Dad playing with baby

29 Baby Game Ideas for Your Baby's First Year

9 min readUpdated July 01, 2025
Looking for fun and development-boosting games to play with your baby? Engaging your little one through age-appropriate play is one of the best ways to support their physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. From tummy time activities that build motor skills to interactive games like peekaboo that encourage social development, simple play can have a big impact. Most experts recommend focusing on sensory-rich, repetitive, and responsive games tailored to your baby’s age and milestones.
Here’s a quick breakdown of popular baby games by age:
  • Newborn to 3 months. Smiling games, gentle clapping, face-to-face imitation, tummy time, and sensory toys.
  • 3 to 6 months. Bubble blowing, pedal games, mirror play, reading aloud, rattles, and tickles.
  • 6 to 9 months. Crawling courses, puppet shows, peekaboo, mirroring, and early ball play.
  • 9 to 12 months. Hide and seek, stacking towers, sing-alongs, simple sorting, animal sounds, and baby-led cleanup.
In this article, we’ll explore the best games to play with your baby at every stage, explain how each supports development, and share tips to make playtime safe, fun, and meaningful.

Pampers Picks: Our Favorite Games for Babies

Here are three of our top baby games for early development, with step-by-step instructions and a clear focus on which skills each supports.

Tummy Time

Helps develop: Neck and upper body strength, coordination, sensory exploration.
How to play:
Why we love tummy time: Tummy time builds the muscles your baby needs for crawling and sitting, and supports head control early on.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Helps develop: Social and emotional connection, imitation, early communication.
How to play:
Why we love this game: Monkey see, monkey do taps into your baby’s natural instinct to mimic and helps them learn about emotions and connection.

Peek-a-Boo

Helps develop: Object permanence, anticipation, emotional bonding.
How to play:
Why we love peek-a-boo: Peek-a-boo teaches your baby that people and objects still exist when out of sight—an important cognitive milestone.

When Do Newborns Start to Play?

Newborns begin to “play” from their very first days of life—but play looks different than it does for older babies. Play in the early weeks is less about toys and more about bonding, sensory exploration, and interaction with caregivers. 
Simple newborn activities like talking, making eye contact, and gently moving your baby's arms and legs help support early brain development. Around 6 to 8 weeks, babies become more alert and start to respond to sounds, smiles, and movement, showing more interest in playful interaction.

How to Play With Your Newborn or Older Infant

  • How do you play with a newborn? Start with soft, simple interactions like talking, singing, and making faces. Hold your baby close so they can see your face and expressions clearly. Short sessions of tummy time—even just a few minutes a day—also count as play and help build strength.
  • How to entertain a newborn? Newborns love soothing voices, gentle touch, and familiar smells. You can entertain them by slowly moving toys or high-contrast objects in their line of vision. Limit stimulation to one sense at a time and watch for signs your baby is engaged or overstimulated—like turning away, fussing, or staring into space.
  • How to play with an infant as they grow? Older babies (around 3–6 months and beyond) enjoy mirror play, peekaboo, and grasping toys. Follow your baby’s cues to know when they’re ready to play or need a break. Experts encourage responsive play that matches your baby’s mood and stage—look for smiles, coos, and eye contact as signs your baby is enjoying the moment.

From Birth to 6 Months Old: Activities to Do With a Newborn

These game and activity ideas can work well for your newborn up until they’re around 6 months old. These activities are not only fun, but they also support your newborn's development as great learning games.

1. All Smiles

Your baby may begin to smile around the time they turn 2 months old. This will be a good time to play a smiling game with your infant. 
Helps develop: Social interaction, emotional bonding.
How to play
This one couldn’t be simpler! Simply smile at your baby and wait for them to smile back. Try making faces and funny noises to get them to grin.

2. Show and Tell

Show and Tell isn’t just for school-aged kids—it’s a powerful newborn development activity that introduces your baby to the world through touch, sight, and sound. It’s one of the most engaging activities to do with a newborn to support their sensory development.
Helps develop: Sensory development, language exposure.
How to play 
  1. Choose a soft toy or safe household object—like a clean wooden spoon, a fabric swatch, or a textured ball. 
  2. Hold it close to your baby and talk about it slowly and clearly: “This is a blue ball. It’s soft and squishy!” 
  3. Let your baby see it up close, and if it’s safe, gently touch the object to their hands or feet. 
  4. You can rotate through different textures and shapes to give them a richer sensory experience.

