Now that your baby isn’t quite a newborn anymore, you might be itching for some new games. Here is a list of baby activities 3-6 months that you can start doing today!
In my previous post about activities for babies 0-3 months, I mentioned that babies are just a blob of human, and they are limited in what they can do.
Well, now that your baby is hitting the 3-6 month checkpoint, they are starting to develop a few more skills than they had before, which means that their capabilities are expanding ever so slightly.
Maybe they are starting to smile at you and are trying to laugh. Maybe they are reaching out their arms and kicking their legs all over the place. Or maybe you can tell that they are really trying to talk to you now, and they look at you intentionally. It’s all so exciting!
So, now that your little blob is becoming a little more active and aware of their surroundings, what are some new activities that you can introduce to them?
Now, don’t just forget about allllllllll the activities you were doing with them from 0-3 months. KEEP PLAYING THEM!!!!
Those are still extremely fun and beneficial games for your little one! And the games will either naturally adapt to your growing baby, or you can simply make a few changes to fit the game to your baby’s current needs, age, and stage. So, with that previous list of 33 activities, PLUS this list of 27? That’s a lot of games to play to keep you and your baby ocupado! 60 to be exact 😉
*Remember, whatever activity your baby is doing, make sure they are well supervised and in a safe environment. Do not leave your baby alone!
Okay, let’s get to this awesome list of baby activities that you can do right at home.
This post is all about baby activities 3-6 months.
27 baby activities 3-6 months THAT YOU CAN DO AT HOME
1. Ten Knives In Your Back
Okay, my husband had no idea what this was when I first did it to our son, and I was so surprised. I thought every kid grew up knowing this silly rhyme! And actually, I’ll be honest with you… it’s a little spooky. And maybe it’s not for you and yourr baby, and that’s fine. But my baby loves it 😀
I’ve been doing it since he could lay on his belly, since you do the actions on someone’s back. His first reaction was a solid zero (which was expected), but he started to recognize it around 4-5 months, and then really started to enjoy it as he got older!
Now, there are variations of this rhyme. This is mine 🙂
Rhyme:
Ten knives in your back, bloooood rushing down. Spiders crawling up your spine, spiders crawling down your spine. Dot, dot, line, line. Spiders crawling up your spine, spiders crawling down your spine. Cool breeze, tight squeeze, NOW YOU’VE GOT THE SHIVERIES!
Actions:
Ten knives in your back (take both of your hands and make a claw shape, and put your claws at the top of the person’s back like you are stabbing them. I know, gruesome 😂)
Bloooood rushing down (trickle your fingers down their back like gushing blood… er, I mean… falling rain)
Spiders crawling up your spine, spiders crawling down your spine (pretend your hands are spiders and crawl them up and down their back)
Dot, dot (take your pointer finger and draw two dots side by side)
Line, line (then draw two lines side by side)
Spiders crawling up your spine, spiders crawling down your spine (repeat the hands as spiders crawling motion)
Coooooool breeze (blow softly on the back of their neck. The trick is to blow air out as you say “Coooool”),
Tight squeeze (gently squeeze their neck with your hand)
NOW YOU’VE GOT THE SHIVERIES! (then tickle their sides and scream the words)
It’s supposed to give a person chills and make them laugh at the end! Give it a go! It can be so fun, even though it is slightly disturbing. But hey! It just fits right in with some of the other nursery rhymes, right? #ringaroundtherosie #londonbridgeisfallingdown #threeblindmice
2. Sit-Me-Up Seat
Once my baby was able to hold up his head without any assistance, I started to use a Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat. Usually this happens sometime between the ages of 3-6 months, and every baby is different.
Typically, these seats come with developmental toys. Your baby may or may not actually play with them right away. My baby first stared at the toys when he was 3 months old and was very interested in the colors and the sizes. Eventually he started to touch them with his hands and then play with them.
This is a great way for your little one to pass some time, and learn some independent play and exploration.
