Welcome to the world of parenting. Here you can learn about your newborn’s development week by week and get ideas about toys and activities to share with your new baby. We have advice on the best way to keep your baby safe , as well as tried and tested tips for soothing a fussy baby
Activities for gross motor development (newborn)
Here are some tips to encourage gross motor development in your newborn.
Tip: An easy way to encourage gross motor development is to carry your baby in a sling. Research shows that in cultures where babies are routinely carried around in a sling while the mother works, the babies show advances in gross motor development in comparison to babies routinely kept in cribs and seats. The increased exposure to motion while in an upright position stimulates healthy development.
By Anne Oxenreider
- When you sense that the time is right, give him a little time lying on his stomach on top of a blanket. ‘Tummy time’ will allow him to strengthen the large muscles. Be sure to observe him the entire time and give him a break at the earliest signs of discomfort.
- In addition to brief periods of tummy time, think about holding your baby in different positions. Most likely, you’ll find a preferred position for soothing your baby but also find time when your baby is alert to lay him across your lap with his tummy down or his head propped on your shoulder. For an extra twist, lay him parallel on your thighs when you are seated and slowly lift and lower your heels. Help him learn to feel pleasure and comfort in a variety of positions in order to build muscle strength and coordination
- Rattles that attach to your baby’s wrists or ankles also encourage movement
Tip: An easy way to encourage gross motor development is to carry your baby in a sling. Research shows that in cultures where babies are routinely carried around in a sling while the mother works, the babies show advances in gross motor development in comparison to babies routinely kept in cribs and seats. The increased exposure to motion while in an upright position stimulates healthy development.
By Anne Oxenreider
Related Tips
- Activities for sight development (newborn)
- With a growing sense of when and how long your baby is ready to explore, consider appealing to his developing sense of sight.
- more
- Learning and sound - activities for newborns
- Your baby’s ability to hear and recognize your voice begins around the seventh month of pregnancy.
- more
- Learning and touch - activities for newborns
- Your baby has a complete sense of touch waiting for exploration.
- more
- Music and your newborn
- Music is a wonderful activity to share with your baby. We all enjoy music, so here are some ways to include it in your daily life.
- more
Comments
Search:
