These games will help your baby develop neck and eye muscles. Listening Games Talk to your baby. Call out when you are coming to your baby’s crib. She will learn to recognize your voice and look forward to seeing you. Babies like simple games best. Look at your baby when you are about 10 inches away. Catch your baby’s eye and make a sound. Wait to see what she does. Make the sound again. If your baby likes the game, do it again. Make different sounds. Speak slowly, and make your voice have a high pitch. Use short phrases and change the tone of your voice. Invite your baby to respond by raising your eyebrow, changing your voice pitch, or saying something like, “What do you think?” Use different objects that make noise when you play with your baby. Babies like music boxes, bells, rattles, and squeak toys and even the crinkling of paper. Remember, though, babies only like to play for a minute or two at a time. Help your baby learn about the world by telling her about the sounds she hears. Tell your baby what is happening when the telephone rings, when you drop something, when you turn on the water in the sink, or even when she burps. When you say, “Did you hear that?” in an excited tone of voice, your baby thinks you are having fun, too. Learn your baby’s way of telling you that she is listening. She might smile, wiggle her body, or stop what she was doing to tell you she was listening. She may also show that she is listening in ways that are hard to see. She might change her breathing pattern or move her hand. Touching Games Your baby likes your touch. Rub her body and give her a gentle massage after her bath. Give your baby textures to touch. She likes the feel of soft fabric and different textures on her skin. Place her on a clean carpet, a terry cloth towel, or a smooth blanket. Touch her arms and hands with stuffed animals, rubber toys, and smooth and rough fabrics. Help Your Baby Learn to Roll From Side to Back When you have time to watch, find a rattle or noisy toy. Place your baby on her side. See if she will follow the noisy toy with
her eyes and then roll to her back. If she doesn’t, help her by gently moving her shoulder or hip. Rolling from back to side is hard. When she does roll over, even with your help, be sure to praise her by talking to her and give her loving hugs.

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