3. Play with Different heights And directions
Play around with heights by lifting your baby higher above you, to whatever level you are comfortable with, and them lowering them down towards the floor. Move them from side to side, gently spin in a circle, move diagonally, etc. You can also use certain objects to help give your baby height, like a high chair or a Sit-Me-Up seat.
Using the Sit-Me-Up seat, I would place the seat safely in the middle of the table so that my baby was eye level with me. It gave him a different perspective, being up higher that way, “independently”, while I sat in front of him.
Sometimes I would interact with him, sometimes I would do some work at the table, sometimes I would read, etc. And he would interact with me, stare at the toys in front of him, or look around at his surroundings.
We did this on our dinner table inside, the coffee table, and the floor. I would also open the window curtains so that he could look outside as far as he could see. And on warmer days, we would sit out at the table on our patio outside to get some fresh air.
*Not everyone feels comfortable doing this, and that’s okay! You don’t have to! I think there’s a safe way to do so, though, if you do feel comfortable. At this age, they typically aren’t moving enough to tip the seat over. So, as long as you keep the seat on a flat and level surface, away from the edge, and you do not leave your baby alone, it can be a safe activity.
I did this everyday while my baby was between 3-6 months, and I can honestly say that it’s possible and fun for them. Once your baby starts wiggling around more is when you should stop this activity.
4. Clapping hands
Clap your hands in front of your baby. Maybe sing a song, clap to the beat of a song, or tell them what you are doing. Then take their little hands and show them how to clap for themselves! They will be surprised that their hands can make the sound.
You can change the pace- make them clap really slow, and then speed it up really fast! Make it seem really exciting, and you might get some smiles!
5. Pat-A-Cake
“Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake baker’s man
Bake me a cake as fast as you can
Roll it and pat it and mark it with a “B”
Put it in the oven for baby and me!”
Move your baby’s hands and arms around as you sing the song, making the actions exaggerated. Match them to the words as best as you can and be silly with it. They will learn how fun it can be!
6. Sign language
If you are interested in teaching your baby how to sign, now is the time to start.
If you don’t know sign language, but you want to teach your baby, YouTube is amazing! There are a ton of videos that you can watch to learn basic baby signs, like milk, more, bath, please, sleepy, etc.
They definitely won’t sign back to you right now. It can take a while and it depends on how consistent you are in using it!
My baby is 11 months old right now. We don’t use sign language consistently at my house, so my baby doesn’t really sign back yet. But he does understand the words that I sign to him, and responds to me in his own way!
So if you are more consistent than I am, your baby will learn what you teach them.
7. Abcs
Sing the ABCs to your baby! It’s so good for them to get familiar with the alphabet. You can throw in the sounds that each letter makes, and talk about words that start with each letter. It will be beneficial for their language and communication!
We even bought ABC foam letters that are meant for the bath, but we play with them all the time. I show my baby the letters and what sound they make. Then I use it in a sentence. You can even spell out words for them with the letters! Plus, they are soft enough for him to chew on.
I know they are young, and some people might think this activity is for an older age. But I don’t think it’s a bad thing to start teaching them early, especially if this activity helps you talk to your child in a new, fun way!
8. Learning body parts
Teach them about different parts of their bodies. Sing them songs like “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” while pointing to each part on yourself, and then each part on them as well. Ask them questions, like “where’s your eyes?”
They aren’t going to know the answer, but you can teach them, and soon, when you ask them where their eyes are, they will be able to point to them!
9. Jumper
Jumpers can be SO fun! Although, it seems to be a hit or miss as to whether a baby likes to be in a jumper or not. My little boy looooved the jumper during this phase, but none of his cousins (a total of six) liked the jumper when they were his age. It just depends on the baby.
To spice up the jumper experience, you can place little items below for their feet to touch. Examples would be small stuffed animals, alphabet letters, a ziplock bag with some water in it, tissue paper, etc.
You don’t want to place anything below them that can hurt them as they jump, but it can be fun for them to feel the different objects beneath their feet. Especially if you leave their feet uncovered! Then they can explore the textures with their bare little toes.