3. Clappity Clap

Clapping is a simple yet joyful way to stimulate your baby’s hearing and motor development. While newborns can’t clap on their own just yet, this activity introduces them to rhythm, sound, and cause and effect, making it a great newborn development activity.
Helps develop: Auditory processing, motor coordination.
How to play
  1. Sit your baby upright in your lap or lay them on a soft surface when they’re calm and alert. 
  2. Gently take their hands and bring them together in a clapping motion while cheerfully narrating: “Clap, clap, clap!” or sing a clapping song like “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” 
  3. Add variations like tapping their feet together or clapping along to music to keep things engaging.

4. Pedal Pedal

This playful leg movement mimics riding a bicycle and helps support digestion, relieve gas, and improve coordination. It’s one of the best 1-month-old baby activities and a great way to bond during diaper changes.
Helps develop: Motor development, digestion support.
How to play
  1. Lay your baby on their back after a diaper change or during playtime. 
  2. Gently hold their ankles and move their legs in a bicycle motion: pedal, pedal, pedal! 
  3. Talk to them as you go, saying things like “Let’s go for a ride!” or “Round and round we go!” 
  4. Add a gentle belly rub afterward for an extra soothing finish.

5. Tickle Me

Tickling is a fun sensory experience that can teach your baby anticipation and body awareness. Using classic rhymes with a tickling surprise at the end adds an element of early communication and laughter.
Helps develop: Sensory awareness, anticipation.
How to play
  1. Chant a well-loved rhyme like “This Little Piggy,” gently wiggling each toe, or trace little circles on their tummy while saying, “Round and round the garden.”
  2. Pause for effect before the “tickle!” to build anticipation. 
These playful interactions are perfect newborn sensory activities and are a gentle way to stimulate a newborn.

6. Shake and Rattle

Noisy toys can capture your baby’s attention and encourage them to turn their head or reach—important milestones in early development. This is one of the easiest games with infants to promote sensory awareness.
Helps develop: Sound recognition, hand-eye coordination.
How to play
  1. Use a baby-safe rattle or soft squeaky toy. Sit your baby in your lap or lay them on a playmat. 
  2. Shake the rattle near one side of their head and then the other, giving them time to turn toward the sound. 
  3. You can also gently guide their hand to touch or swat at the toy. Homemade shakers (like rice in a sealed container) can work well too—just don’t hand them to your baby if they’re not baby-safe.

7. Bubble Blowing

Bubbles are magical to a baby’s eyes. Watching them float and pop encourages visual tracking and hand-eye coordination, making it one of the most delightful activities to do with a newborn.
Helps develop: Visual tracking, hand-eye coordination, sensory engagement.
How to play
  1. Seat your baby securely on your lap or place them in a baby bouncer. 
  2. Blow a few bubbles in the air and watch their eyes follow the motion. 
  3. Gently pop some bubbles near them or encourage them to reach out. 
  4. Talk excitedly: “Look at the bubbles!” or “Pop, pop, pop!” Just avoid letting bubbles get in their eyes.

8. Play Ball

Rolling a ball encourages your baby’s reaching, tracking, and early motor skills. It’s a simple learning game for newborns that grows with them as they develop new abilities.
Helps develop: Gross motor skills, visual tracking.
How to play
  1. Choose a soft, lightweight ball suitable for babies. 
  2. Sit facing your baby on the floor or lay them on a playmat. 
  3. Roll the ball slowly toward them, encouraging them to touch or grab it: “Here it comes!” 
  4. Over time, they might push it back or try to hold it. This is a great example of what to do with a newborn when they’re awake.

