Articles

Key takeaways

• Play helps build your baby's brain connections and development.
• Simple interactions like talking and cuddling are powerful play.
• Play helps your baby feel secure and learn about the world.
• Your voice and face are your baby's favourite playthings.

The power of play for your newborn's development

Playing with your newborn is crucial for their development. It supports their brain and muscle growth and is one of the main ways babies learn about the world. Play helps your baby reach important early milestones and builds secure attachments. This in turn, supports developing emotional regulation, confidence, and future learning.

Your baby's brain contains many cells at birth. As your baby experiences the world, these cells form connections, called synapses. Loving and responsive interactions help build these connections, laying the foundation for their future health and wellbeing.

Simple actions like talking, singing, and looking into their eyes meet your baby's needs. Being touched, stroked, and rocked helps their brain make healthy connections. Feeding, cuddling, and comforting your baby also play a vital role in this development.

Your guide to newborn play and stimulation

While there are many toys available, your baby's best plaything is you. Simple activities such as sight, sound, touch and tummy time are the simplest form of play.

Sight

Your baby loves to look at faces, and as a newborn, can best focus on your face when you hold them around 20 cm away.

Your baby will recognise your voice and smell and will naturally turn their face towards you. Looking, talking, and smiling at your baby helps them learn how to interact with others.

• Eye contact – Give your baby plenty of eye contact and smiles. This helps them learn to recognise you.
• Following faces – By around two weeks old, your baby's eyes may begin to follow your face.
• Pointing things out – Watch what interests your baby. If something catches their eye, point to it and name it.
• Changing positions – Move toys or mobiles near their cot to encourage your baby to turn their head and explore.

Sound

Talking and singing to your baby helps develop their language and communication skills. Your baby has been hearing your voice from around 16 weeks of pregnancy, which helps them recognise familiar voices and feel safe.

Your baby loves the sound of your voice and also enjoys watching your face, so sharing songs and simple speech is one of their first experiences of play.

• Singing – Sing songs, nursery rhymes, or make up your own. Your baby enjoys hearing your voice, whatever it sounds like.
• Talking – Describe what you are doing, talk through daily routines, or read a book to support early language skills.
• Sing-song voice – Use a warm, animated tone, speak slowly, and make eye contact to help keep your baby engaged.
• Responding to sounds – When your baby makes noises, gently copy them back. This helps them learn about listening, turn-taking, and communication.
• Quiet time – Spend some time each day without background noise (such as TV or phones) so your baby can focus on your voice.

Touch

Gentle touch and massage have benefits for both you and your baby. Skin-to-skin contact helps your baby thrive and also helps you feel more confident as a parent.

• Cuddles – Hold your baby as much as you can, as this helps them feel safe and loved.
• Gentle movements – Tickle their face, count their fingers and toes, or blow gently on their tummy.
• Stroking – Stroke their hands, feet, or face. You can also place your baby face down on your lap and gently stroke their back.
• Dancing – Put on some music and dance with your baby in your arms – most babies enjoy the gentle rocking motion.
• Baby massage – You can start baby massage from birth, using natural oils like grapeseed or almond oil. Stop if your baby gets distressed.

Tummy time

Tummy time is when your baby spends time lying on their tummy. It helps strengthen their neck, shoulders, back, and trunk muscles, supporting the skills needed for sitting and crawling.

You can start tummy time from birth by placing your baby on your chest, when you are awake and alert and unlikely to fall asleep.

When your baby is ready, you can also try tummy time on the floor or a playmat. Always do this when your baby is awake, alert, and supervised.

• Start small – Begin with short sessions and build up gradually over time.
• Little and often – Short, frequent sessions are best in the early weeks.
• Support if needed – If your baby finds it hard to lift their head, place a rolled towel under their armpits for support.
• Make it engaging – Place toys nearby, talk, and interact with your baby.