Summary
Basic principles
Stimulation activities
Basic concepts
The next two videos show two ways of positioning the baby for active play. The baby will remain calmer with a toy in hand. You can also attach toys or small objects to your wrist or to a child safety bracelet to avoid having to pick up!
Holding the baby in your arms
- Hold the baby with one hand under his bottom for support and one hand around his chest for proper posture.
- Hold the baby’s legs flexed so that he can concentrate on the activity at hand.
- Roll the baby’s shoulders slightly forward so he can hold an object more easily.
- Protect your own back by contracting your abdominal muscles and using your lower arms.
Holding the baby seated
- Bring the baby’s bottom all the way back so she’s sitting properly and not resting on her lower back. Readjust when needed.
- Use your arm and the palm of your hand to support the baby.
- Avoid holding the baby tightly with your fingertips, as the baby might find it uncomfortable.
STIMULATION ACTIVITIES
Before you begin
- Loosen the baby’s diaper for comfort.
- Dress the baby in comfortable clothing for freedom of movement.
- Position the baby according to basic principles.
Rotation of the body in sitting – Part 1
- Make sure the baby is properly seated.
- Encourage the baby to turn by waving a toy or touching his hand with a toy.
- Give him time to react.
Rotation of the body in sitting – Part 2
- You can keep the baby steady by pressing your knees against his hips. This position allows for greater freedom of movement for the baby.
Playing with two toys at once
Over time, babies learn to grasp, hold, and manipulate objects.
- At first, babies will hold an object, then drop it when something more interesting comes along.
- Then they learn to transfer the object from one hand to the other.
- At some point, they progress to holding one object in each hand.
- Later, they learn to hold several objects in one hand.
From sitting to tummy and back again
Sitting position to lying down on tummy
-
- With your baby sitting, place one hand on the baby’s tummy.
- Start moving the baby to one side.
- Place your other hand on the baby’s bottom to guide the baby’s movement to lying down.
- As the baby gets better at it, you can gradually stop offering help.
Sitting up from tummy position
- Place one hand on the baby’s shoulder or tummy to guide the baby into sitting position.
- Place your other hand on the baby’s hips to hold him steady.
- Try to get the baby to use his arm for support.
- To get a better idea of what this activity involves, try doing it yourself. As you lie down and sit up again, note the moves and how the weight is distributed.
Fine motor skills – exploring toys
- Babies love to explore. They use everything at their disposal and all their senses to do just that.
- As babies play, they develop the fine motor skills and better body control that will serve them well later in life.
- You can encourage exploring by offering toys of various shapes, sizes, weights, colours, and textures.</span
- Toys with lights and sounds may also be appealing.</span
From sitting to all fours
- Guide the baby by putting one hand on his body and the other on his hips.
- When the baby is on all fours, one of his hands should always be used for support.
- Use your hand to keep the baby’s hips steady, and if necessary, use your legs as well.
- When the baby tries to sit up again, make sure to leave enough room for him to sit.
Rolling over
Rolling over on tummy
- Place your hands on the baby’s legs.
- With one hand, bend one of the baby’s legs at the hip and knee.
- With two fingers of the same hand, stimulate the baby’s abdominal muscles to contract.
- Hold the supporting leg extended, using your other hand; the baby will roll over onto the extended leg.
Rolling over from tummy to back
- With the baby in tummy time, help bring the baby’s shoulder closer to his chest; this is the shoulder he will roll onto.
- With one hand, keep the opposite leg bent at the hip and knee.
- The baby is now ready to roll!
Playing on tummy
- Use your arm to support the baby on one side.
- Attract her attention with a toy.
- With your free hand, keep the baby’s non-supporting leg bent. This will help the baby shift her weight to play with the toy.
Français