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First Year > Development & Milestones

How to Play With Your Baby

For baby, playtime is a full-time job filled with new skills, boundaries and challenges — all with some smiles and laughter along the way. Get ideas to engage with your little one here.
In This Section

Best Activities at Every Age

best activities for newborns
Best Activities for a Newborn Baby
best activities for 4-month-old babies
Best Activities for a 4-Month-Old Baby
activities for a 5-month-old
Best Activities for a 5-Month-Old Baby
activities for 6-month-old babies
Best Activities for a 6-Month-Old Baby
best activities for 7-month-old babies
Best Activities for a 7-Month-Old Baby
best activities for 8-month-old babies
Best Activities for an 8-Month-Old Baby
activities for 9-month-old babies
Best Activities for a 9-Month-Old Baby
best activities for 10-month-old babies
Best Activities for a 10-Month-Old Baby
best activities for 11-month-old babies
Best Activities for an 11-Month-Old Baby
best activities for 1-year-olds
Best Activities for a 1-Year-Old
SHOW MORE

Types of Play

how to encourage independent play
How to Encourage Independent Play in Babies and Toddlers
sensory play activities
Sensory Play
draw
Creative Play
toddlers
Parallel Play
active play
Active Play
pretend and imaginative play
Pretend Play
water play activities for babies and toddlers
Water Play
musical play
Musical Play
SHOW MORE

Play Ideas

best games for babies
Best Games to Play With Your Baby
Bathtime fun
Making Bathtime Fun for Babies and Toddlers
Baby Lullaby
20 Baby Lullaby Songs to Help Your Little One Fall Asleep
singing to baby
Best Songs to Sing to Your Baby
newborn play mirrors
How to Use a Mirror to Play With Your Baby
patty cake
When Can Babies Play Patty-Cake?
reading
Reading Books to Your Baby or Toddler
SHOW MORE

Top Toys for Playtime

Best Toys for 3 Month Olds
The Best Toys for 3-Month-Olds Include Rattles, Crinkly Fabrics and Soft Books
Best Toys for 4 Month Olds
The 24 Best Toys for 4-Month-Olds, According to a Mom of 2
Best Toys for 6 Month Olds: Baby Einstein x Hape Piano
Best Toys for 6-Month-Olds
Best Toys for 7- and 8-Month Olds: Bright Starts Roll and Glow Monkey
Best Toys for 7- and 8-Month-Olds
Best Toys for 9 Month Olds
24 Toys for 9-Month-Olds That Check All the Playtime Boxes
Best Toys for 1-Year-Olds Hape Dog Pull Toy
Best Toys for 1-Year-Olds
Best Travel Toys for Babies 2020
Best Travel Toys for Babies
Best Toys for Fine Motor Skills
11 Toys That'll Develop Baby's Fine Motor Skill While They Have Fun
SHOW MORE

Toddler Playtime 101

toys
Playtime Tips for Toddlers
toddler
Group Play for Toddlers
toys
How to Teach Toddlers to Pick Up Their Toys
tantrums when leaving the playground
How to Handle Toddler Tantrums When Leaving the Playground
how much playtime do babies and toddlers need?
How Much Playtime Do Babies and Toddlers Need?
SHOW MORE

Playtime Safety

safe baby play
How to Play With Your Baby Safely
playground safety
Playground Safety for Babies and Toddlers
toys
Should Parents Be Concerned About Lead Paint in Children's Toys?
babies playing together, socialization in babies
How to Promote a Baby’s Social and Emotional Development

Latest

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When Do Babies Roll Over?
safe baby play
How to Safely Play With Your Baby
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When Is It Too Cold to Take Your Baby or Toddler Outside?
babies playing together, socialization in babies
How to Socialize Your Baby
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What Should I Pack When I'm Traveling With My Baby?
discipline
When Can You Start to Teach a Baby Discipline?
when can babies play peekaboo?
When Can Babies Play Peekaboo?
how to encourage independent play
How to Encourage Independent Play in Babies and Toddlers
best activities for 1-year-olds
The Best Activities for 1-Year-Olds
how much playtime do babies and toddlers need?
How Much Playtime Do Babies and Toddlers Need?
best activities for 11-month-old babies
The Best Activities for 11-Month-Old Babies
best activities for 10-month-old babies
The Best Activities for 10-Month-Old Babies
best activities for 7-month-old babies
The Best Activities for 7-Month-Old Babies
activities for 6-month-old babies
The Best Activities for 6-Month-Old Babies
activities for a 5-month-old
The Best Activities for 5-Month-Old Babies
activities for 9-month-old babies
The Best Activities for 9-Month-Old Babies
best activities for 8-month-old babies
The Best Activities for 8-Month-Old Babies
musical play
How to Encourage Musical Play for Babies and Toddlers
best games for babies
The Best Games to Play With Your Baby
best activities for 4-month-old babies
The Best Activities for 4-Month-Old Babies
sensory play activities
These Are the Best Sensory Play Activities for Babies and Toddlers
best activities for newborns
The Best Activities for Newborn Babies
pretend and imaginative play
How to Encourage Pretend Play in Babies and Toddlers
water play activities for babies and toddlers
The Best Water Play Activities for Babies and Toddlers
active play
How to Encourage Active Play in Babies and Toddlers
Bathtime fun
20+ Ways to Make Bathtime Fun for Babies and Toddlers
playground safety
How to Keep Babies and Toddlers Safe at the Playground
newborn play mirrors
How Mirror Play Can Help Bolster Your Baby's Development
mommy and baby doing yoga together
Should You Try Mommy-and-Me Yoga?
Games That Boost Baby's Brain play video
6 Games That Boost Baby's Brain
best ways to play play video
Best Ways to Play
SHOW MORE
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