Making Toys at home

Making toys at home 

Your child learns while playing.  Toys help your child to develop the muscles in his hands and to control his movement. The best part is that there are toys all around your house – you just need to use your imagination! Here are some ideas:

•  For healthy hands, give your child some newspaper to tear up or a clothes peg to pinch together.
• Children one year old and older, love to pick up shells, buttons, bottle tops and small stones and put them in a container like a mug – and then take them out again!
• Find some empty containers of different sizes and let your child stack them up, one on top of the other, and then to knock them down.
• When your child gets a bit older, let him group and sort through different items like clothes, lids and boxes. Talk to him and show him what is the same and what is different.
• A pot and a wooden spoon make a great drum and your child will have fun making music!

Love your baby with skin contact

Love your baby with skin contact 

Your baby loves the feel of your skin on her skin.  Very important things happen when you hold her close to your chest. 

• She is receiving warmth, breast milk, comfort and protection – all the things she needs!  
• When she lies on your chest even her lungs will function better because she isn’t cold.  
• She can hear your heartbeat and your voice which calms her and helps her grow well.   
• Having your baby rest on your chest helps your breasts make more milk for her to drink and she will grow strong. 
• Skin to skin contact is especially important if your baby was born with a lower birth weight.  

Let your baby spend as much time as possible lying skin on skin on your chest from the moment she is born.