10. Cooking
Pop your baby in your baby carrier or hold them while they watch you and your spouse cook something. It gives them a chance to experience coldness from opening the fridge, heat coming from the stove, the sounds of the microwave beeping.
Talk to them about what you are doing and what they are seeing. Show them the foods, the spices, the drinks, etc. Just watch their little hands and toes so that they don’t get too close to the hot stove or the cutting knives, etc.
11. Bring on the Toys
When your baby was first born, you didn’t really need any toys. Now, this is the stage where you really start to introduce baby toys to your little one. They have more of an awareness of the objects around them and are more interested in looking at things.
Take some baby friendly objects and hold them out in front of them. Watch them as they look at it for the first time! Talk to them about the shape it is, the colors it has, what it does, and what it’s called.
12. Pull him around the house in a box
Yes. A cardboard box! I just used one of the cardboard diaper boxes after I emptied it. I cushioned the bottom and the edges with blankets, placed a pillow against the back of it, and put my baby in a sitting position. His back and head rested comfortably against the pillow, and the box was padded enough around the sides that he was cozy and secure and he wasn’t going to topple over.
The cardboard box I used had pre-made slits as handles, and so I slid a scarf or a bed sheet through the handles to act as a long handle for myself. Then I just walked around the house, pulling the box and my baby behind me.
13. Plastic water bottles
Plastic water bottles are a simple way to keep your baby entertained. It’s best if they are either totally empty or if they have just an inch or two of water. Babies love the crinkle sound of the bottle and the look of the water splashing inside. It’s a smooth texture for them to taste as well, since they put everything in their mouths! Just make sure the lid is on tight or that it is removed completely.
14. Baby friendly kitchen gadgets
There are so many little gadgets around the kitchen that you can let your baby hold onto (and taste of course). Spatulas, wooden spoons, rubber whisks, and plastic Tupperware are some good examples of items they can safely play with under your supervision.
15. Bubbles
Play with bubbles! Let them stare in awe at such a magical thing and practice tracking the movements with their eyes. Let them reach out to try to grasp them. Your baby will be able to practice their motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Not to mention the hints of color you see in each bubble and the ways it POPS!
This definitely belongs in baby activities 3-6 months.
16. Stuffed animals
Introduce stuffed animals as part of the baby activities 3-6 months list! These fluffy friends can be great for your baby to look at, especially during an activity like tummy time. It’s a gentle way of showing your baby what animals look like, and they get to feel different textures on each animal.
If your baby is anything like mine, stay away from larger stuffed animals because sometimes they can look overwhelming and scary! Stick to hand sized stuffed animals instead until they get a little older 😛
17. House tours
Your baby has literally never seen anything. Everything is new to them! So, take them on a grand house tour! Or, if you live in a small space like we do, then take them on a dainty house tour.
Show them every corner of every room and describe the designs to them, the decor, the function of the room. Show them how the laundry room works, how the dishwasher works, turn on the faucet. Tell them about memories you have had in the house, when you first bought it, and how you felt. Not only will you expose your baby to all the aspects of their home, but you will feel homey while doing so 😉
18. Play with Cold
Allow a safe space for your baby to experiment with cold temperatures. You can introduce them to ice cubes (slightly melted so they don’t stick to your baby’s skin), letting your baby touch the ice cubes while making sure they don’t put anything in their mouth. You can turn on a fan and let them feel the wind from it.
If it’s winter, you can bring in some clean snow. Turn on the faucet and let them run their hand underneath it to feel the different sensations. Give them a cold, damp washcloth, which has a new texture and is something they can put in their mouth.
You can also play with warm temperatures!
19. Practice grabbing objects
This is the stage where babies start to reach out and grasp objects. And of course, they put everything in their mouths hah! Place baby safe objects and toys in their hand so they can practice grabbing it.
20. Baby and me exercising
If you are wanting to move your body, but are finding it difficult to find that time, maybe look into some exercise classes that include your baby! You can use your baby as extra weight to get a good sweat in by holding them or putting them in a baby carrier. There are in person classes that you can attend, or you can do your own class at home- just look up a Youtube video.
