baby with family

Exploring the World with Baby – Sensory Play

July 31, 2024 Infant

Sensory Play, what is it, and why does it matter?

Parents often hear about the importance of sensory play for their babies and kids, but what exactly is it, and why does it matter? Sensory play involves using our body movements and our five senses—sight, smell, sound, feel, and taste—in everyday activities. It helps babies and children explore their surroundings and learn new things.

Sensory Play Involves all 5 Senses!

Sight
Smell
Sound
Feel
Taste

Sensory play helps babies build pathways in the brain that are needed for skills like moving, talking, and thinking. But don’t worry, sensory activities don’t have to be complicated. You can use simple items found around your home or outdoors.

With infants, start by gently touching and talking to them. Show them bright colors and offer toys they can explore with their mouths. Babies often enjoy touching their feet, hands, and mouths, so start there. Letting them chew on safe toys helps them get used to different textures, which can be helpful for eating and brushing teeth later on.

Sensory activities don’t have to be complicated. You can use simple items found around your home or outdoors.

flower

As your child grows, you can try different activities to engage their senses. Inside, let them touch things with different textures or play with food during meals. You can also make your own sensory boards with items like soft fabrics or sandpaper.

Water play is another great sensory activity. You can do it inside in the bathtub or outside with a water table or sprinkler. Spending time outdoors offers even more sensory experiences, like feeling the sun and touching grass and leaves.

baby with mom

If you notice that your child seems overly sensitive or avoids certain activities, talk to their doctor. They may need help from a specialist who can assess their sensory needs.

Overall, it’s important to give your child a variety of sensory experiences every day, both indoors and outdoors. It’s not only fun but also helps them learn and grow!

Feeding a 6-7 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon and from a bowl, never from a bottle.

Feeding a 10-12 Month Old

Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for your baby, even after you start offering solid foods.

Feeding a 8-9 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon. Never put cereal in a bottle.

Tips

Mom new born home

Breast milk and formula feeding:

Around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age, babies may experience a growth spurt when they feed more often.

As they grow babies can hold more milk, so feedings may become further apart and take less time.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and beyond.

feeding solid foods

Feeding solid foods:

Wait to offer solid foods until your baby:

  • Can sit up and hold up their own head.
  • Opens their mouth when they see food.
  • Can close their lips around a spoon.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Try one new food at a time. Wait 5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.

Introduce peanut butter around 6 months. Spread a small, thin smear of peanut butter or nut butter thinly on a cracker.  Watch your baby for any reaction for the next 2 hours.

Babies under one year should NOT have honey due to the risk of botulism. Also, babies should not have foods that can cause choking like nuts or whole grapes.

All babies are different. Talk with WIC or your baby’s healthcare provider about your baby’s needs.

Feeding Cues

Feeding a 4-5 Month Old

Before teeth come in, wipe gums with a soft, clean wash cloth after each feeding, especially before bed.

Feeding a 0-3 Month Old

Newborns have tiny tummies and need to be fed often. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.

Growth Spurts

Many babies are fussy during a growth spurt and will want to nurse longer and more often. This is called cluster feeding. This is your baby’s way of helping you increase your milk supply so that you can keep up with their needs. Remember, the more your baby nurses, the more milk your body makes.

Growth spurts can happen at any time, and every baby is different.

They often happen at these ages:

two-three-weeks

2 to 3 Weeks

6 Weeks

three-months

3 Months

six-months

6 Months

What foods can I get?

Authorized Food List
Authorized Food List

Where can I shop?