Birth to 3 months old

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HealthWiki > Helping Children Who Are Blind > Chapter 5: Activities for the Young Baby (Birth to 6 Months) > Birth to 3 months old

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In this chapter:

 

In this chapter:

ACTIVITIES

The activities in this chapter are divided into 2 parts: for babies from birth to 3 months old and for babies 4 to 6 months old. These are the ages when babies can begin to work on the skills described here. But remember that it can take months for a baby to learn a new skill. So you may want to work on a few skills at a time. And remember that each baby will learn at her own pace. In the first 3 months of life, a baby can learn to:

• recognize familiar voices and sounds
• make noises other than crying
• discover her hands and feet
• lift her head
• tell the difference between smells
• touch and hold objects
• enjoy different kinds of touch
• help calm herself down

To help your baby learn to trust people and her surroundings

A baby who can see soon learns that certain sounds, touches, and smells come from different people or objects. This helps her make sense of the world, feel secure in it, and want to explore it. But sounds, touches, and smells can frighten a blind baby because they seem to come from nowhere. She needs extra help to understand and feel secure in her surroundings.

Yes, it’s your Papa! Do you feel my moustache?

You can help her understand where sounds and things that feel different come from. Help her know that learning about them can be fun.

Since your baby may not see what is about to happen, she needs you to let her know what will happen next. For example:

Rina, I’m going to take your wet diaper off now.

Touch her leg gently before changing her diaper (nappy). Tell her what you are about to do. Soon she will know what to expect when she feels the touch on her leg.

Celia, I’m going to pick you up.

Touch her shoulder gently before picking her up. Tell her what you are about to do. Soon she will know what your touch means.

To encourage your baby to respond to people and to sounds

Radha, hear that noise? I’m cutting wheat.

Keep your baby near you when she is awake. Speak to her often to let her know you are near. She will learn to recognize your voice and respond to it.

Next I’ll wash your arm, Alba.

Encourage family members to talk with her about what they are doing. If the same person always does the same activity — like giving the baby a bath — she will begin to recognize members of the family by what they do.

Who’s my little sweet girl?

Encourage your baby to smile by talking to her. She may smile again if you blow softly on her belly or play with her toes.

Sing and play music for your baby. If she makes sounds, imitate them to encourage
her to use her voice.

ga...ga...
...ga

When your baby begins to make sounds, play with her by putting her hands on your mouth and throat while you repeat the sounds. This also helps her learn where sounds come from.

To help your baby become aware of her hands and legs,
and to use her hands to hold objects

Ya ya me la la...

When feeding your baby, gently push upward on your baby’s arm so that she puts her hand on your breast. This helps her get ready to hold objects. Feeding is also a good time to talk or sing to your baby.

Try tying a toy that makes noise - like a small bell, seed pod, or bracelet - on her wrist or ankle. She will try to find the sound with her other hand and play with it.	Put your baby on her side with a cloth behind her back for support. She will naturally bring her hands together to play.
Remember, since small objects can choke a baby, you should stop her if she tries to put small toys or objects all the way into her mouth.

Carmen, try to pull.

Be careful she does not choke on the beads or swallow them.

Give her things to hold that will feel different from each other when she touches them, like a piece of smooth, silky cloth and a rough cloth. You can also encourage her to pull on objects like a strong string of beads or a knotted cord. If you pull back slightly, she may pull harder.

First, I’ll rub your chest, Bina.

Try giving her a gentle massage all over, using vegetable oil or just your hands. Start with her chest and move outward to her hands. Then move back to her bottom and down her legs.

After she gets used to your massage, try using cloths with different textures to gently rub her body. Afterward, encourage her to touch different parts of her body - for example, to touch her hand to her legs.

Yes, these are your toes!

Touch her hands and feet when you play together. Pat them or blow lightly on them and name them.

To help your baby develop control of her head

A baby’s neck muscles grow strong when she lies on her stomach and lifts her head. A baby who can see will lift her head up to look at things, but a baby who cannot see will need other reasons to lift her head. Many babies may not like to lie on their stomachs. Your child may be more willing to do this if you:

Can you find Mama’s face?

Place your baby on your chest. If her face is near your face, she will want to lift her head when she hears your voice, or she will want to touch your face. You can also hold your arms around her and rock back and forth.

Manoj, I think you are almost ready to crawl!

Put your baby over your knees, while supporting her with your hand. Rock her by moving your knees. This is an easy way to hold your child and encourages her to lift her head and strengthens her neck muscles. It also helps her prepare to crawl.

Let your baby feel a noisy toy, then shake it about 15 centimeters (6 inches) above her head. She will often lift her head to pay attention to the sound.

To help your baby explore objects through taste and smell

Babies first learn about the world by tasting and exploring objects with their mouths. This is especially important for children who cannot see well because they must learn a lot through their other senses. Everything the baby plays with should be clean, and big enough so the baby will not choke.

This is mama’s finger, little one.

Lightly touch your finger to your baby’s mouth. Let her suck on your finger and explore it.

So, Alita, do you like Tia Ana's spoon?

When your baby can hold objects by herself, encourage her to explore their smell and taste.

To help your baby feel different kinds of touch

That’s your hand in the water, Mei Mei.

Play a game by dipping parts of his body in water, naming each part.

This is a flower, Aminah. Smells good, doesn’t it?

Encourage her to touch things with an interesting feel and a strong but pleasant smell - like fruits, vegetables, or flowers.

To help your baby get ready to roll over

A baby who can see learns to roll over as she reaches for things. If your baby cannot see, you may have to help her learn to roll over. As her head, neck, and shoulders get strong, you will notice your baby holding her head up and turning when she hears sounds. Now she can prepare for rolling over.

Hold on, Clara... I’m pulling you over.

When your baby is on her stomach, shake a noisy toy above her head to encourage her to lift her head up. When she grasps the toy, move it behind her to help her roll onto her back.

Put your baby on her side with a cloth or pillow behind her. Shake a noisy toy in front of her. Then move the toy down to the floor. She will then turn her head and shoulders to follow it — and will roll onto her stomach.