6 surprising moments your baby is learning (without you even realising!)
Advertisement Promotion with Fisher-Price
Louisa Sherlock
Associate EditorYour baby’s brain doubles in size in their first year, which means they are CONSTANTLY learning new things about themselves and the world around them
Even in the most everyday of moments – be it a nappy change, watching you eat or cuddle time – your baby is absorbing exciting information that will last them a lifetime. And they’re also using this time to master new skills: from learning to talk through to sitting up on their own.
Fisher-Price is on hand to help – while adding an extra dose of fun! – for each of these baby milestone moments. Its Play Lab experts, along with help from expert kid testers, have created toys that help babies reach each ‘Smilestone’, aka milestones with a smile!
And check out some of the unexpected moments in their day when your baby is actually learning. Who knew?!
FREE NEWBORN NAPPIES
1. At meal times
It won’t be long before your little one is writing their name, throwing a ball and getting themselves dressed. And to do all these skills, they need their gross and fine motor skills to develop. These are the skills that use their whole body, and the smaller movements using their fingers and toes.
Surprisingly, your baby is learning all these skills during meal time. Learning to pick up food on their tray – and then happily drop it on the floor – might be frustrating for you. But it’s a big moment for your baby as they coordinate their eyes, hands and fingers to pick up (and drop) a strawberry or piece of toast.
They can also put their motor skills to the test playing with the Fisher-Price® Linkimals™ Learning Narwhal™. They can press the buttons and spin the wheel to activate songs, sounds and numbers.
2. While they play
Babies and children learn best while they play. From learning to use their hands to reach for toys through to hearing new sounds and words in preparation for talking, there’s so much they’re picking up.
Fisher-Price has a huge choice of toys to help your baby hit all their Smilestones, all while having lots of fun. The Fisher-Price® Laugh & Learn® Mix & Learn DJ Table™, perfect for babies aged 6 months+, helps them learn balance and coordination as they stand up to use the table. The toy also boosts your baby’s fine motor skills as they play music on the piano and ‘mix’ their own tunes.
Fisher-Price has partnered with Hartbeeps, the award-winning immersive sensory music classes for little ones, with a specially created play session to celebrate their 20th birthday. The fun session includes the Fisher-Price DJ Mix & Learning Music Table. Check out Hartbeeps on Facebook and Instagram or see their registration page for more information.
+(1).png?w=660&h=825&auto=compress%2Cformat)
3. During a nappy change
You’ll be doing a LOT of nappy changes in your baby’s first year. And while you might think it’s a thankless (and often messy!) parenting task, it’s a key learning moment for your baby.
That’s because you’ll be chatting to your little one as you clean them up and pop on a fresh nappy. Babies start to make sense of language long before they start talking. So the more you talk to them, the better.
You can supercharge their language learning by having a normal chat with them, as you would with your friends. Even though they can’t reply just yet, asking your baby a question and then pausing for their ‘answer’ will teach them about turn taking in conversation.
The Fisher-Price® Laugh & Learn™ Smart Stages™ Puppy is a great toy to help with this language learning, too. Your baby can press the puppy's heart to hear songs, counting, alphabet and lots more.
4. While having a cuddle
Aww, cuddles with your baby are the best. And they’re also another everyday moment your baby is learning – this time about talking and first words. Being up close to you means they can watch closely as you move your mouth. They’ll then copy these movements ahead of forming their own first words.
Plus, cuddling is a brilliant way for you both to bond, and to help soothe your baby. This calming and soothing is one of the Fisher-Price Smilestones moments. Before they learn to talk, crying is one of your baby’s top ways of communicating with you. Soothing them with cuddles helps them self-regulate, which is another hugely important skill.
The Fisher-Price® Soothe 'n Snuggle Otter plays songs and gently vibrates to comfort your baby.
5. Listening to music
If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably got music playing in the background as you cook tea or do the family laundry. And while it makes you feel good, music also helps your baby, too.
That’s because music encourages your baby to move their hands and bodies, all helping with coordination and balance. According to Unicef, music can also boost concentration skills and improve vocabulary. Which is great news for your baby!
The Fisher-Price® DJ Bouncin' Star™ is perfect for babies aged 9 months+. The interactive has a spring bottom, making it bounce as babies play. They can also press buttons to hear more than 75 songs, sounds and phrases.
6. At bath time
Baby bath time is more than splashing in water and playing with rubber ducks. It’s actually a big learning moment for your little one.
Adding a bath to their bedtime routine teaches your baby about patterns. Babies LOVE routine, so knowing that their bath comes just before bed will help prepare them for sleep.
Bath time, with bubbles, warm water and the sensation of water on their skin, is also a brilliant form of sensory play for babies.
When bath time is over, boost this sensory play – one of the Fisher-Price Smilestones – with the Linkimals™ Smooth Moves Sloth toy. The toy is brilliant for stimulating your baby’s senses thanks to its colourful lights, fun music and soft arms.
Shop the full Fisher-Price range for your baby, toddler and preschooler here.