9. Baby Workout

Baby gyms offer a safe and engaging way for your infant to explore movement and coordination. Hitting dangling toys helps build visual and motor skills—perfect for stimulating a newborn’s natural curiosity.
Helps develop: Gross motor development, sensory engagement.
How to play
  1. Lay your baby on their back under a baby gym. 
  2. Let them explore by watching the moving toys or swatting at them. 
  3. Narrate the colors and shapes: “There’s the red star!” or “You touched the elephant!” 
  4. Rotate toys and move their arms gently to guide them toward the dangling items for extra engagement.

10. Chitchat

Talking to your baby is one of the most powerful learning games for newborns. It supports language development, bonding, and brain growth—even if they can’t talk back just yet.
Helps develop: Language development, social connection.
How to play
  1. Narrate your day as you interact with your baby: “Now we’re changing your diaper,” or “I’m folding the blue towel.” Describe what you’re doing in a calm, cheerful voice. 
  2. You can also mimic their coos and expressions to start a “conversation.” This back-and-forth is foundational to early communication and social development.
Speaking of diapers, whether you're enjoying tummy time or bonding face-to-face, your baby’s comfort matters. Pampers Swaddlers offer soft, breathable protection with a flexible fit—perfect for supporting all those tiny movements and playful moments.

11. Fishing for Fun

This simple activity combines movement, focus, and sensory stimulation. It’s especially great during tummy time, as it motivates your baby to lift their head, track motion, and reach—key skills in early physical development. It’s one of the most effective newborn development activities that supports visual coordination and upper body strength.
Helps develop: Visual coordination, reaching skills.
How to play
  1. Attach one of your baby’s soft toys to a ribbon or string (ensure it's securely tied and always supervised). 
  2. During tummy time or while your baby lies on their back, slowly dangle the toy in their line of vision, moving it from side to side or up and down. 
  3. Say things like, “Where’s the bear going?” or “You see the ducky?” to keep them engaged. 
  4. As they grow, encourage reaching by letting them try to bat or grab the toy.
  5. Always store the ribbon safely out of reach when you're done to avoid any risks.

12. Read Aloud

Reading to your baby isn’t just a quiet bonding moment—it’s a powerful learning game for newborns that nurtures language, attention, and listening skills. Even from the first few weeks, babies benefit from hearing your voice and seeing high-contrast images or bright colors on a page.
Helps develop: Language development, attention skills.
How to play
  1. Choose baby-friendly books with sturdy pages, bold images, and simple stories.
  2. Sit your baby in your lap or lie next to them during floor time. 
  3. Read with enthusiasm, changing your tone, pointing to pictures, and asking questions—even if they can’t answer yet. “Look at the cow! What sound does it make? Moo!” 
  4. For newborn sensory activities, black-and-white or high-contrast books are especially helpful for young babies who are still developing their vision.
This is one of the best activities to do with a newborn when they’re calm and alert—and it’s never too early to start building a love for books.

From 6 Months to 1 Year Old: Baby Games and Activities

The following game ideas can work well for your baby from 6 months old up to around the time they’re 1 year old:

13. Crawling Course

By 6 to 12 months, many babies are on the move and starting to crawl, and a soft, safe obstacle course is a fantastic way to build strength, coordination, and confidence. 
Helps develop: Problem-solving, gross motor development.
How to play
  1. Gather soft household items like cushions, pillows, large stuffed animals, and play tunnels.
  2. Arrange them around the room to create a mini obstacle course.
  3. Show your baby how to navigate it—climbing over a pillow or crawling under a chair.
  4. Sit at the far end and encourage your baby to crawl to you. Use a favorite toy or your excited voice to entice them.
There’s no “right” way to move—whether your baby goes over, under, or around, the goal is movement, engagement, and fun.

14. Puppet Theater

Puppets bring stories to life and spark your baby’s imagination through pretend play, while building language and listening skills. This is one of the best learning games for newborns that transitions beautifully into toddlerhood and beyond.
Helps develop: Imagination, listening and language skills.
How to play
  1. Make simple finger puppets using old gloves, felt, or paper—decorate them with friendly faces or googly eyes.
  2. Sit with your baby and put on a short “show” with characters talking, singing, or dancing.
  3. Change voices, make silly sounds, and act out basic scenes like animals saying hello or going to bed.
  4. Encourage your baby to reach for or interact with the puppets as the story unfolds.
It’s a perfect quiet-time activity that also helps with focus and early social development.

