
Pregnancy/Baby
Let the Baby Games Begin!
By Debbie Montgomery
June/July 2002
Feed the baby. Change the baby.
Burp the baby. Bathe the baby. Sure, parenting is a hard job, but
all work makes for a dull day. It's time for some fun.
The typical newborn cannot even smile, but it's never too early
to start playing with your baby. Babies like smiling faces even
in their earliest days. Cut out happy people pictures from magazines
and tape them around the top of the crib. Talk to them about any
old thing and sing, sing, sing - even if singing is not your forte.
They'll never tell. Pull out strings of colored beads and show them
to baby one by one.
The earliest days are a great time for show and tell. Take babies
outside as often as possible. They may not yet be ready for stroller
or backpack travel in the first few weeks, but let them cuddle up
on your shoulder while you whisper sweet nothings in their ear.
They will be happy and amazed just walking around their own yard
or down the street. They've got a whole world out there to meet.
Start with home territory.
Large stores and their fluorescent lights may be bothersome to
babies at first, so avoid those when possible during the first month.
On the other hand, very young babies don't seem to mind small shops
and restaurants, even those with live music. Pet stores are a great
place to visit for babies of any age. Farms are fabulous, too. If
you don't have access to a farm, then visit some of the UGA pigs
and sheep on South Milledge Avenue, or try Bear Hollow Zoo at Memorial
Park.
Once your baby reaches the age of two or three months, he or she
should be smiling. So give him or her something to smile about.
Toys are still not too important, but try placing something bright
like a red and yellow rubber Pooh off to the side and just within
her reach while you're changing her diaper. You'll be amazed how
soon she learns to bap it down. Baby's first trick. Wow!
Try a game. Spiral your wiggling fingers closer and closer until
they land on the tummy, tickling gently, while chanting, "Round
and round the garden like a teddy bear." Then let your fingers
walk toward the armpit while you say, "One step, two step,
tickle you under there!" If your child is more ticklish under
the chin, head for that location instead. Just remember not to overdo.
It's never too early to exercise. Spread out an old quilt, sheet,
or bedspread and start spending some time on the floor. To encourage
crawling, lay baby on stomach and place favorite toys just a few
inches away.
Another exercise to try begins by laying baby on his back. Gently,
very gently, raise baby's hands above his head, then down to baby's
hips, up and down, up and down , all the while saying "uuup"
and "dooowwwn" Remember to smile BIG.
Believe it or not, this maneuver produces major laughs. It feels
so good for baby to stretch a little, and he can't quite do it on
his own yet. For an encore, try the same thing with arms out to
the sides and then crossed over the chest, saying "ooouuut"
and "iiiiin" over and over again. He'll love it. I promise
at least a big grin.
That is, I promise a big grin if baby is in the right mood. As
you may have noticed, babies can be moody. After you meet her basic
needs (see paragraph one), she may want to play, sleep or just think.
Usually a baby who's ready to play will look you in the eye. Frequent
eye contact adds spice to all of these games. When baby starts looking
away often, or fretting verbally, then it's time to quit goofing
around and start cuddling, or rocking, or feeding, or whatever else
it is that baby wants to do.
It's not too early to try picture books. Don't feel silly just
because baby doesn't really get the plot. You're trying to start
a good habit. Many babies enjoy the sensory experience of sitting
in your lap and looking at something with you while listening to
your voice. Some babies do not. If yours is one of these, then try,
try again, but please don't worry. Plenty of people who would not
sit for reading at an early age got into Harvard anyway.
Make up your own story or even change it every time you read the
same book. You don't have to use the words printed on the page.
It's okay to change the gender of the book's main character any
time you like until baby learns to read it for himself.
Once your baby has enough strength to hold up his head, you can
lay on your back, set baby's stomach on yours and lift him slowly
up above your head, then bring him down again. Remember to say "uuuuuuup"
and "dowwwwwn."
Lap games are good for babies who have learned to sit up. Hold
baby on your slightly raised knees and chant "Ride a horsey,
ride a horsey, go to town. Ride a horsey, ride a horsey, don't fall
down." Say the last line with wide spaces between the words,
and on the "down" there should be a bump, up and down,
from your knees.
Another popular one is "This is the way the ladies ride, ladies
ride, ladies ride. This is the way the ladies ride, prance, prance,
prance." Your knees should be bouncing gently up and down.
Then the gentlemen ride, trot, trot, trot, and knees go side to
side. When the hunters ride, gallop, gallop, gallop, knees go wildly
every which way and you should hold onto baby tight.
There are many other rhymes as well as patty cake games that can
be found in books and by asking grandparents. Try the infant storytime
offered every other Monday morning at 10 and 11 a.m. at the Athens
Clarke County Library. Visit Athens Mothers' Center, which sometimes
offers a class in baby games. Their voice mail number is 552-8554.
You can also join or start a play group.
Whatever you do, remember to have fun. Parenting gets easier every
day, especially if you play. When you relax, it helps the baby relax.
Don't worry about being too silly. That's part of your job.
Debbie Montgomery has a Masters Degree in Journalism from the University
of Georgia. She has been writing columns and free-lance articles
for various publications in the Athens area for over twenty years.
Debbie is a former television hostess and also worked as a library
story lady for several years. She currently lives in a big old house
with a big old yard with her husband Marion and their three children,
ages 3, 11 and 13.
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