Activities for a Happy Baby: Your Face

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

09 Mar 2009 11:49 AM

As parents, we live for those moment when our babies are experiencing pure happiness. We look forward to those moments when there is no hungry cry or wet cry or fussy cry, but just that happy lopsided smile that tells you that everything is okay.

One of the main things that makes your baby happy doesn't cost a thing or require much effort. You carry it wherever you go, and you can't easily lose it. It is your face.

As humans, we are hardwired to recognize an appreciate faces. In fact, research shows that a good portion of a baby's brain is devoted to knowing faces. Baby's instinctively love to look at faces and make eye contact. Researchers believe that this is a survival instinct. Not only do they need to recognize their caregivers (the recognition happens around two months of age), but direct eye contact inspires a great level of caring from the adults.

Younger babies will respond to funny and exaggerated facial expressions. Isn't it funny how when we talk to young babies that we instinctively open our mouths into wide smiles and raise our eyebrows? Older babies can take in more subtly and recognize finer expressions, but for now, you'll get the biggest grins from your baby when you make your expressions larger than life.

You can also show your baby photos of babies in a picture book or in magazines. Babies love looking at other babies. I am not sure why. Perhaps they recognize faces that are similar to their own or perhaps the clean expressions are easy to interpret.

Offer your baby a baby-safe mirror to gaze into. This can keep a baby occupied for quite a while. Look into the mirror yourself, smiling and making funny faces. Watch how your baby reacts to this playtime with glee.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.

Related Articles:

Simple Toys, Simple Joys: Playing with Balls

The Power of Finger Paint

Signs Your Baby May Be Ready for the Olympics

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger