop their muscles.
As an added benefit, you can choose to DIY your baby's mobile. Here are some ideas for you to make them, or buy the DIY kit.
- One: Wooden with felt neutral-colored pompoms and stars.
- Two: Wire frame with patterned-paper windmills.
- Three: Strings with 3D shapes.
There's also these from amazon. I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase from my links.
- One: Musical mobile.
- Two: Felt animals and pompoms.
- Three: Fabric and felt stars and animals.
SOFT BOOKS
Soft books are great for you to show your baby. They are safe for them to grab, chew, and swing around, without worrying that they may get hurt. You can make some with scraps of black and white fabric, with different patterns, etc; or buy them from Etsy, Amazon, or your favorite retail store.
- One: Shapes.
- Two: Animals with some red.
- Three: Letters, numbers, animals, shapes, fruits... with some red.
- Four: Quiet visual book.
TOYS
Having any type of -age appropriate- toys with high contrast colors like black and white is a great way to save money and be as minimal as possible by ensuring it is something your kids can play with for years to come, without compromising their development.
- One: Stacking tower blocks.
- Two: Stuffed teddy bear.
- Three: Bath time flash cards.
BOARD BOOKS
Board books are ideal for babies close to toddlerhood who want to engage in reading activities such as holding the book, turning the pages, pointing at objects, pretending to read, etc. These can help with hand eye coordination for the skills just mentioned and they can provide a sense of new and different experience from the soft/cloth books.
- One: Baby Rhymes.
- Two: Baby Animals.
- Three: Hello, My World.
CARDS
Wether soft cloth, paper, cardboard or wood, any type of flashcard that your babies can look at wherever they are will be an asset to your toy collection. Cards are easy to bring to any trip, car ride, stroller walk, or at home. Here I have some of my personal favorites.
- One: The big soft bundle.
- Two: With a mirror.
- Three: Big sized and two-sided.
STROLLER TOYS
Toys for the stroller are a must when you have planned a long walk, doctor's appointment or you plan to spend a long time away from home and having to keep your little one contained and entertained. You can opt for only visual ones, or you can go with ones that include textures, sounds, etc.
-One: Long wrap-around handle toy.
-Two: Musical three piece hanging toy.
-Three: Hanging noise-making shapes.
With all these options readily available to you through amazon and other online stores, it can be very overwhelming and confusing to know what to get, when to get it, etc. The recommendations above are just a few things I had that brought many laughs, learning experiences, and entertainment to my kids, and it brought some relief to me when I needed something to keep them entertained while I was busy or running errands.
That being said, you can choose to get these or others from many different places other than the ones I linked. For example, I am a huge fan and advocate for thrifting, so if second hand is your cup of tea, please go for it! We will be giving these toys a second chance, while reducing our footprint and saving money. On the other hand, if you do go with the links I have, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, so thank you for supporting my brand and my family through your purchases.
That is all I have to share on this topic. Thanks for reading and check out my other activities for all ages!
God Bless
Maria Ignacia