Birth - 5 Months

UP MY LITTLE BABY

While supporting his back with your forearms, and his head with your hands, pull him from a prone to a sitting position and back again, accompanied by a singsong refrain of:

Up my little baby comes
Down my little baby goes
Peek around, have you found
Baby's wiggly toes?

At the end, give his tootsies a tickle. You can fill in your child's name for "baby." The changing table is a great spot to try this.

5 - 8 Months

BEYOND PEEKABOO

Hold a clean burp cloth or dish towel in front of your face and ask "Where's Mommy (or Daddy)?" but don't pull the cloth away yourself. Wait for your baby to do it. When he reaches for it and sees you, say "Here's Mommy!"

9 - 12 months

ITSY BITSY SPIDER

We all loved this one as kids!

The Itsy Bitsy Spider went up the water spout.
(Make circles out of thumbs and forefingers-put tips together-twist upward.)

Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
(Wiggle fingers while moving downward-push outward.)

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain;
(Make a big circle with arms over head.)

And the Itsy Bitsy Spider went up the spout again.
(Make circles out of thumbs and forefingers-put tips together-twist upward.)

13 - 18 months

HIDE AND SEEK

Tell your toddler you're going to hide. When you do, pick someplace near and hard to miss (you can't make it too tough, or the little guy may start to worry). When he finds you, act amazed. Laughter is sure to follow. Of course, your little guy can take a turn at hiding too. Another twist: hide a favorite stuffed animal, and the two of you hunt together.

---