Babies are learning from birth, so it’s important to stimulate them as much as possible from the word go. It’s great to give them textures and sensory stimulation, whether its rocking, blowing, or just putting them on to an unusual textured mat.

Here are some ideas of what to do in those initial months...

• Blow on your baby’s feet, hands and tummy
• Talk to your baby
• Rock your baby
• Pull faces at your baby
• Move your baby’s legs as if pedalling when you change the nappy
• Get safe items for your baby to chew on – make sure these aren’t small enough to fit inside their mouth and be a choking hazard
• Play copycat with your baby – simply sticking your tongue out  a few times a minute while looking in to their eyes should start to get them doing the same
• Move things from side to side in front of them
• Try to encourage your baby to stretch, if you lay your baby on their tummy, then put something out of their reach, they will try to reach for it. Maybe try using a ball or a cylinder so you can roll it away from them
• Play peek-a-boo with a toy by hiding it behind your back