Baby's Story: A Gift of Love

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“10 little fingers, 10 tiny toes.. what lays ahead no one knows”

By now, you must have completed your pregnancy and delivery and are ready to go home and begin your beautiful journey with your little one. If you are a first-time parent, you may feel confused about what is right and wrong for your child. The first few days and weeks will be frequently spent feeding, comforting, navigating sleep time, and changing diapers. This will be your new normal, and while it may take some time to find the rhythm, you will ultimately notice the correct pattern for your child.

Now that you and your family have gotten to know the child, and your child is also learning to adjust to this new world, it is time to incorporate some modest activities into their daily schedule. Your baby is learning what to look for, smell for, feel for, and listen for, but keep in mind that each kid is unique, and so will their development.

A newborn will normally sleep the majority of the day, and the remainder of the time will be spent feeding and changing. Though mothers complain of being tired and exhausted, trust me, doing these little things will help you discover a new bond with your child. To develop your baby's senses, try these sensory activities.

Talk to your baby. You might be wondering, "I am already spending a lot of time feeding, burping, and changing; what more do I need to do?" My advice is to talk to your little one. Your little one may not understand anything, but they will remember your voice. Take their name, sing a song or a rhyme, make funny sounds; all these will help you and your child build that special bond as well as develop language and communication skills that will be required in the future.

Face time. Looking at your baby when they are smiling is not only the best therapy, but it is also a developmental exercise for your child. At this age, your baby can only see things that are 8 to 12 inches away, so keeping your child near to your face will help them identify you. Eye contact is essential for connecting with your baby. When you get engaged, tell them "I am your mother," or "Will you listen to a song?" "You are such a sweetheart” or whatever you feel like.

Read to your baby. Do you know that a child’s brain starts to develop at a very young age, and studies reflect that when you read with your child, you are building their language roots even before they learn to speak? They may not understand, but they like hearing your voice. Even better is to familiarize them with the black and white flash cards at this age and help them improve their visual nerves, IQ, and brain.

Play time with your baby. Everyone in the house wants to play with the newborn, especially the grandparents and other children. Playing is very important for your child’s brain development. Use play mobiles and hang them over their cot, and you will see them expressing their joy by moving their hands and legs. Allow your child to have their daily dose of tummy time or simply let them explore their surroundings on the floor. Slowly and gradually, your baby will begin to move freely while strengthening their muscles. It is always good to have your family members help to supervise your baby while you can take a little rest.

Massage your baby. This is by far the most effective technique to form a strong bond and relationship with your child. Before bath time, massage your baby with baby oil to help them sleep easily. You may also play some soothing classical music or lullabies while massaging them, and according to Dr. Trainor, “If you play music that you enjoy, you’ll have more fun listening and signing along with your baby.”

You can begin with the above activities that you believe are appropriate for your child, but we highly advise you not to hurry into anything. Allow your child to explore and appreciate their senses at their own speed as you enjoy and make memories of their childhood.