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What is more fun than playing with your baby? Seeing their little face light up as giggle away can bring joy to any day. There is something about that time you spend together that is not only good for your child’s development but is good for you as well.
Playing games with your baby enhances their overall development. They are learning and growing with each activity. Besides developing physical skills like coordination, playing games with your baby helps them to develop social skills like taking turns and asking for help. Plus playtime with mom or dad can help to reinforce that parent/child bond, and helps make them feel more secure about the attachment that they share with you.
Here are a few fun games and activities I found that you can play with your 9-12 month old baby. All of these games are created by things you already have around the house. You don’t have to buy expensive toys to encourage creativity and development in your child.
- Present time. Wrap an object in a few layers of paper, folding it around the object, but not taping it shut. Let baby open it, offering assistance if he gets frustrated.
- Surprise bag. Fill a small pouch with interesting toys and safe objects. Place it within reach of where baby sleeps each night, after he’s gone to sleep. He’ll look forward to it in the morning, and maybe you’ll get a few extra moments of sleep.
- Buried treasure. Wad up enough paper into balls to fill a small bucket. Show baby as you bury his toys in the paper. Enjoy his expression as he finds the buried treasures.
- Tunnel crawl. Get a large box (bigger than your baby) and open the top and bottom flaps. Lay the box on its side to make a tunnel. Encourage baby to crawl through by demonstrating how and then waiting for him on the other side.
Playtime can be fun and free!! Hope you enjoy these suggestions, and be sure to share any other great playtime activities that have worked for your little one.
(source: BabyCenter)
I participated in a few more carnivals this week that you should check out. The carnivals all had lots of great submissions. Be sure to stop by each of them and check out what others around the web are talking about.
For most women experiencing a normal pregnancy, moderate exercise is not only allowed, it is encouraged. Exercise during pregnancy can help with a lot of common pregnancy complaints and can make for a healthier mother and baby. Remember that each pregnancy is different, and you should discuss any exercise program you are currently involved in or planning on taking up with your doctor or midwife. Women who are in high risk pregnancies, or have complications that require them to be on bedrest, or those women where exercise may negatively impact the pregnancy are often told not to exercise. Your doctor will be able to tell you if you can exercise, what types of exercises are ok, and will monitor you throughout your pregnancy to make sure everything continues to be ok.
Moderate exercise during pregnancy can be a fantastic way to cure (or at least help with) what ails you. Women who include moderate exercise most days of the week in their routines are less likely to suffer from exhaustion (I know it sounds hard to believe). Regular exercise actually helps you sleep better and have more energy when you are awake, both of which help to combat exhaustion. Also, exercise can help reduce the risk of developing pregnancy complications like high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and many others. Exercise helps you maintain healthy weight gain during your pregnancy, and will make it easier for you to take off the pounds after the baby arrives. Also, if you’re involved in an exercise program you are more likely to eat healthy during your pregnancy as well. There are many activities you can partake in during pregnancy, be sure to discuss with your doctor or midwife what exercise activities are ok for you. Here a few to consider.
- Running. If you were running before pregnancy it is usually ok to continue running, although you may find as you get bigger that it becomes more difficult.
- Walking is an excellent way to exercise. You don't have to worry about your balance, it is low impact, and gets you outside.
- Yoga. There are classes that are designed specifically for pregnant women. You will want to make sure you take one of these special classes as balance can be a big issue during pregnancy.
- Swimming or water aerobics. Water exercises can be very good for pregnant women since it helps alleviate the problem that balance issues can pose, and helps to reduce some of the burden the added weight can put on your joints.
- Aerobics classes designed for pregnant women. Like with yoga classes, because of balance issues and the weakness of joints that some women experience during pregnancy, it is best to attend classes that are created with the pregnant woman in mind.
- Cardio Equipment at the gym. Things like treadmills, exercise bikes, and stair climbers. Again balance may be an issue so be sure you take that into consideration when choosing a piece of equipment to use.
- Weight lifting, be sure not to over strain. The goal would be to keep muscle tone during pregnancy, not to build up “big muscles”.
Pregnant women should avoid any exercise program that involves contact sports of any kind, exercises that rely heavily on balance, and those that have you lay flat on your back. Again, be sure to discuss your exercise program with your doctor and get his/her ok before starting any new programs (I can’t say that enough).
Here are a few websites you may find helpful when developing an exercise routine, and in determining what exercises work well for pregnant women.