Infants who were born early or spent time in the hospital as a newborn may need more time to learn new skills. Infants need different positions during the day to build strength and develop new skills. When infants spend too much time in swings, bouncy seats, or car seats, pressure stays on the same part of their head. This can lead to a flat spot. You can help by changing your infant’s position often and using the activities below. This helps your infant grow and learn in a healthy way.

What Is a Corrected Age and Why Does It Matter?

For babies born before their due date, it helps to think about the baby’s corrected age when practicing skills like sitting, crawling, walking, or playing with toys. Corrected age is the age a baby would be if they were born on their due date. Using this age gives a better idea of what skills they are ready to work on. Babies born early often reach milestones a little later than full-term babies. That extra time is normal.

What Activities Can I Do With My Baby To Learn New Skills?

These activities are only for times when your baby is awake. When your baby is asleep follow the ABC’s of safe sleep.

Tummy Time

Place your infant on your chest or shoulder when they are awake and ready to play.

Try these activities while they are on their tummy:

• Talk, sing, and smile at them while they rest their arms on your chest.
• Help them to push up and lift their head.
• You can do this while you lie on the couch or on a blanket on the floor.

Reclined Sitting

Hold your infant so you are face to face, either in your arms or resting on your raised legs.

Try these activities while they are reclined:

• Bring their hands together to play.
• Gently help them bring their hands to their mouth.
• Help your baby reach for your face.
• Encourage them to look at you

Supported Sitting

Help your infant sit on your lap facing sideways. Support them by placing one hand behind their neck and shoulders, and the other hand across their chest and under their chin. You can gently bring their arms close to their chest to give extra support.

Try these activities while sitting on your lap:

• Let them try to lift and hold their head for a few seconds at a time.
• If their head stays down too long, you can use your fingers to help them lift or move it.

Playtime on Their Side

Help your infant play while lying on their side. This position helps them use their tummy muscles. They may need a little support. You can place a rolled up blanket behind their back to help them stay on their side.

Try these activities while laying on their side:

• Bring their hands together to play.
• Help your baby reach for toys.
• Give your infant time on both their left and right sides. This will make sure one side does not get more time than the other.

Playtime On Their Back

Help your infant practice keeping their head in the middle while lying on their back on a blanket. They can look at your face or at toys held or hanging above their chest

Try these activities while laying on their back:

• Touch and play with their hands. Help them move their arms away from their body and toward the middle of their body.
• Support their bottom so they can use their tummy muscles. You can gently stroke their legs to see if they will kick. Play simple games like “bicycle legs.”
• If they need extra support to bring their arms together, place small, rolled blankets behind each shoulder to make a little nest.

Turning Head Both Ways

Infants should be able to turn their head to both sides. They may prefer one side, so help them switch.

Try these activities:

• When they sleep, gently turn their head to the right sometimes and to the left other times.
• When they are awake, help them look both ways.
• Talk to them from each side so they turn their head to find you.

Visual Skills

When your infant is awake and alert, keep a calm, smiling face so they can focus on you.

Try these activities:

• Slowly move your face or a toy from side to side so they can follow it with their eyes.
• Hang toys over their chest so they practice looking forward and down instead of only looking up over their head.