“I can’t keep this kid entertained!” exclaimed my exasperated husband. Truth be told, entertaining a baby is easy for some and difficult for others. Some of us just have an easier time getting into the “baby mindset” to figure out what will be entertaining for someone whose life is still measured in months. For the rest of us, I present this list! Just be prepared to look silly…
1. Lean over your infant and slowly move your face closer until you touch noses for a brief second, then pop back up and act surprised.
2. Play peek-a-boo by holding a burp cloth in front of baby’s face, then lifting it away quickly.
3. Alternate between talking in a really high pitched voice and a really deep voice.
4. Look at a baby magazine – babies love to look at the faces of other babies.
5. Put your baby’s feet together and blow between them – it’s just like blowing grass and it makes a similar sound!
6. Pretend to eat your baby’s hands. Exclaim how tasty they are.
7. Pretend to eat your baby’s feet. Say “nom nom nom nom!!”
8. Lay on your back and sit your baby on your stomach. Pop up your head and say “hi!” and lay it back down. Repeat.
9. Act like you can’t find baby, then suddenly make eye contact and exclaim “there you are!”
10. Tickle baby’s face with your hair.
11. Lay your baby on her back and do “bicycles” with her legs.
12. Lay your baby on her back and wiggle her arms around like she’s directing a symphony.
13. Play patty cake!
14. Whisper in your baby’s ear.
15. Blow “raspberries” on your baby’s cheeks.
16. Blow “raspberries” on your baby’s belly.
17. Pretend to fall over and pop back up.
18. Make a face, move a card in front of your face, change expressions and pull the card back down to reveal your new face. Repeat over and over with multiple expressions.
19. Repeat silly sounding words in a silly sounding voice. “Tickle the Pickle!” in a high pitched voice always makes my son laugh.
20. Lift baby high above your head and plop back down on your lap. Repeat over and over. Say “Weeeeee!!”
21. Lift baby above your head and circle her around while making airplane noises.
22. Tickle your baby’s feet.
23. Tickle your baby’s neck.
24. Tickle your baby’s belly.
25. Let your baby grab your nose and mouth. Squeal and say things like “oh you got me!”
Check back later this week for even more ideas for keeping your baby entertained!