Baby Games

Word Play:  Your baby is a listener.  Your voice was a ``womb sound"  to her/him and it is as reassuring as your heartbeat and the warmth of your cuddles.  Your baby's hearing is almost completely developed at birth, and she is calmed by human voices, especially yours.  She is soothed by soft, rhythmic sounds, such as a ticking clock.  She likes melodic sounds, especially your singing.  She may enjoy listening to music boxes.

Smile Dance :  Holding your baby tenderly, do a smile dance together.  Move in and out of her visual range as you dance.  As she smiles at you, go close to her and smile.  Let her establish her own smiling rhythms and come and go as she pleases with her smiles.  When she smiles, move close.  When she stops smiling, move back.

Mirror Games:  A mirror is a world of wonder for your new born.  A stainless steel, nonbreakable mirror, fastened in your newborn's crib, provides endless delights.  Find a mirror that will show her whole body, not just her head.  Your newborn will soon realize that when she moves, so will the baby who lives in her mirror.  Show your newborn the people who live in the mirror world;  your cat, her bear, and all her important people.  Use a mirror whenever you have a chance.  If you have a full-length mirror, "park" her infant seat in front of it sometimes.