15. Mirroring

expressions. It’s a brilliant newborn sensory activity to revisit in the second half of the first year when your baby starts to recognize themselves and mimic behaviors.
Helps develop: Emotional recognition, visual awareness.
How to play
  1. Hold a safe, shatterproof mirror in front of your baby while seated together.
  2. Point to their reflection: “Look, it’s you!”
  3. Make silly or exaggerated faces, then encourage your baby to do the same—stick out your tongue, raise your eyebrows, or smile big.
  4. Clap or cheer if your baby copies you, reinforcing the fun.

16. Kickball

This early version of a ball game builds leg strength, balance, and coordination. It’s one of those games for babies that’s great for indoor or outdoor play and grows with your child.
Helps develop: Gross motor skills, muscle strength, coordination.
How to play
  1. Sit your baby on your lap or on the ground, supporting them under the arms if needed.
  2. Place a soft, lightweight ball in front of their legs.
  3. Gently swing their legs forward so they “kick” the ball.
  4. Say something playful like “Kick, kick, hooray!”
  5. As your baby gains control, let them try to kick independently while seated.
It’s a fun way to stimulate gross motor development and get them laughing.

17. Hide and Seek

This baby-friendly version of the game hide and seek builds on the joy of peek-a-boo while helping your little one understand object permanence. It’s a playful way to stimulate their curiosity and sharpen their observation skills.
Helps develop: Memory, object permanence.
How to play
  1. Choose a hiding spot that’s easy and safe—behind a door, curtain, chair, or a large sheet.
  2. Call your baby’s name or say something playful like “Where did I go?”
  3. Pop out and say “Here I am!” with an excited expression.
  4. Repeat from different spots or let your baby find you.
  5. Try hiding a toy under a small blanket for a twist on the game.
This is one of those games to play with babies that helps build memory, emotional connection, and delight.

18. Stacking Towers

Stacking objects is both fun and educational. It builds fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and early concepts of size, balance, and cause and effect, making it an engaging game for babies as they become more curious and mobile.
Helps develop: Fine motor skills, cause and effect.
How to play
  1. Collect clean, lightweight containers (like boxes or plastic cups).
  2. Help your baby stack two or three items to form a tower.
  3. Cheer as they knock it down—or let them crawl over to topple it.
  4. Repeat and let your baby try to stack on their own.
Describe what you’re doing: “This one’s big!” or “Look, it’s tall now!”—a great way to boost language, too.

19. Sing Along

Singing is an incredibly effective newborn sensory activity that continues to benefit your baby well into their first year. It supports speech development, rhythm, memory, and emotional connection—all through joyful repetition.
Helps develop: Language development, rhythm, and memory.
How to play
  1. Choose a favorite baby song or rhyme: “The Wheels on the Bus,” “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” or “Pat-a-Cake.”
  2. Sit facing your baby and sing slowly and clearly.
  3. Add simple hand motions or clapping along with the rhythm.
  4. Encourage your baby to mimic your gestures or join in with babbles.
  5. Repeat often—babies thrive on repetition and routine.

20. Packing Up

This simple exploration game taps into your baby's love of taking things apart—and slowly introduces them to the idea of cleaning up. It’s one of the best games to play with a baby as they get older and begin developing independence and categorization skills.
Helps develop: Categorization, fine motor control.
How to play
  1. Fill a bin, box, or basket with safe household or baby toys—think stacking cups, soft blocks, rattles, and stuffed animals.
  2. Let your baby empty the basket freely, examining or tossing each item.
  3. Encourage them to help “pack up” by putting the items back in.
  4. Narrate the process: “The basket is empty!” “Let’s put the red block in.”
  5. Clap or cheer when they return items to the basket—even if it's just one!
This game is also perfect for developing fine motor skills, learning vocabulary, and introducing routine-based play.

