What to Do With Your 1-Month-Old Baby All Day Long?

Bringing your newborn home is a whirlwind of days and nights.  But, as you start to look at your 1-month-old baby, what can you do with one or two month old babies?  It can be hard to know what to do with them now that they’re awake more.  So, today I’m going to give you some fun things you can do and try.

Hi, I’m Hilary — I’m The Pregnancy Nurse®, but I also worked for a pediatrician for a couple of years and I well know how confusing it can be now that baby is awake more, what can you do with your little one — let’s talk about it.

Big thanks to this post’s sponsor KiwiCo!  We have LONG used their imaginative toys in our home and I love their Panda Crate — don’t worry, I’m going to share more about it as we get going! I even have a coupon code to save you 50% off your first month’s crate — so, stay tuned!

Don’t forget safety!

The good news is that newborns are VERY easily amused.  There isn’t much you can’t show them that they won’t be interested in — BUT a LOT of the world is just not safe for them.  

The good news on this front is it takes a while for them to grasp things, but it is really important to start with safe boundaries for them.  

The rule of thumb is nothing should be around baby that can fit through a toilet paper roll.  It’s a good habit to get into, and stick with.  You just never know when baby may get that skill.

Also, no toys in the crib, period.  Nothing in the crib besides baby is one of the big ABC rules. 

The good news is that KiwiCo’s Panda Crate is all safe items for kids 0-36 months (when safety is so much of an issue). If fact, their crates are made in partnership with childhood development experts.  As I felt the materials they’re just perfect.  They sent me this little tumble tour and it’s SO solidly made, and that ribbed blue one is awesome for a baby that loves to chew on things.

A Word on Milestones

Milestones have always been a pain point for parents.  Because some kids say a word by 1, but some don’t — and when professionals give milestones it often freaks parents out (heard this a LOT at the pediatrician’s office).

A good rule of thumb is watching milestones in general.

I had a kid who wasn’t talking, but was ahead on many other milestones — so it’s less concerning then when they’re behind in lots of places.  And ALWAYS ask your pediatrician if you have any questions.  There are so many resources out there to help kids who are struggling!

I love how KiwiCo Panda Crate is going to help support your baby at the milestones they’re at, since they send toys just for where your baby is at!  When you sign-up you can get a crate every 2 months and it will be based on just what your baby needs at that point for their development!  I loved how the 5-6 month one had some great options for babies on their tummies, they had bright colors that will help engage their minds and fine motor skills.  They even sent a toy that is literally meant to be passed hand to hand – which is a skills babies really need to work on at that age.

Does a 1-Month Old Need Play?

We’re gonna use the word “play” pretty loosely here.  Small baby’s play is quite different than play for older babies (which is what we all picture in our minds).  A lot of baby’s play involves their senses:

• Hearing (they love your voice the most, so don’t be afraid to sing or read a book!)
• Feelings — new sensations, and even feeling a fan on their face can be a new sensation they like (or hate)
• Vision — Everything is new to these little people, but early on their sight isn’t that great, so stark contrasts are best!

So, no — your one-month old isn’t going to play like  you might envision, but they’re doing their own things that are so important for their brain development.

Pro Tip: they LOVE to look at faces, and different facial expressions — a fun game for both of you (especially when they start to laugh).  Mirrors are extra fun because they don’t know that cute baby is them!

The problem with all of this is that it can get real old for the person playing with them.  Sure they love to look at your face and read books — but what else can you do?  That’s where KiwiCo Panda Crate comes in with curated toys just for your baby’s age!  Genius!  Save 50% off your first month with code PULLINGCURLS

Use Things Different Than You Imagine

We all think a baby is going to grab a rattle and shake it to make noise — but when they’re little parents can use the rattle to get baby to turn their head.  Then we shake it to get them to track it with their eyes and their head as they lay on the floor.

As they get bigger they’ll bat at the rattle, and eventually grab it.

