Have you noticed your baby paying close attention to your face? Babies love to look at faces! In fact, babies as young as newborns prefer faces and face-like objects (stuffed animals, dolls) over other objects. Here are some ways to get some face-to-face time with your baby:
- Hold and gaze at your newborn, keeping them about 8-12 inches away. Early on, that’s the best distance for them.
- Smile at your baby.
- Play a game of “peek-a-boo” with a blanket. Babies start to enjoy this game typically at three months.
- Introduce some mirror play at six months. Use a baby-safe mirror to make tummy time more fun.
- Make funny faces and see if you can get your baby to laugh.
- Stick your tongue out and see if your baby will imitate you. This is mostly likely to happen after six months.
- Read books featuring baby faces. We’re got you covered with a booklist below:
Did you know that babies prefer looking at faces over any other kind of stimuli? Faces teach babies to follow gaze cues (look where I'm looking), recognize identities and emotions, and to learn language. Get your baby started with these great reads!
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