Those first gazes and moments of calm alertness are the beginning of your baby's social life.
These activities nurture early bonding, teach your baby to recognize familiar voices, and build the attachment security that supports all social development.
Your newborn's best activity is you. Skin-to-skin contact, gentle rocking, and softly talking to them builds the neural connections that matter most right now.
Hold high-contrast images or your face 8-12 inches away—that's their focal sweet spot. Slowly move side to side to encourage visual tracking.
Keep everything brief and gentle. A few minutes of tummy time, a short song, a moment of eye contact—small doses add up to big development.
Hold baby in front of a mirror and make silly faces together — a sweet bonding moment that sparks those first social smiles.
Set up interesting toys around the room and let baby explore while you stay in one spot — building confidence through secure attachment.
Cover your face with a soft cloth and reveal it with a cheerful 'peekaboo!' — a timeless game that builds social anticipation and joy.
Show baby photos of family members and name each person — building recognition of familiar faces and early social connections.
Sit facing baby and roll a soft ball between you — a gentle introduction to the concept of taking turns and shared play.
Practice giving gentle hugs, kisses, and pats with baby and a soft stuffed animal — teaching them to express love through touch.