Health Library

Infant Play

How Can You Help Infants Play?

All children are individuals and may enjoy different toys and interactions. The following are suggestions for activities and toys:

Age-Appropriate Suggestions

Birth to 1 month:

• Likes to be wrapped and/or held securely
• Likes the colors black, white and red
• Will be startled and disturbed by loud noises

What you can do as a parent:

• Sing and talk to your infant
• Play music softly
• Rock your infant, take him/her for walks

2 to 3 months:

• Likes bright objects
• Enjoys pictures and mirrors
• Likes rattles
• Enjoys infant swing
• Enjoys car rides

What you can do as a parent:

• Sing and talk to your infant
• Play music softly 
• Rock your infant
• Take him/her for walks

4 to 6 months:

• Likes brightly colored objects
• Likes to hold toys
• Enjoys rattles
• Likes to splash in the bath, needs support and constant attention
• Likes swings and strollers

What you can do as a parent:

• Sing, talk and read to your infant
• Provide tummy time: Encourage your infant to crawl and sit by placing him/her on the floor

6 to 9 months:

• Enjoys toys with bright colors that move
• Likes to play peek-a-boo

What you can do as a parent:

• Call your infant by name
• Speak clearly to your child and encourage different sounds
• Name body parts, foods and people
• Play pat-a-cake
• Begin saying words that tell what you are doing
• Encourage your infant to crawl by placing toys beyond his/her reach
• Continue to cuddle, sing and read

9 to 12 months:

• Enjoys looking at books
• Likes naming animals and identifying animal sounds
• Enjoys large toys that can be pushed and pulled

What you can do as a parent:

• Take your infant to different places and outings
• Play ball with your infant
• Read to your infant
• Tell your infant names of body parts, objects and people

Age-Appropriate Toys

Birth to 6 months:

• Mobiles
• Mirrors that will not break
• Music boxes
• Stuffed animals with parts that cannot be swallowed
• Swings
• Board books

6 to 12 months:

• Rattles
• Teething toys
• Blocks
• Brightly colored toys
• Board books
• Balls
• Cup and spoon
• Manipulative, cause-and-effect toys
• Toys that can be pushed and pulled