Knowing that your baby spends most of the day eating and sleeping, you might wonder what you need to do to interact with this little bundle of love. You must remember that your baby, even though so little, he/she learns about the world every single second. This means that by having meaningful interactions with the people around, the baby will build connections, develop connections, develop language skills, and much, much more.
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6 Ways to interact with your little baby
Your baby is learning every time you talk, look at, rock, hold him/her. The baby is learning about the surroundings also the interaction he/she receives from you will teach the baby that his needs are being met. The baby’s senses are being stimulated by the sound of your voice and the feeling of your touch, which helps the baby to learn about the world around.
These interactions are also important to build a solid bond between you and your newborn. Use every single opportunity you get to talk to your baby, touch or look at him/her when you are appending time together.
Even when you have some chores to finish, you can use a sling or carrier to hold your baby close to you and use that time for interaction. This will make the baby feel closer to you, and the motions you make will soothe the baby. If your baby is lying down while you do your chores, you can use your voice to talk or sing to the baby, so again there will be some kind of interaction.
1. Talking to your baby
Your voice creates a soothing feeling for your baby. Even when you are not holding the baby, your voice can calm the baby and make him/her feel secure. Also, this way, the baby starts making connections and builds the foundations of his/her language skill. Therefore, the more you talk to your baby, the more you’ll be helping that development. You can talk to your baby about what you are doing at the moment or ask your baby questions even if you know they can’t answer you. Reading books is always one of the best ways for your baby to hear your voice and be introduced to many words.
2. Interacting while you feed the baby
This is one of the best opportunities to interact with your baby. Breastfeeding is a natural way for the mother to bond with her child, but you can create intimacy and closeness with bottle feeding as well. Here are some ways to interact with your baby while bottle feeding or nursing: use your voice in a shooting tone, sing nice lullabies, rock the baby, hold the baby close to you, gently touch the baby’s face, arms, and legs, while you nurse the baby use the skin-to-skin contact to create a stronger bond.
3. Help with the baby’s development
Your baby’s development relies on all the positive interactions you create with him. Physical development is supported by giving your baby tummy time. If done properly, tummy time can develop the muscles in the baby’s shoulders, neck, and upper body, which will lead to gaining head control. If you move objects which your baby can track with the eyes while lying down on the back can also help with the baby’s development.
Remember that too much stimulation can cause the baby to fuss and cry. Loud sounds, too much light, or movement can upset the little baby. It varies from one baby to another how much stimulation will be too much. The signs of the baby feeling distress will be fussiness, turning away, or arching his/her back. As soon as you see these signs make sure you decrease the stimulations. If it is too loud, turn the volume down. If it is too light, darken the room, and so on. What will help in this situation is picking up your baby and holding him/her in your arms.
4. Tummy time
Babies should be sleeping on their back, but while they are awake, the baby needs to spend time on the tummy under your supervision. Tummy time is important for developing some of the motor skills, and it keeps the head from getting flat spots. If the baby doesn’t like the tummy time, you can lay next to the baby and help him/her to lift the head up. You can use soft blankets and towels with different kinds of colors and textures to put under the baby while you do this exercise.
5. Entertain the baby
The baby will look sleepy almost all the time in the first month or so. But soon after, you will notice a quick change in the baby’s behavior as he/she becomes more alert for prolonged periods. Make sure you use those moments to interact with your baby and make him/her feel loved and secure. When the baby becomes more alert, he/she tends to look around and take in the surroundings. Take the baby in your arms so that he/she can see your face—sing, talk, smile, etc. at your baby. You can try changing your voice to keep his/her attention. Usually, babies enjoy movement, so you can dance or sway while you hold him/her in your arms and see the reaction.
Toys are also a good way for the baby to explore different colors, shapes, and noises. Baby swings, gyms, and bouncers’ seats are fun for most babies, but don’t let them spend too much time on them. His development is mainly supported by the interactions he does with you.
6. Go outside with your baby
Your baby needs some fresh air and vitamin D. Walking outside will not only be fun for the baby, but you will also enjoy it. Make sure you are walking away from traffic. Ideally, the best would be a walk in the park or a forest if there is one nearby. The baby will be introduced to new surroundings, sounds, and shapes.
Finally, just slow down
Just turn your phone on silent from time to time. Give your full attention to your baby and adjust to his/her pace. You would want to use every moment you can to watch them grow. Because they operate at a slower pace than you, it is up to you to slow down, relax and enjoy the moments.
