Playing Games with Your Baby

Babies of this age need to put everything in their mouth if they are to understand what it is: it is therefore important to give the baby things to touch and hold which are safe and relatively clean, with no sharp edges. You don't have to sterilize toys, but it is a good idea to wash them regularly.

There are several simple exercises which you can do with a baby of this age. Many babies enjoy standing on the floor and bouncing on their legs, testing out taking their weight, but they need to be held firmly while you bounce them. They will also like bouncing games on your knee. Most babies also enjoy being lifted up into the air and returned to safety.

By playing with your baby in this way you are helping her to exercise muscles she cannot use unaided, as well as providing entertainment for her - and enjoyment for yourself at the same time.

By the time the baby is four to five months old, she is not only more robust but also very responsive. Many parents find physical play with babies of this age very rewarding as the baby obviously derives great pleasure from it.
Games and exercises for your baby:

* Lie on your back on the floor with your knees raised and the baby sitting on your stomach, resting against your knees. Hold her hands and, as you sit up, lower her so that you are facing each other - then say `boo'. Repeat, pulling her up as you lie down.

* Lie on your back and rest your baby on the lower part of your legs. Bring your knees up so that the baby 'takes off' and lift her arms up into the air.

* Sit your baby facing you on your lap, and hold her hands. Say: This is the way the lady rides, trit-trot, trit-trot, trit-trot' (jogging very gently). This is the way the gentleman rides, a-gallop, a-gallop, a- gallop' (jogging with alternate legs). 'This is the way the farmer rides, hobbledy-hoy, hobbledy-hoy' (uneven jiggling like a limping horse) - and down into a ditch!' (dropping her gently).

* Bounce your baby on your knee to the tune and the words of 'Half a pound of tuppenny rice, half a pound of treacle, mix it up and make it nice, pop goes the weasel!'

* Finger games such as 'Round and round the garden' and 'This little piggy went to market'.

* Sit on the floor with your legs stretched out and the baby lying with her head towards your toes, looking up at you. Hold her hands and pull her up towards you as you lean back, and lower her as you rock forward, singing.

* 'Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream.'

* Another song she might like is: * `I love to row in my big blue boat, My big blue boat, My big blue boat, I love to row in my big blue boat, Over the deep blue sea.'