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Stimulating babies for their optimal physical and mental development

This stimulation basically involves various activities which can stimulate the basic ability of babies depending on how old they are so that they experience optimal growth and development. Did you know that playing with a baby is a great form of development stimulation? Providing stimulation regularly to babies can greatly help in their optimal physical & mental development. You can start providing continuous stimulation to a baby as soon and during each and every opportunity you get including breastfeeding, cradling, feeding, bathing, etc.

Who can provide this stimulation?

The main person has got to be the mother or father. The baby’s caregiver, other members of the family, etc. can also be involved in this. The basic capabilities of a baby which can be stimulated by these types of stimulation include rough motion capability, speech, language, smooth motion, self-reliance and social skills.

Talk to your baby

When your baby makes any sound, it is recommended that you encourage them to say it again and take the time to talk to them. These one-on-one interactions can go a long way in building a positive bond and increasing their language skills. When you respond to their coos, don’t forget to give them a chance to respond too. These pauses will help them learn exactly how conversations go in the real world. When you are around them, talk to them often and do not be afraid of using baby talk or using their name in order to build recognition. It is a fact that babies recognize and even enjoy listening to the voice of the people who they know.

Tips

Now, here are a few tips on how to stimulate babies that are 0-12 months old while creating an atmosphere which is fun:

  • 0-3 months: What you can do here is invert your baby and then move a toy which makes the sound in front of them. This will help them learn how to lift their head and will also teach them how to hold things using their hands. You can even try putting toys near them and wait till they get interested in them before moving it to the side so that they follow it. This will help them roll or tilt their body.
  • 3-6 months: Here you can get your baby into a standing position and then lower then slowly until their feet touch the floor. Let them then bounce by pushing both their feet. You can help them sit down, initially with a backrest to stop them from falling and then on their own. If they are having trouble, you can hold them up and put a toy in their hands. Pull the toy slowly from their hands to teach them how to hold things firmly. By putting small objects such as biscuits near them, you can teach them to reach for the objects. If the small objects aren’t edible, you should be careful that they don’t pick them up and try to eat them.
  • 6-9 months: You could try putting a toy beyond their reach so that they try crawling towards it. Make them sit on the floor or on the bed and then pull them into a standing position. When they start standing up, make them try walking while you hold onto their hands. You can also try teaching them to put all their toys into their container. Invite them to play drums with their toys too. Show them how to make noise.
  • 9-12 months: At this stage, you need to invite the baby to play with balls. Roll them towards the baby and make them roll it back. You can also start helping them to walk without any support from you.

Conclusion

The stimulation activities mentioned above are certainly going to help your baby stay happy and are also going to be quite useful in their mental and their physical growth.

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