Using items in your Baby Box to connect with your baby

The baby wrap or sling is perfect for keeping your wee one close while leaving your hands free for other things – including playing with your baby’s older brother or sister, so they don’t feel left out! It’s a great way to carry your baby when you’re at home or out and about, as your baby will always feel comforted and reassured, even when you’re busy.

You can download the instructions for using the wrap here but if you’re not sure you can always ask your midwife or health visitor for their help.

There are lots of ways you can use the play mat to interact with your baby, for example, by pointing out the bright colours and pictures. The tiniest baby can be placed on their back on the mat while you talk to them in a tuneful voice and copy their responses – our page on baby communication has lots of ideas for ways to do this.

You can place them face down for tummy time as well, starting with very short sessions and then increasing these as your baby gets used to it. Tummy time is great for helping your baby develop their core strength and body awareness, as well as their motor skills, which will help them explore the world around them. It also helps your baby strengthen their neck, shoulder and trunk muscles, which they’ll need to support their head, sit up, crawl and eventually walk.

You can also use the mat to encourage your baby to develop the muscles they need to roll over – try placing some toys (like the comforter from your Baby Box) on the mat around them to see if they reach for them. Our pages on reaching and grabbing and rolling over have more tips.

It’s never too early to start reading to your baby – they may not understand what you’re saying yet but they’ll love listening to your voice, and will be soaking it all up in their little brains. Although it’ll be a while before they start talking, all this is helping their speech and language to develop.

There are two baby books in your box to get you started – you can read them with your baby, pointing at the pictures and making sounds. You can read them over and over again – your baby won’t get bored! 
 

After bath time there’s nothing nicer than cuddling your baby dry in the cosy hooded bath towel from your Baby Box. Sitting them on your knee to dry them is a great chance to play some simple singing games together, like ‘This little piggy’ or ‘Round and round the garden’ as you get them settled for bedtime. Not only is this fun and a great way to bond, but it also helps them develop their speech and language skills.

The muslin cloths in your box are a parent’s best friend! They’re great for wiping up dribbles, using as a bib or placing over your shoulder when you’re burping your wee one, protecting them from the sun or catching any escaped pee and poo when you’re changing their nappy.

But did you know you can also use them to play peek-a-boo? Hiding behind the muslin then reappearing saying ‘peek-a-boo’ in a soft, tuneful voice always makes babies laugh and smile. It’s a lovely game that teaches them important skills like taking turns, paying attention and listening – and it also shows them that if you go away, you’ll always come back. You can also try hiding different objects behind the muslin and then magically making them appear.

Babies love the soft feel of the cow comforter toy in the Baby Box – it’s perfect for soothing them if they’re restless. Try singing softly to them while they hold their comforter – it doesn’t matter if you don’t think you can sing, they’ll love your voice no matter what. There are lots of nice songs to try in the Scottish Book Trust’s Rhyme Library.

Not only does it function as a cosy cot for your baby and a storage unit once they’ve outgrown it, but your Baby Box is also a giant colouring book! Colouring in the pictures on the outside of the box is a lovely thing to do with an older brother or sister, to help them feel involved as you prepare for your new baby’s arrival. You can use every day pens or crayons – just make sure to only colour the outside of the box if your baby will sleep in it.

Or you can decorate it with your new wee one when they get a bit older. There’s also space on the box to record key milestones, draw a family tree or add your baby’s handprints and footprints.

And did you know that the simple, repetitive motion of colouring in is a mindful way of reducing stress for grown ups too? Try it and see!