Learning through play- what does this look like with a 5 month old baby?
As a baby sleep consultant I am a big believer in getting down with your baby, so that you can interact on their level and explore together, building that bond between you.
The richness of this interaction is undeniable and your baby will be observing you and your movement closely, responding with movements and sounds.
I suggest placing your baby on the floor they may like a soft blanket either on their front or back with only a few resources within arms reach, as too much can be over stimulating.
Examples, a rattle, few stacking cups, touch/feel book.
Observe what your baby does, does he/she reach for or show interest in a particular object? See if they can get it themselves, if not gently help him/her to get to it and explore it together.
You may use language such as “I can see you are interested in the book”, “lets look at it together”, “what colours can we see”, talking as if you were to an adult. Be descriptive and share in the wonder!
If we slow down, it’s amazing to see how babies this young are examining and manipulating objects of interest & trying to make sense of the world around them.
Another suggestion for awake time could be listening to music together (moving with baby to music promoting sense of rhythm and beat) or take them for a walk outdoors, either in the pram or baby carrier again talking to them about noises, what you can see and reassuring them if needs be.
The more you can expose your baby to at this early age, the more familiar they will be with the environment around them, gently allowing them to get accustomed to things that we may encounter daily this will have a positive effect on your baby sleep patterns as well.
