Yesterday I listed 25 ways to entertain your baby. I probably use all of these suggestions in a single day and I’ve been wanting to write them down to share with other moms and dads who sometimes run out of ideas for keeping a smile on their baby’s adorable face. One of the greatest rewards of being a parent is hearing your child laugh. It is one of the greatest sounds in the world. Here are 25 more ways to hear that precious giggle.
26. Bring your baby into the kitchen and host a “cooking show.” Make lots of loud noises and narrate everything in a silly voice.
27. Give your baby “Eskimo Kisses.”
28. Pull up a slide show of your baby’s pictures on your computer and watch it together.
29. Go for a walk outside and point out the various plants. I.e. “Grass, tree, flower….”
30. Roll your baby back and forth from her right side to her left.
31. Read a book together. Young babies tend to like books that rhyme.
32. Dance in front of your baby.
33. Sing a silly song and change the lyrics to include your baby’s name.
34. Make different expressions and wait for your baby to mimic you.
35. Put a toy on your head and act surprised when it falls off.
36. Make your baby’s stuffed animals move around and talk to each other.
37. Drive a toy car up and down your baby’s legs and belly.
38. Lay on your back, pull your knees to your chest and lay your baby on your shins, supporting her under her arms. Move her back and forth and reach up to kiss her nose.
39. Hold your baby in front of a mirror and make faces at the reflection.
40. Tickle your baby’s lips with a clean burp cloth – she’ll likely grab it and try to chew on it.
41. Carry your baby around the house and identify everything you see.
42. Play with flash cards. Use the ones that have a picture on one side and the word on the other. Pick five or six and keep rotating through them.
43. Wiggle your hands in front of your baby, letting her catch a finger every once in a while. If she catches your hand, tickle her belly.
44. Put on some music and dance with your baby around the room.
45. Move a stuffed animal slowly in front of your baby, side to side then front to back. Once in a while swoosh in and tickle her with the stuffed animal.
46. Play “horsey.” Bounce your baby on your knee while making horse sounds.
47. Sniff your baby’s feet and exclaim “stinky feet!”
48. Help your baby “walk” around the room and explore.
49. Watch your baby with a blank, yet calm expression. Whenever she makes a noise or a face, mimic her.
50. Fill your cheeks with air and use your baby’s hands or feet to “pop” your cheeks.