7 Easy Games To Play With Baby

Ready to Play With Baby?

Playtime isn’t just for toddlers running around the living room. It matters just as much, maybe more, in that first year of life. What looks like your baby batting at a rattle or staring at your face is actually serious developmental work. Through play, babies build the motor skills, memory and early recognition abilities that everything else gets built on later.

“Playtime helps develop a baby’s social, intellectual, language, and problem-solving skills,” says Marilyn Segal, PhD, an early childhood studies program director at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. ~Parents.com

So yes, play is genuinely hard work for a baby, even if it looks like nothing more than giggling on a blanket. It’s also one of the simplest ways to bond, whether that’s you, a grandparent, an older sibling, or a childminder getting down on the floor with them. Babies who get regular, responsive play tend to feel more secure, because they’re learning that the people around them show up, respond, and pay attention to them.

You don’t need fancy toys or a curriculum. Here are seven simple games that cost nothing and genuinely help your baby’s development, along with the ages they tend to work best.

1. Peek-a-Boo

This one has been around forever for good reason. Most babies start responding to it somewhere between 4 and 6 months, though every baby develops at their own pace, so don’t worry if yours takes a little longer to catch on.

What’s actually happening here is your baby learning “object permanence”, the understanding that things (and people) still exist even when they can’t see them. Before this clicks, if you disappear behind your hands, you’ve genuinely vanished as far as your baby is concerned. Once it clicks, that’s when the delighted squealing starts.

Keep playing even if your baby looks confused or unbothered the first few times. Cover your face with your hands or a muslin cloth, pause for a second or two, then reveal yourself with an enthusiastic “peek-a-boo!” Babies love repetition, so don’t be surprised if you’re asked (in baby language) to do it another twenty times.

2. Tickle Time

Gentle tickling paired with a song is an easy win, especially in those newborn and young infant months when big movement games aren’t an option yet.

Nursery rhymes like “This Little Piggy” or “Round and Round the Garden” work well because they build in a natural pause before the tickle, which helps your baby learn to anticipate what’s coming. That anticipation is actually a nice early memory exercise. Keep your touch light and watch your baby’s reaction. Some babies love it, others find too much tickling overwhelming, so follow their lead and stop if they turn away or get fussy.

3. Blow a Kiss

This one often gets written off as just something you do at the front door on your way out, but it’s genuinely a fun little game for babies to pick up, usually somewhere in the second half of their first year.

Say “blow me a kiss” and demonstrate by kissing your own hand and pushing it towards them. It takes most babies a while to work out the coordination, so don’t expect an instant result. Once they do get it, it becomes a lovely party trick for grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends, and most babies love the big reaction they get from doing it.

4. Roll Over

This one doubles as gentle physical practice for a baby who’s working towards rolling and eventually crawling, so it’s best suited to babies from around 2 to 6 months who have decent head control but aren’t rolling independently yet.

Lay your baby on their back or tummy in the middle of a blanket or play mat. Gently guide them to roll towards one side, then help them roll back. Keep it slow and watch their reaction, some babies find this thrilling, others aren’t fussed either way. Always support their head and neck if they can’t yet control it themselves, and never force a roll if your baby resists. If you have any concerns about your baby’s physical development or milestones, it’s worth mentioning at your next health visitor or GP check.

5. Show and Tell

For the baby version of this game, you’re doing all the showing and telling. Pick a few safe household objects, a wooden spoon, a soft scarf, a rattle, anything with an interesting colour, shape or texture, and hold them up for your baby to look at and touch.

Talk them through what you’re showing them. “This is a red ball, it’s round, feel how bouncy it is.” It sounds a bit silly talking to someone who can’t answer back, but hearing your voice describe the world is genuinely valuable for early language development. This is also a nice slow, calm activity for the end of the day.

6. Explore Gentle Scents

Sense of smell develops early, and introducing your baby to different, gentle scents can be a lovely way to engage them, particularly if you’re stuck in the kitchen and need a moment to keep them occupied nearby.

Vanilla extract, a peeled orange, or a sprig of mint are good options because they’re mild and unlikely to irritate. Hold the item a reasonable distance from your baby’s face rather than right up against their nose, and never let any spice powder get close enough to be inhaled or to reach their eyes or mouth. Some spices, cinnamon in particular, can irritate a baby’s airway if breathed in directly, so it’s best avoided as a “sniff test” item even though it smells lovely. If your baby has any known allergies or you’re introducing a new scent or food-related smell for the first time, it’s worth a quick check with your health visitor or GP first.

7. Bubbles

Bubbles are brilliant fun once your baby is old enough to focus their eyes and track a moving object, usually from around 3 to 4 months onwards, and they get even more enjoyable once your baby is sitting up and can start reaching for them.

They’re a great outdoor activity, and just as good in the bath since the water clean-up is basically done for you. Blow them a little distance away rather than right in front of your baby’s face, and keep bubble solution well out of reach, as it isn’t safe to swallow and can sting if it gets into eyes. Always supervise closely, especially at bath time.

A Few Final Thoughts

None of these games need special equipment, and none of them need to be done perfectly. Babies don’t need Pinterest worthy sensory activities, they need your attention, your voice, and a bit of repetition. Follow your baby’s cues: if they turn away, get fussy or seem overstimulated, that’s your sign to take a break, not push through.

If you ever have concerns about your baby’s development, whether that’s tracking objects, responding to sounds, reaching milestones like rolling or sitting, do raise it with your GP or health visitor rather than waiting it out. They’d always rather have a quick chat than have you worry unnecessarily.

Do you play any of these games with your baby? What are your family’s favourites?

Also worth a read: Grandparents: Helping Them Connect With Your Little One