Five things your baby will adore and their benefits
Babies are like adorable little sponges, soaking up everything around them. Here are five things they love the most.
Reading
Rhyming books, simple stories, and interactive books—your baby will love them all! It’s never too early to start reading together, so set aside time each day to enjoy a book with your little one. For newborns, high-contrast black-and-white books are great for their developing vision. As they grow, textured books provide a fun way to explore different sensations, while lift-the-flap books add an element of surprise and help reinforce the concept of object permanence. Reading together not only sparks curiosity but also creates a special bonding experience that your baby will cherish.
Faces
Your baby is naturally drawn to faces, especially yours! They also find all faces fascinating, which may be an instinctive survival mechanism. Eye contact helps strengthen the caregiver-child bond while also teaching babies about emotions and communication. At birth, they can only see in black, white, and shades of grey, but by 4-5 months, they begin to perceive colours, with reds and oranges appearing first. Newborns have limited vision and see best at a close range of 25-30 cm. Holding eye contact for 5-10 seconds at this distance is a powerful way to bond with your little one.
Mirrors
Your baby's fascination with mirrors stems from their love of faces. As they begin to develop self-recognition, mirrors will quickly become one of their favorite things to explore. Over time, they’ll realize that the face staring back is their own and will start recognizing their reflection whenever they see it. Whether it’s their own face, a parent’s, a caregiver’s, or a friendly visitor’s, your little one will be captivated by the faces peering back at them.
Peek-a-Boo
Babies absolutely love peek-a-boo, and you’ll find yourself playing it often over the next couple of years! This simple yet engaging game is a fantastic way to support your baby’s social development from day one. It helps build gross motor skills, strengthens visual tracking, stimulates their senses, and—best of all—often brings out the sweetest giggles.
Beyond the fun, peek-a-boo also introduces the concept of object permanence—the understanding that things (like your smiling face) still exist even when they’re out of sight. As your baby grows, their way of playing evolves too, making peek-a-boo a favourite for months to come. Before long, they’ll even start initiating the game themselves—how adorable!
Gentle Tickling
Babies thrive on touch, craving the warmth and comfort it brings. Whether it’s skin-to-skin contact, cuddling, holding hands, or gently touching their tiny fingers and toes, these moments are perfect for bonding. Even as they grow into toddlers, little ones often adore gentle tickles, rewarding you with the sweetest smiles and giggles. Sharing laughter together is a beautiful way to strengthen your connection and create joyful memories.