You might have blocks and you think they’ll want to build something, but in reality they may just want to touch them — or try to kick or grab them.  Their nervous systems are SO new, they use things different than we would.

Babies this age may still have a lot of crazy reflexes (although many newborn ones will have disappeared, but it depends on the baby).  Don’t let those worry you — being more active will help baby work through those things and interact more with their environment.

You may have “toys” that people got you when you had your baby — but chances are a lot of those will be for when they’re older (and actually may over-stimulate them right now).  You need to find some very simple items to use with your small baby.  I love how the KiwiCo’s Panda Crate for this age comes with a mirror (who’s that cute baby????), some black and white cards and somethings just for those tiny brains.  Seriously, so great.  Don’t even get me started with the genius that comes in the 3-6 month crate.  So perfect!

Pro Tip: KiwiCo’s Panda Crate actually comes with some information with each toy on how to use it.  That sort of sounds silly, but because babies play in such a different way than we remember playing as kids it’s important to learn what they need!

A Word on Tummy Time

We all know back to sleep — baby should be placed on their back, alone in a crib when it’s time for baby sleep.  BUT that doesn’t mean the rest of the day needs to be on their back too.

Tummy time is so important, and it will help your baby learn to move in new and important ways!

Here are a few tips:

1. Put baby on a ball on your belly and see if they’ll raise their head to look at you
2. Hang out on the floor with them — use new items to catch their attention to get them to move their head and body in new way (this is where the items from your Panda Crate come in handy)
3. If you have to, set a timer to make sure you get in the amount of tummy time your provider recommends.  It really is SO important, even if they’re not fans.

If they get fussy come by them, sing to them, pat their back, hold their hands — but keep doing tummy time.  It will get better, and is so important!

Pro Tip: KiwiCo’s Panda Crate has so many awesome tummy time toys and can really help to make this time more enjoyable for them.  Their double spinning drum has mirrors, and makes some simple sounds (nothing you’ll want to hide from) that will make tummy time more fun (and frankly, do more for them).  My kids hated tummy time, this would have been a lifesaver!

Baby Containers

I haven’t heard them called these until recently, but they include:

• Carseat
• Walkers (not recommended anyway)
• Exersaucers
• Swings
• Bouncers
• Carriers (where baby strapped to a caregiver)

Pro Tip: Baby should NOT be in the car seat when you’re not in the car if possible.  

Now, all of these are fine, and I’ve 100% used them, but people seem to discount one of the best places for baby, and that’s on the floor.

I’d just put down a clean blanket, and lay baby on it.  We’d do tummy time there, and look at that adorable baby in the mirror together.  Remember that a lot of those very expensive baby products are for show or for your convenience.  They’re not actually for baby’s development (even though many say they are).

Holding Your Baby

There’s nothing wrong with holding your baby — but after that first month out of the womb, make sure that one-month-old is getting lots of time on their own.  Make sure that you’re having lots of face to face time where you can coo at each other.

Do We Play All day?

I actually don’t recommend playing all day together at ALL.  At 1 month of age, baby will be awake for 30-60 minutes after a feeding during the daytime and that is a great time to spend together and get some of these activities in.  Also, simple toys are best so that you’re not over-stimulating them (looking at you toys that have lots of sounds and lights).

Personally, I didn’t play with babies at all at night.  I wanted to convey a message that the fun time to be awake was when the sun was up — so it was feed and back to sleep at night.

We really tried to keep to sleep – wake – eat – play (and repeat) cycles — just taking out the play part at night.

And KiwiCo’s Panda Crate makes that play time more valuable and easy for you to do.  Get your first order at 50% off with code PULLINGCURLS.  I hope you love it as much as we do!

Pro tip:  Not feeling like yourself after baby – check out KiwiCo’s Maker and Eureka crate could be a fun way to do something you enjoy during naptime.  The Maker crate will send a new craft to your house every month, it sounds like a good way to get back to feeling like yourself. 🙂