Play from birth to one: simple ideas for every stage

Play does not need a playroom, a schedule or expensive toys. For a baby, play is simply how they learn about the world: their body, your face, sounds, objects and what happens when they do something. Here is a stage-by-stage guide to what your baby may enjoy in their first year. Every baby develops at their own pace, so think of these as ideas rather than deadlines.

Birth to 3 months: faces and voices

Your newborn's favourite toy is you. They see best at around the distance from your arms to your face, and they love high-contrast shapes.

• Hold your baby face to face and talk, smile and stick out your tongue. They may try to copy you.
• Slowly move a brightly coloured or black-and-white toy from side to side for them to follow with their eyes.
• Do short tummy time sessions, including on your chest.
• Gently stroke their hands, feet and tummy during nappy changes, naming each part.
• Sing and hum, especially during feeds.

3 to 6 months: reaching and laughing

Your baby is discovering their hands, and soon everything goes into their mouth.

• Offer a light rattle or soft toy to grasp and shake.
• Hang toys within reach during supervised floor time on their back, so they can bat and kick.
• Prop a baby-safe mirror in front of them during tummy time.
• Blow raspberries on their tummy and wait for the giggles.
• Play early peekaboo with your hands.
• Encourage rolling by placing a toy just to one side.

6 to 9 months: sitting and exploring

As your baby begins to sit, a new world opens up. They may enjoy banging, dropping and finding things.

• Offer a treasure basket of safe everyday objects.
• Bang pots and wooden spoons together.
• Hide a toy under a cloth and let them find it. This builds the understanding that things exist even when out of sight.
• Play "drop it" from the high chair. Yes, again. And again.
• Have babble conversations: copy their sounds and wait for a reply.
• Share board books and touch-and-feel books.

9 to 12 months: moving and doing

Your baby may be crawling, pulling up, cruising along furniture, or even taking first steps.

• Make a safe obstacle course of cushions on the floor to crawl over.
• Stack cups and blocks so they can knock them down.
• Offer a posting box or shape sorter.
• Roll a ball back and forth.
• Play clapping and waving games, and point and name things: "Look, a bird!"
• Try simple instructions: "Can you give Mummy the spoon?"
• Choose a sturdy push-along toy designed for babies who are standing, used on a flat floor with you close by.

A word about baby walkers

Baby walkers (seated frames on wheels) are not recommended. They can lead to falls down steps and give babies quick access to hot drinks, cookers and other hazards. They do not help babies learn to walk. Floor play and supervised cruising are better.

Follow their lead

The best play happens when you watch what your baby is interested in and join in. If they are staring at a leaf, talk about the leaf. If they are tired or turning away, it is time for a rest. Babies need calm, quiet moments as much as busy ones.

When to talk to someone

Babies develop at different rates, and many differences are normal. Talk to your health visitor or doctor if your baby seems to lose skills they had, does not respond to sounds or faces, is very floppy or very stiff, uses one side of their body much more than the other, or if you simply have a nagging worry. You know your baby, and asking is always all right.

Growing in every way

Luke describes the boy Jesus like this: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52). Growth in mind, body, faith and relationships, all together. That is what play nurtures in your baby too: wisdom as they work out how the world works, stature as their bodies grow strong, and favour as they learn they are loved by you and by God.

A prayer for growing

Father, thank you for every stage of my baby's growing. Help me to enjoy today's stage instead of rushing to the next. Let my baby grow in wisdom, strength and love, and let me grow alongside them. Amen.