300 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02115 (617) 355-6000 My Child Has: Infants: Play Programs that treat this condition Children's Hospital Primary Care Center   Young Parents Program (YPP)   Related Video: Toy Safety Claire McCarthy, MD View an interview with Claire McCarthy, MD,, director of Pediatrics at the Martha Eliot Health Center on how to keep up-to-date with toy recalls, toy hazards parents should be mindful of, and what other things parents should look for when toy shopping. What can I do to help promote play in my infant? While all children are different and may enjoy different toys and interactions, the following are suggestions for activities and toys for the infant: Birth to 1 month: hang brightly colored objects near your infant hang black and white mobiles What you can do as a parent: sing and talk to your infant play music rock your infant, take him/her for walks 2 to 3 months: likes bright objects enjoys pictures and mirrors likes rattles enjoys infant swing enjoys car rides What you can do as a parent: sing and talk to your infant play music rock your infant, take him/her for walks 4 to 6 months: likes brightly-colored objects likes to hold toys enjoys rattles or bells likes to splash in the bath likes swings and strollers What you can do as a parent: talk to your infant encourage your infant to crawl and sit by placing him/her on the floor 6 to 9 months: enjoys large toys with bright colors that move likes to play peek-a-boo What you can do as a parent: call your infant by name speak clearly to your child and encourage different sounds name body parts, foods, and people tell your infant simple commands play pat-a-cake begin saying words that tell what you are doing encourage your infant to crawl by placing toys beyond his/her reach 9 to 12 months: enjoys looking at books likes hearing sounds of animals enjoys large toys that can be pushed and pulled What you can do as a parent: take your infant to different places and outings play ball with your infant read to your infant tell your infant names of body parts Toys for infants: birth to 6 months: mobiles mirrors that will not break music boxes bells and rattles stuffed animals swings 6 to 12 months: blocks brightly colored toys books balls cup and spoon jack-in-the-box rattles teething toys toys that can be pushed and pulled The information on this website should not be taken as medical advice, which can only be given to you by your personal health care professional. Copyright © Children's Hospital Boston. All rights reserved.