It’s a great way to get some exercise while also spending time with your baby and exposing them to healthy habits. This baby activities 3-6 months not only creates a fantastic bonding sesh, but is also fantastic for mom’s mind and heart.
21. Play with sound volume in your voice
Watch as your baby looks at you weird as you go back and forth between talking loudly and softly to them! It’s great for them to hear the different ranges that your voice produces and teaches them to listen closely to the change in dynamic. Maybe even throw in some silly voices and see if they smirk at you. Maybe you’ll get an eyebrow lift 😛
22. People watching
Observation is powerful and so is people watching! Take your baby to a place that is hustling and bustling, and people watch together. Out in the world, there are sooooo many different things going on at once. So many people and sounds, so many different temperatures and smells, so many lights and colors, and and and. The list goes on and on, which makes it a perfect baby activities 3-6 months.
Your baby will be interested in looking at as much as they can possibly see, and you will have a blast watching your baby. So, taking them to a place like the mall, a recreation center, or a restaurant. Babies also love seeing other kids and babies, so people watching at a kids park of some sort is really fun for them.
23. Super baby tummy time
Tummy time is always an easy go-to on the activities for babies 3-6 months list. But sometimes plain old tummy time gets boring. That’s where super baby tummy time comes into play!
Mom, lay on your back and bring your knees to your chest. Then place your baby on their tummy on top of your legs. Their head should be near your knees looking at you and their body should be on your shins.
Support them as necessary as they still lack neck strength. But you can hold their hands or support their body on your legs, and rock your legs back and forth like they are flying. Super Baby!
24. Kick and play piano toy
Something like this is a really fun music toy for babies! We got this model for our little one, and it’s been really exciting to watch him discover all the different aspects of the toy.
There’s a piano on one end that your baby can kick at to press the keys (or push with their hands as they get older). The keys light up in different colors and play different melodies. There’s also an arch with hanging rattles that your baby can reach towards! It distracted our baby for a while throughout the day and deserves to be on the list of baby activities 3-6 months!
25. Practice Sitting up
Around 4-6 months is when your baby can start sitting up WITH assistance. You can assist them, or you can use other objects to help assist them, like pillows. A Bumbo seat is another seat that can assist them, along with the sit up seat I mentioned earlier in this post.
Our coffee table has a lower shelf that is a great height for my baby to reach while sitting in the Bumbo seat. I would place him next to the shelf while he sat in the seat, and put toys on the shelf in front of him that he could practice grabbing. It was great practice for him!
26. Ocean toy
My baby was OBSESSED with this toy during this 3-6 month stage. It totally put him in a trance! He still really likes it now at 11 months, but it doesn’t quite have the same effect.
This toy mimics the look of water, lights up blue, and has a cute little cartoon ocean scene that moved around a little. It plays melodies or can act as a sound machine. But for some reason, my baby would be transfixed on this for such a long time. And when he learned how to push the on button himself, that was a whole other experience for him!
You can place it on the ground while they lay on their back or tummy and let them watch the light and movements. Or there’s an option to hang it. We hung it in the crib, and it would help put him to sleep for naps and bedtime.
27. Blankets with textures and tassels
Lay a blanket down on the floor that has different textures to it, like something that was quilted with a bunch of different fabrics. Or if the blanket has tassels around the edge, or stitching throughout the middle of it, that works too. Then do tummy time.
This is a new chance to let your little one forget about their tummy time frustrations for a while as they distract themselves with the patterns and strings on the blanket. It’s cute to watch their little fingers touch at the tassels and strings or lace or felt.
Let’s Wrap This Up
As your baby gets older, the activities expand more and more! Don’t be afraid to get creative! Just be safe about it. And if you still need help, remember that there’s usually a sweet grandma around who loves babies and would be happy to distract them for you 😉 Or maybe they can give you even more baby activities 3-6 months.
I’m sure I missed some fun activities, so leave a comment below. The more the merrier:D
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