3SKILLS P L YA

Ynoeuwrb0oto 6rweneks YOU NEED NEWBORN Not sure what to do with your baby when she’s not sleeping or feeding? Playtime at this stage is relatively simple

The newborn stage can be a daunting one for parents. There is a glut of information and advice about newborn play and early stimulation and it’s easy to get confused about how much, when and what kinds of play are appropriate during this special period. Also, as parents, this is an enormous period of learning and growth for us and we need to appreciate the lessons we can learn from the newborn stage.

It is important to remember that for the first six weeks of life, your baby will (hopefully) be sleeping and feeding with not very much awake time in between. Play becomes a natural part of your interaction with your baby and can easily become part of your daily routine. Also, at this stage your baby is not interested in the latest toy on the market – her fascination is with you and other people in your home, so it makes play time accessible and consistent.

FLEXIBILITY

As moms we all strive for some sense of routine. That’s what the books tell us we need to do and we feel like it may be the only sense of control we will ever have again. But remember, in the first weeks of life, a baby needs to feel loved, nurtured and supported and this is often not done through following strict routines. At this time, flexibility is key. Yes, it is hard to do when you have all those daily chores to attend to or plans to make, but this is a short lived and important stage of your baby’s development that you need to give in to.

The more you are able to adapt to your baby’s needs and be present for her, the more settled and content she will be. And don’t worry too much about stimulating play. Right now, the right kind of stimulation may well be having your baby with you in the kitchen while you cook