Playing with a newborn can be quite strange as you are not getting much response yet, but I promise you that they are absorbing EVERYTHING you are showing, saying and doing with them!
So, here are 10 beautifully simple activities for 1 month old babies that will boost baby’s development and mind through fun games, perfect moments & everyday tasks!
Why Are Activities For 1 Month Old Babies Important?
From the moment your baby is born they are ready to start their amazing journey of life and you will be their guide!
As a new parent, playing with a 1 month old can be rather daunting as it will feel like you are not getting a lot in return!
However, interacting with your baby in these early days and weeks is vitally important to their development.
This is because playtime is vital for bonding, the development of your baby’s motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
In order to offer your baby the right activities, it is important to understand what your baby is capable of learning and what they will find stimulating and fascinating.
Do I Need To Entertain My Baby All Day?
Nope. There is no need to entertain your 1 month old every minute they are awake.
In fact, your 1 month old will not be able to stay awake and concentrate for very long and offering them too much stimulation can backfire and result in a very overtired baby!
While it is important to interact with your baby during these wake periods, it is also a good idea to offer them opportunities to play alone or just observe the world around them.
TOP TIP: Your average 1 month old will only be able to stay awake between 45 and 90 minutes before needing to nap again.
During this time, they will only manage 10-20 minutes of focused play at the most.
9 Important 1 Month Old Baby Milestones
Sight, sound, taste, touch and smell will be your 1 month old’s main ways of interacting with you and the world around them.
By one month your baby will be able to:
- Focus on an object 8-12 inches away,
- Be drawn to bold patterns,
- Love to look at your face and listen to your voice,
- Turn their head towards familiar sounds,
- Like the feel of soft toys and fabrics,
- Be able to lift their head very briefly while on their tummy,
- Hold your hand tightly if you place your finger in their palm,
- Recognise the smell of mother’s milk,
- Have less jerky movements.
Head over to my post 1 Month Old Baby Milestones for more information on understanding your newborn and learning how to enjoy this wonderful stage in your baby’s developmental journey!
Designed for busy parents, these sanity-saving cheat sheets provide simple, practical and effective parenting strategies to tame tantrums, create calm bedtimes, support thriving development, and more! See results within hours!
7 Tricks To Get The Most Out Of Playing With A 1 Month Old Baby
So, how do you play with a 1 month old?
Essentially, you are their favourite plaything.
Simple as that.
Your face, touch and voice will keep them entertained for ages, so learning how to make the most of this is KEY to playing with 1 month old babies!
Playing with your newborn should be spontaneous, fun, gentle, loving and enjoyable for both of you.
REMEMBER: Although you may not be getting much of a response at first, your little one is taking in everything you say and do, absorbing it and processing it.
Before you know it, your little one will start to respond and around 1 month old you may even be blessed with that amazing and heart-melting first smile!
So, here are 7 tricks to get the most out of playtime with your 1 month old!
1. Focus On Your Baby And Be Present
Pay attention to what your baby likes and responds to.
It sounds simple… but all babies are different and by focusing on what grabs their interest you will know what types of play they enjoy the most!
Show them a variety of visually stimulating objects and different rattles such as these hand-held and foot rattles from BlooBloomax and see which ones they respond to the most.
Even at this early age, they will have preferences!
2. Take Things Slowly And Be Patient
You may feel as if your baby is not taking much interest in the world at times but just hang in there…
That rattle you have been showing them for the past couple of days may suddenly get a reaction, so don’t give up on the first try!
3. Talk A Lot
This one is an easy activity for 1 month old babies as you can just chat away while you go about your day together!
If you are unsure what to say… then talk about what you are doing, tell them how much you love them, you can even talk about what colour the clothes are that you washing!
The sound of your voice is what they love and they do not need to understand what you are saying at this point.
4. Show Them A Lot
Show them this amazing world!
Walk around the room together, take them outside and talk about what you see.
Show your baby bright shiny objects, mirrors and lights. This tummy time mirror is a great option to combine two activities in one!
We all know the importance of tummy time and there is no better way to keep your baby engaged during this essential activity than with a tummy time mirror. This one from Sassy is sturdy but soft and has a large good quality mirror that is guaranteed to grab baby's attention. It also comes in a black and white colourway.
Remember everything is new and fascinating to them which will help boost their development and understanding of the world around them!
5. Play Music and Sing Together
Babies love music and they will love it when you sing to them!
So sing lullabies and nursery rhymes, play music and dance away!
6. Read To Them!
It is never too early to introduce your baby to the wonderful world of books!
As well as being a great bonding experience your baby will love to look at the pictures and listen to you read to them.
Check out the section on books for newborns in the post, best books for baby’s first year for my top recommendations.
7. Get Creative
As well as having a few focused play times such as tummy time and looking at books together, interacting while changing their nappy and bathing them is also a great way to play with your little one!
5 Perfect Sensory Activities For 1 Month Old
Sensory activities for 1 month old babies focus on helping your baby experience the big wide world around them!
Here are my top 5 activities to get started with:
5 Curious Cognitive Activities For 1 Month Old
Cognitive activities for 1 month old babies focus on helping your baby boost their brain power!
Here are my top 5 activities for cognitive development to get started with:
If your little one is struggling with tummy time, check out my Baby Hates Tummy Time post to learn how to help them enjoy this important activity!
Check out this post about the best baby books to discover my favourite newborn reads!
Activities For 1 Month Old Babies Recap
Playing with your 1 month old is all about introducing them to their world!
Be patient, be creative and enjoy this time with your newborn!
Watch their awareness grow as they start to respond more and more to your voice and to what you show them.
Remember to focus on developing their senses and creating a strong bond with you with lots of cuddles.
Play and activities at this stage are about being close to you, listening to your voice, focusing on your face and looking at the things you show them!
Mix in some daily tummy time and spend time looking independently at a mobile or play gym and you will have provided all that is needed to give your little one the best start in life.
REMEMBER: Activities for 1 month old babies do not have to be complicated!
Until Next Time
If you enjoyed this post about activities for 1 month old babies and know of any other parents who would enjoy this content, be sure to give it a share!
And if you’re looking for products for your little one and you’re not sure where to begin, be sure to check out my Parenting Toolbox.
It is full of all my favourite products which I’ve tried to ensure are all non-toxic, eco friendly, sustainable and, of course, they’re all baby proof!
If you have any blog recommendations that you’d like me to write about or you have any further questions about activities for young babies, then be sure to drop me an email at [email protected] – I love to hear from you.
Thank you for reading and until next time, Happy Parenting!
Paula McLaren
Paul Mclaren - Norland Nurse NNEB RSH is the founder of Teething to Tantrums and has been in the child care industry as a Norland Nanny since 1982. Since then, her mission has been to help parents become the best they can possibly be. And each year, she continues to help more families understand their child's development, the trials and joys of parenting and of course, how to care for their little ones.Designed for busy parents, these sanity-saving cheat sheets provide simple, practical and effective parenting strategies to tame tantrums, create calm bedtimes, support thriving development, and more! See results within hours!