21. Treasure Basket

This sensory-rich game is perfect for curious babies who love exploring the world with their hands. It’s one of the most engaging games for babies at this stage and supports independent play and concentration.
Helps develop: Sensory exploration, focus, and independence.
How to play
  1. Fill a shallow basket or box with safe, textured household objects (e.g., wooden spoon, silicone brush, fabric, rubber ball).
  2. Sit near your baby as they explore the contents.
  3. Describe each item they pick up: “That’s soft,” “It’s shiny,” “Can you crinkle that?”
  4. Rotate items regularly to keep the activity fresh and exciting.

22. Highchair Art

This creative activity allows your baby to explore textures and motion using their hands. It’s a fun and safe introduction to early mark-making—and one of the most expressive games to play with your baby.
Helps develop: Fine motor skills, sensory creativity.
How to play
  1. Place your baby in a highchair with a clean tray or sheet of paper.
  2. Offer edible finger paints (like plain yogurt tinted with food coloring) or safe baby paints.
  3. Let them smear, pat, and spread the paint however they like.
  4. Talk about the colors and shapes they make: “That’s a big blue swirl!”
Once you’re done, opt for easy clean-ups with Pampers Sensitive Wipes—perfect for your baby’s delicate skin and those messy moments!

23. Muffin Tin Sorting

Sorting games help babies begin to understand how objects relate to each other—by shape, size, or simply where things go. This is one of the more structured games for babies that also supports fine motor skills.
Helps develop: Fine motor skills, early problem-solving, object classification.
How to play
  1. Place a clean muffin tin on the floor and put a different toy in each cup.
  2. Encourage your baby to pick up and move the items around.
  3. Use language like “This cup is empty,” or “Let’s put the ball here.”
  4. For older babies, try adding color-matching objects or small soft blocks for sorting fun.

24. Carpet Ride

Looking for an active indoor activity for babies? This gentle movement game builds balance and trust while giving your baby a new sensory experience.
Helps develop: Balance, body awareness.
How to play
  1. Place your baby in a seated position on a soft blanket.
  2. On a smooth surface (like wood or tile), gently pull the blanket around while holding the edges.
  3. Narrate the ride with excitement: “We’re going around the room!”
  4. Stop and go slowly, keeping an eye on their comfort and safety.
This is one of those baby games that feels like a mini adventure and builds confidence with movement.

25. Animal Safari Sounds

Babies and children love sounds, especially silly animal noises. This game helps boost language development and is a great interactive game to play with your baby. Perfect for winding down at the end of the day or keeping your baby entertained during floor play.
Helps develop: Sound recognition, language development.
How to play
  1. Gather stuffed animals, animal toys, or animal picture books.
  2. Show one to your baby and say the sound: “The lion says roar!”
  3. Repeat and encourage your baby to mimic the noise or point to the toy.
  4. Add gestures or hand signs if you like—anything to make it playful.

26. Follow the Leader (Crawl Edition)

Turn tummy time into a game of chase! This crawling game for babies who are on the move and ready to explore helps strengthen their core muscles while encouraging imitation—a key skill for learning.
Helps develop: Gross motor skills, imitation.
How to play
  1. Get down on all fours and crawl slowly across the floor.
  2. Make silly noises or stop occasionally to look back and cheer your baby on.
  3. Add fun actions like tapping the floor, pretending to “hop,” or crawling under a blanket.
  4. Encourage your baby to follow you and copy what you do.

FAQS AT A GLANCE

Signs of understimulation can include fussiness, boredom, lack of eye contact, or little interest in their surroundings. Babies need appropriate levels of interaction and sensory input to stay engaged and support healthy development. Try talking, singing, tummy time, or offering a new toy or texture to gently re-engage their attention. Everyday activities like face-to-face play and conversation are great ways to provide the stimulation babies need without overwhelming them.

The Bottom Line

Engaging in games and activities with your newborn and older baby is a delightful way to foster bonding, provide educational experiences, and support their development. No matter which baby game you choose, your little one will love the time spent together, and you might find that playing together becomes a highlight of your day too!
While you’re having fun with your little one, download the Pampers Rewards app to earn Pampers cash on all those diapers and wipes your little one is going through.

The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.

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