Activities for Newborns: How to Entertain and Bond With Your Baby

Looking for fun and developmentally appropriate infant activities? Engaging your baby in simple, age-appropriate play is essential for supporting their physical, cognitive, and emotional growth. From tummy time to sensory play, the right activities can help strengthen muscles, improve motor skills, and encourage early communication. 

Here are a few gentle activities for newborns that support early development:

• Tummy time. Builds neck, shoulder, and core strength.

• Sensory play. Introduces textures, sounds, and colors to stimulate brain development.

• Music and movement. Encourages rhythm, coordination, and auditory skills.

• Mirror play. Helps with self-recognition and visual tracking.

• Reading, talking, and eye contact. Supports early language, social skills, and bonding.

Whether you’re a new parent or caregiver, this guide will help you choose the best infant activities for each stage of your baby’s growth. Let’s explore creative and effective ways to play and bond with your little one.

Why Newborn Play Is Important

In the earliest weeks of life, play might not look like much, but it’s already laying the foundation for learning and connection. Even the simplest activities for newborn babies, like talking to them or gently moving their arms and legs, help their brain and body develop in sync.

Play is also how you begin bonding with your baby. Every time you respond to a coo or make eye contact, you build trust and emotional security.

At this stage, activities for babies don’t need to be complicated. Your little one is already learning through sound, touch, movement, and facial expressions. These early newborn development activities support physical skills, sensory awareness, and social-emotional growth.

If you're wondering how to entertain a newborn, the answer is simpler than you think: look, listen, talk, and touch. These interactions count as play. So, remember that your presence is already doing so much. Consistent interaction can help your newborn feel secure and engaged with the world around them.

Sensory Activities for Infants

Newborns begin exploring the world through touch, sound, smell, and sight right from the start. Gentle infant sensory activities, such as talking, singing, or offering safe textures, can help your baby begin to notice and respond to the world around them. These moments of interaction support early development and help nurture your connection. 

If you're looking for gentle activities for babies that promote connection and learning, here are a few newborn sensory activities to try at home:

• Talk to your baby. It may feel a little one-sided at first, but newborns are wired to pay attention to voices, especially high-pitched ones. You might notice them turning toward the sound or moving their arms and legs in response to your tone. This is one of the easiest activities to do with newborn babies that also helps build early communication skills.

• Read to your baby. Even at this early stage, your little one may begin to recognize certain sounds or rhythms. Try reading the same short story each day, and watch how they respond when you repeat it later.

• Listen to music together. Gentle music can have a calming effect and offer a shared moment of connection. Sway with your baby to the rhythm or simply sit and listen together. These kinds of infant activities can feel just as soothing for you, too.

• Introduce different textures and surfaces. Lay your newborn on a soft towel, a textured mat, or a warm blanket to expose them to new sensations. These types of sensory ideas for infants can help develop body awareness and touch sensitivity.

• Play tracking games together. Slowly move a colorful toy or patterned object in front of your baby’s face and encourage them to follow it with their eyes. You can also try gently turning your own head side to side; this supports early vision development. 

• Use facial expressions. Smile, stick out your tongue, or open your mouth wide. Your baby is learning by watching you. Get close so they can see clearly, and you might be surprised when they begin to mimic your moves. This is one of the most fun and natural learning games for newborns.

• Sing to your baby. Whether it’s a classic lullaby or a made-up tune, your baby may find your voice soothing, especially during fussy moments.

• Enjoy skin-to-skin contact. Holding your baby against your chest with bare skin can be calming for both of you. It also supports bonding, regulates your baby’s temperature, and may help with breastfeeding and sleep.

• Use a mirror. Babies are naturally curious about faces—even their own. Try placing a baby-safe mirror nearby during playtime or tummy time. Your baby might start to reach, smile, or make faces at their reflection.   

• Try baby massage. Touch can be a great way to bond with your baby, and giving your baby a gentle massage can be soothing for both of you. Of course, babies are more delicate than adults, so you’ll want to educate yourself and learn how to massage your baby. Maybe there is even an infant massage class in the area to teach you some safe techniques.  

