"Don't just make me sit there"
New moms often worry about bending their "fragile" firstborns the wrong way -- but infants are a lot more limber than we give them credit for. In fact, babies adore opportunities to feel the full range of their bodies, says Helen Garabedian, author of
Itsy Bitsy Yoga and mom of a toddler. In the yoga classes she teaches, moms help their babies stretch and move their arms and legs, and the babies are alert and content throughout. So go ahead: Sit baby up, stretch her out, and jiggle her around!
Easy, fun yoga positions for your child - Parenting.com
How to help your kids have the right kind of fun -- age by age - Parenting.com
As a firstborn and the first grandchild in the family, my 7-year-old daughter, Rachel, had been showered with nearly every developmental baby toy on the market by the time she was just a few months old. But I noticed that even though she loved many of the new high-contrast, battery-operated, brain-building gadgets she was presented with, she seemed equally entertained by old hats and handbags. While I was always happy whenever anything held her attention for an extended period of time, I couldn't help but wonder if I should try to steer her toward playthings specifically designed to boost her development.
As it turns out, I needn't have been concerned. "Babies are driven to explore," says Fergus Hughes, professor of human development at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and author of Children, Play and Development. "If something grabs their attention, it doesn't matter whether it comes from a store." So while there are lots of great toys specially designed to interest and stimulate your baby, you can do a lot to entertain her and help her learn. All it takes is a little imagination. Some ideas for every age:
Kelly King Alexander has written for Family Circle and Southern Living.
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