Let your baby explore & splash. Talk about what’s happening and how it feels. 
It's a great opportunity to introduce new words and songs, such as pouring water on their feet and saying, ‘Wash, wash, wash your toes.’ 

Avoid giving your baby a massage if your baby is unwell or just had an  injection.

Contact your local Children's Centre to find out when the next baby massage course will be available.

Additional information

Infant massage 

Baby massage improves circulation,  reduces colic and aids digestion. 

Baby massage can support bonding between you and your baby. 

These are the building blocks for a healthy brain. A healthy brain will help your baby to be happy in themselves and enjoy their family and make friends. Every day will bring many opportunities to give your baby’s brain what it needs to grow well.

Waiting until your baby is ready to wean saves you a lot of time. They will quickly learn how to feed themselves. This helps to develop independence and your baby will learn to recognise when they feel full. 

Keep trying new food, some babies need to taste something 10 to 15 times before they may like it. 

Offer fingers foods, this will help your baby regulate how quickly they eat and helps to develop chewing.

Additional information links

Your baby can co-ordinate their eyes, hand and mouth and look at food, grab it and put it in their mouth all by themselves. 

Your baby can swallow food. Babies who are not ready will push their food back out.

When your baby is able to stand you can hold their hands and dance together!  

Introduce turn taking during mealtimes. 

Try to allow plenty of time so that it's an enjoyable experience. 

Don’t stress if they create mess.

Try and talk about tastes and textures of different foods.
 
Additional information links

BBC – Yum Yum breakfast 

Encouraging your baby to feed themselves helps to develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Over time, learning to chew will help to develop facial muscles which will help your baby learn to talk. 

This helps babies with their rolling, crawling and other physical development later on.

Walk through the park talking to your baby about what you can see. 

Find natural materials such as pinecones, leaves and grass for your baby to touch.
 
Additional information
NHS – Guidelines for physical activity 

Give your baby some pots, pans and spoons. Notice what your baby chooses to do, imitate and comment on what they are doing.

Additional information links
BBC – A trip to the park 

Cut down background noises, for example television.

Give your baby some ‘special time’ by playing with what they are interested in.

Use simple single words, and repeat them often.

Copy your baby's facial expressions, words or sounds. 

Name objects that you can see.

Sing song nursery rhymes, read stories together.

Additional information ideas
BBC – Helpful advice from a Speech and Language Therapist

NHS – How can I help my baby learn and develop? 

Notice what catches their eye and talk about it. Model what things are called, such as 'tree'.

Use your home language if that feels more comfortable.

Let your baby try to open and  turn the pages.

Books aren't just for bedtime! Take them out with you. You can even have waterproof books in the bath.

Additional information links
Reading from birth

When your baby hears you using different voices and expressions it helps their social and emotional development.

Each time you share a favourite book, your baby will get something new from it.

It boosts your bond.  

as your baby grows you can encourage them to look, point, touch, and talk about it.

Sing lullabies which are simple, soothing and repetitive – for example Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Say or sing rhymes with actions where you tickle and touch your baby – for example Round and Round the Garden.

Additional information links
Reading from birth
Hungry little minds