• Puppet play. Using a finger puppet (or even a sock with eyes) to play peek-a-boo or sing a silly song can be entertaining for both of you. Puppets add a playful layer to activities for newborn babies while encouraging interaction and focus.

Tummy Time

Tummy time is one of the most helpful activities for newborn babies. It gives your little one a chance to strengthen muscles needed for rolling, sitting, and crawling later on. 

Since babies should always sleep on their backs, this simple, supervised activity while they’re awake helps balance out time spent lying face-up.

You can start with just a few minutes at a time, ideally two to three sessions each day, and slowly increase the length as your baby gets more comfortable. Even short stretches of tummy time add up and can support your baby’s physical growth over time.

Here are a few gentle activities to do with newborn babies during tummy time:

• Lie on your back and place your baby on your chest so you’re face to face

• Use a soft, high-contrast toy to catch their attention and encourage head movement

• Try placing your baby tummy-down across your lap as a change of position.

These early newborn activities can help your little one get used to pushing up, lifting their head, and eventually using their arms for support. If your baby fusses during tummy time, try getting down on their level to reassure and engage them—it’s not just exercise; it’s also a bonding opportunity.

Tummy time also pairs well with infant sensory activities. For example, you could introduce a textured blanket under their hands or place a safe baby mirror nearby for visual interest.

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How to Play with A Newborn at Different Stages

During the first few weeks, you may wonder how to entertain a newborn when they mostly sleep, feed, and stare into space. But these early moments are the perfect time to begin bonding, and even the tiniest interactions count as play.

The answer is simple: just be with them. Gaze into their eyes. Gently talk or sing. Offer your finger to grasp or stroke their tiny feet. These quiet but meaningful moments help your little one start to connect with the world around them.

In this stage, activities for newborn babies are more about sensing than doing. Soft voices, skin-to-skin contact, or short bursts of tummy time are all ways to connect while supporting early development.

As your baby reaches the 1-month mark, they may begin to spend a little more time awake and a little more time observing and responding. That’s when you can start building on these simple beginnings with more age-specific infant activities. 

Here are some activities to try for newborns and beyond:

Activities for a 1- to 3-Month-Old

Between 1 and 3 months, your baby becomes more alert and begins responding to the world around them. This is a great time to introduce playful interactions that support development and connection.

Some easy ways to play at this stage include:

• Make eye contact and smile. Babies are naturally drawn to faces. Smile, raise your eyebrows, or open your mouth wide; your little one may begin to imitate you.

• Talk and respond. Chat with your baby and pause to see how they react. These simple back-and-forth moments are great for bonding and help lay the groundwork for communication.

• Use toys to capture attention. Gently shake a soft rattle or move a high-contrast toy from side to side to help your baby practice focusing and tracking.

• Move their hands and legs. Gently clap their hands together or pedal their legs in a bicycle motion. These small movements can support physical awareness and may even soothe them.

• Try a little tummy time. A few short sessions each day while your baby is awake can help build neck and shoulder strength. Always supervise, and keep it brief if your baby seems tired or fussy.

• Read together. Your baby may not understand the story yet, but they’ll love hearing your voice and looking at pictures.

These early moments may feel simple, but they’re the building blocks of your baby’s development. Whether you’re looking for new ways to connect or just wondering what kinds of things to do with a 2-month-old, trust that talking, touching, and responding with care already count as meaningful play.

Activities for a 4- to 7-Month-Old

Between 4 and 7 months, babies often become more curious, active, and expressive. At this stage, your baby may be reaching, rolling, laughing, and exploring toys with their hands—and even their mouth. Playtime can be more interactive now, and you can start encouraging your baby to experiment with cause and effect.

Here are a few gentle and fun things to do with a 4-month-old or older:

• Offer toys just out of reach. In a safe space, place a favorite toy or soft ball nearby to motivate your baby to reach, pivot, or roll toward it.

• Play hide-and-find games. Hide a toy under a blanket or behind your hand (but keep it slightly visible) and encourage your little one to look for it. This kind of play supports memory and problem-solving.

• Try peekaboo. It may seem simple to you, but peekaboo never fails to entertain, and it also teaches babies that people and things still exist even when they disappear.

• Introduce cause-and-effect toys. Try toys that make noise or move when pressed, shaken, or spun. Musical toys, textured busy boxes, and clear rattles with moving parts can all help your baby begin to understand how their actions lead to reactions.

If you're wondering what to do with a 5-month-old who’s extra alert or wiggly, singing a song like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star or Baa, Baa, Black Sheep is a simple way to calm and engage them.

As your baby moves toward 6 months, you might notice they’re more eager to interact. Great things to do with a 6-month-old or a 7-month-old include:

• Letting them safely bang or shake objects that make a gentle noise

• Encouraging babbling by pausing and responding to their sounds.

Each of these early games supports your baby’s growing sense of independence and ability to focus. At this age, play doesn’t just build skills; it also gives your little one a chance to connect with you and enjoy the world around them.

Activities for an 8- to 12-Month-Old

By this age, your baby may be crawling, pulling up, pointing, and becoming much more interactive. You might notice a growing desire for independence, especially during meals or play. At this stage, everyday moments become rich learning opportunities.

Here are some development-friendly things to do with an 8-month-old or older:

• Encourage movement. Help your baby get into a crawling position and place a toy just out of reach. This can motivate them to move forward while building strength and coordination.

• Support self-feeding. Letting your baby try finger foods not only encourages independence, but it also builds fine motor skills and hand–eye coordination.

• Vary peekaboo. Hide your face behind a blanket or around a corner and let your baby uncover you. This adds excitement and playfully teaches object permanence.

• Play hide-and-find. Let your baby watch you partially hide a toy, then cover it completely. Encourage them to search and retrieve it—this supports memory and exploration.

• Sing action songs. Classics like Pat-a-Cake, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, or Pop Goes the Weasel can help your baby develop anticipation and learn through rhythm and repetition.

Looking for more things to do with a 9-month-old or what to do with a 10-month-old who’s constantly on the move? Try:

• Rolling a soft ball back and forth to build turn-taking skills

• Playing clapping games like “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

• Pointing to and naming familiar people or pets.

Around 11 to 12 months, babies often show stronger preferences and are eager to try new challenges. Some engaging activities for a 12-month-old include:

• Stacking soft blocks or knocking them down

• Exploring simple cause-and-effect toys

• Practicing standing or cruising with support.

As your baby nears toddlerhood, you might also start exploring local attractions for 1-year-olds, like baby-friendly storytimes or soft play areas—if you're comfortable and your baby’s healthcare provider agrees.

Safety Tips

Make sure play supports development while staying safe:

• Stay close. Always supervise tummy time and any toy or crawling activity.

• Pick appropriate toys. Choose sturdy items without small parts, sharp edges, or loose pieces.

• Use a safe tummy time area. A firm, flat surface is best—always stay present during these moments.

• Separate play from sleep. Keep play items out of the crib and always lay your baby to sleep on their back. Avoid toys or loose bedding in the sleep space.

• Watch for signs of fatigue. Pause play if your baby appears tired or overstimulated.

The Bottom Line

When you're looking for activities to do with your newborn, keep it simple. Talking, reading, tummy time, skin-to-skin contact, and walks in the stroller all support bonding and early development. These small moments add up.

Your baby is already learning from everything you do together. Capture these early days with photos and take time to notice the little changes. Before long, you'll look back and see just how much your baby has grown.

As your baby gets older, you’ll find even more ways to play, connect, and explore—right at home. Check out these ideas for indoor activities with babies and toddlers for what’s next.

And don’t forget—using the Pampers Rewards App is a great way to unlock digital offers on Pampers products as your little one grows.

_{How We Wrote This Article 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.}