Play with Your Baby: I Spy Game

Take baby on a sightseeing safari (no plane trip necessary!)

Submitted by
Kayla Chong

Your newborn loves to take in the sights and sounds of his new world, but sometimes the view isn't all that exciting. Face it, his stunning view of the crib bumper and his awe-inspiring look at the living room fan aren't exactly breathtaking. Give him something else to look at while he gets a little "tracking" practice when you play this baby game.

An explorer:
Your newborn.
A guide:
You.
Tourist attractions:
Things that your baby will want to look at. Try brightly colored toys, fruit, large pictures or books.

Get comfortable for the trip. (Even baby likes to travel first class!) Prop him up on your lap or lay him in his bouncy seat or, better yet, grab a blanket that's big enough to share and lay down with him.
Take in the sights. Pick up one of the objects you've collected and slowly move it across his field of vision. At about five weeks old, his eyes should be able to follow them. (This is what your pedi is talking about when she asks if he's "tracking.") Older babies can still benefit from some tracking practice, so feel free to play even if he's already tracking like a pro.
When he's tracked one object all the way across his "sky" move on to something else.
Don't forget to be a good tour guide! As he tracks objects, tell him what the object is, what color it is, how big it is and where it's from. He may not understand everything you're saying, but he's soaking up the vocabulary like a sponge.
Welcome him back home from his sightseeing adventure with a cuddle. He may love looking at things, but he still loves your face best. (You might want to avoid having him track photos of Jessica Biel—no need to introduce any competition just yet!)