Sensory Baby Game

The Healing Power of Touch

The most important form of touch is that between parents and their babies. A sensory baby game as well as hugs, kisses and cuddles is comforting to babies as well as helping their brains to grow! Rocking you baby and playing touching games strengthens your bonds with each other and will help your baby to develop visually.

Once your baby is sitting up you can hang objects within his reach. With a little help from you to reach for a bell on a string he will quickly realise that his actions have an effect. Not only does the bell move but it also makes a noise! His role then automatically becomes one that is more active after spending his first few months of life being a passive onloooker.

Touching Games
Holding, touching and kissing your baby communicate to him that he is loved and cherished. As well as the touching you do in the normal course of the day, there are many other touching games that you can play.
Gently blowing on different parts of your baby's body and talking or singing about each body part will help him to learn the parts of his body while interacting with you. Avoid blowing in a young babies face until they are at least 3-4 months old- it can startle them. Instead blow on his feet, palms, fingers and neck.

Massage
Massage is a soothing way to teach your baby about the benefits of touch. Gently and slowly massaging your baby is relaxing for you both! Be sure not to apply too  much pressure and make sure the room is nice and warm.  A great time for a massage is when your baby is a bit restless in the evening. Add a drop of lavender oil to the massage oil (use almond or olive oil) and see your baby relax, ready for a good night's sleep!

Let's Make Noise!
Many cot bumpers and cloth books now come with crinkly paper inside them as do hanging toys for prams or overhead playgyms. You can also fill plastic bottles with lentils, nuts or small bells for your baby to shake or roll around at home.
All of these baby games teach your baby about cause and effect and encourage her to explore her environment.
She will also enjoy banging a wooden spoon against a saucepan or other objects as well as exploring different rattles.

**TIP- Make sure any containers you use can be sealed tightly without the risk of the contents spilling out. I prefer to recycle small plastic bottles like those for supplements or tablets with child-proof lids to be completely safe.

Furry, Smooth, Soft
Babies can have very limited tactile sensation, laying on a playmat or being in a bouncing chair all the time. Be sure to give them plenty of different items to touch and feel; objects that are soft, hard, squishy, smooth, furry, coarse, wet... just make sure they are also safe to go into a mouth! Another way for him to explore is to let him play on different surfaces without any clothes when the weather is warm enough. He can use his whole body to feel the different textures and also have the opportunity to start rolling (at about 4-5 months) and kicking against different surfaces.

**TIP- Babies who are given more nappy-free play time where they can freely kick their legs are able to improve their muscle tone and co-ordination in readiness for walking. Attaching bells to her ankles will make the baby game even more fun!

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