10 Things to do with Your Baby (No TVs or iPads in this list!)

Sometimes people ask what I do with Calla all day. Technically it's more like 4 hours than "all day" because once Poppy is back from school, they share me and my time.

But it got me thinking and I thought I would just list down some things that we do, in case there are mums of babies out there that have no idea what to do with their little ones and wouldn't mind some ideas:

1. Noisy things

Sometimes I bring out a pot for Calla to drum on while I'm doing the dishes. It keeps her occupied and she just loves hearing the sounds the pot makes. She usually just hits on the upturned pot with her hands but sometimes she also gets a wooden spoon to play with. 

2. Peek-a-boo

Cover your eyes and say "Where is Mama?", the. Pause and open your hands and say excitedly, "Here I am!". This never fails to get squeals out of Calla. We do this a lot at meal times. I have to make sure her high chair try is clear of food else it'll go splattering all over.

3. Balls

It was always on the back of my mind to buy a ball for Calla since most of Poppy's have already been out on the grass or sand and have been designated as "outside toys". But one day she found a toy bowling ball from her sister's bowling set and happily chased it, crawling around the house. Just like that. Balls are so great for crawlers :) 

Also, if you have a baby that sits, it's fun to roll a ball back and forth. It's a great way to teach taking turns and instructions like "Give to Mama". Make sure you celebrate each successful attempt with a "yay!" and clap! Babies love clapping :)

4. Reading

Babies learn from the laps of their parents, right? And what better way to learn than through books. Don't plunge into Shakespeare straightaway; there are lots and lots of gorgeous baby books to choose from. We particularly like the "That's not my...." series. Books with textures are so much fun!

We also made a cloth counting book, and take it out regularly to read. My mum, Max and I sewed the felt pieces on, and Max's mum and grandmother (who's nearing 90!) stitched the pages together. Apart from being bright and colorful to stimulate the babies' eyesight, I'm just so glad that they will have something so precious to share with their babies too! 

Read about the benefits of reading to baby here . http://myplayschool.net/10-benefits-of-reading-aloud-to-your-baby-from-day-one/

5. Baby hide-and-seek

Sometimes when she's on the high chair, I make sure she sees me as I walk behind a wall. Then I peep out and grin at her. She loves it. It also gives her affirmation that I may go, but I'll always be back. It helps with separation anxiety as well.

6. Nursery rhymes

Dig deep into your memory bank. I'm sure you will remember Humpty Dumpty and Three Blind Mice. Rhymes are great because you not only let your baby be soothed by your voice, but are also able to involve them with actions. 

I sang Itsy Bitsy Spider to baby Poppy very often and and used my fingers to reassemble rain trickling down her face. One of her first words was "rain" but long before she could say it, she mimicked my hand action. Took me a while to realize she was telling me it was raining outside!

7. Kiss attack
One of our favorite things to do with our babies is "Kiss attack". It literally is what is sounds like. We'll give each other knowing winks and whisper "Kiss attack?", nod to confirm acknowledgement, then launch attack. We kiss the kids all over but the neck and tummy are the most ticklish parts so that's where you'll get the most squeals.

I also like telling Calla "Now I'll kiss your cheeks" followed by cheek kisses, "Now I'll kiss your nose", followed by nose kisses etc and then finish off with a kiss attack :)

8. Go for walks
There are many things that are hard to recreate at home. A walk in the park, or just in the garden if you have one, allows you to show your baby trees swaying in the gentle breeze, dogs poo-ing, birds chirping. If your little one is old enough, let her down on the sand or grass to touch and feel for an all-rounded sensory experience!

9. Bubbles
Seat your baby on the high chair (we do it at our "front porch" cos then we don't have to worry about soap suds on the living room floor) and blow bubbles gently around her. I love how Calla reaches out to touch the bubbles. Bubbles are so wonderful to engage babies and drawing their attention. More about our bubble fun times here.

10. Talk, talk, talk!

Some people find this to be strange to the point of being ridiculous. Why talk to a baby who can't answer you? Simple - by doing so, you are giving her language development a boost. The more we talk to our babies, the more they will understand. 

What to say? It doesn't all have to be baby talk. In fact there are people who firmly avoid baby talk. I keep baby words to a minimum, but I'm talking to her almost all the time. When she's in the carrier with me, I point out things that we see, and tell her where we're going. For example, "We're going out to fetch your sister from the school bus now. She goes to school. Do you go to school? No.. You're still little. Some day you'll go to school too, and Mama can finally have a long afternoon nap."

If you feel an urge to do some prep for a really fun time, here are some other activities you can consider:
- Mess-free painting
- Baby-safe painting
- Baby car wash (or simply just playing with socks)
- Treasure bottles
- In and out
- Baby lava lamps
- Experiencing different textures
- Discovering sound

Have fun!