Raising a baby is fun, challenging, and at times, a little crazy. We’re talking literal blood, sweat, and tears here! It’s also going to be the biggest and most rewarding thing you ever do. A lot comes into play when it comes to helping your baby develop – both physically and mentally. Here are some ways you can help your new baby develop along the way. 

1. Get Back to Basics

Having a new baby means you’ll be busy. A lot of information is going to come your way in terms of the “best” way to parent your baby. New toys and different parenting styles are just a couple of examples, but a solid foundation is everything. Getting a handle on the basic materials, such as a crib, the right diapers, and bottles, can make a huge difference. Handling the basics means you can spend less time worrying about them and more time focusing on your baby’s development.

2. One Step at a Time

When it comes to your baby’s physical development, think of walking like a grand finale. It’s going to take plenty of hard work and practice to get there, and there are many different steps to rehearse along the way. Start slow, and take it one step at a time. Focusing on single steps like head control, sitting up, and crawling are a few ways to work towards the big act of walking. 

3. Baby Massage

Baby massage has been shown to have multiple benefits for physical growth and relaxation. Massage can help stimulate blood flow, aid in digestion, and help promote a healthy weight gain. Beyond the physical benefits of baby massage, it also harnesses psychological gains, too, such as a stronger sense of emotional security and less stress.

4. Play!

So what if your baby can’t talk back? Let alone, move around on its own, or even sit up all the way. Engaging in playtime can be a great benefit at any age. Working to develop your baby’s senses is a great way to ease into development in numerous ways. The senses of sound, sight, and touch are all growing, especially fast at a newborn age. You can also feel free to sing to your baby (despite the worst of your abilities), or pair a silly face with a goofy voice just for sheer interaction because let’s face it – your baby isn’t going to judge you, and the fact that they’ll appreciate the attention is really just a sweet bonus. 

5.High-Contrast Imagery

High-contrast images have been shown to help babies with cognitive development. They hold their attention, and they’re easier to focus on. Not only do they help with training your baby’s pupils to coordinate, but they also help promote visual tracking and help the eyes grow stronger.

6. Raise a Child Who Loves to Read

Reading to babies has many lasting benefits. For one, it can help your baby’s brain develop better and make them smarter. Not only does it enhance vocabulary, but it also invokes responsiveness and gives babies an introduction to things like emotion, empathy, and tone. Reading with your baby doesn’t just have to be about their own development – it can also be about spending time together to bond.

7. Take It Easy

Raising a baby can be hard, but not sweating every stressful situation can be harder. Easier said than done, but try not to worry about doing everything “perfectly.” Not only can your baby pick up on your stress, but you can risk missing precious time fretting about things that don’t matter at the end of the day. Despite babies being soft bundles of joy, they are actually pretty tough. You’re spending a lot of time focusing on your baby’s growth – however, you, too, will grow to be amazed at what your baby is capable of.