Your Baby Week 10
Each week your baby is becoming more and more interactive. Smiling, cooing, and giggling may be common now. And if you put the back of a rattle up to your baby’s finger tips, he may even be able to grasp it and hold on. He may shake the rattle to make noise, and laugh at the result. Keep in mind that each baby develops on an individual schedule, so these things will happen in time.
There are many safe and fun ways to play with your little one. If you don’t have these items already, you may want to pick up a rattle, some finger puppets, and even a beach ball!
Rattle Time - Place the rattle in her hand. Let her shake it as much as she wants, but be sure to give both of her hands a turn. If she isn’t grasping it herself just yet, you can hold it in front of her or help her to grasp it.
Beach Ball Time – She is probably getting plenty of tummy time, but you may want to add in some occasional beach ball time. Gently place her with her tummy resting on the ball. Place your hands securely on her hips and rock her slowly back and forth. Many babies find this to be a soothing activity and it may help move around any gas that may be bothering her.
Finger puppets! – Remember, the sillier and more colorful the puppet is, the more likely she is to enjoy it. Move the puppet up, down, back and forth. Not only is this fun, it will help her develop her visual skills.
Even common items that you already have in your home can provide hours of entertainment for your little one, so get creative. Letting your infant splash her hands and feet in lukewarm bathwater will not only entertain her, but will help teach her about the world through her sense of touch. Especially if you keep an extra soft towel ready to dry her off.
You may also want to take some time to gently stretch your baby. Two great ways to do that are to gently clap your baby’s hands together or stretch your baby’s arms crossed, out wide, or overhead. You can also gently move your baby’s legs as if they were pedaling a bicycle.
At 10 weeks, she may finally be able to enjoy a baby activity center, with a soft mat and hanging toys. These toys are brightly colored and have a variety of items to captivate your little one’s imagination. Infants especially like items of different shapes and textures, items with movable parts, and of course, mirrors! All of these can be found on most baby activity centers.
