Parents and caregivers play an instrumental role in fostering the healthy development of infants. One effective way to support their growth is through well-structured play activities designed by occupational therapists. In this blog post, we’ll explore a comprehensive list of activities tailored for infants ranging from 7 to 10 months. By focusing on different developmental areas, we aim to maintain existing skills and facilitate the acquisition of new, age-appropriate abilities.

Mastering Gross Motor Skills

Tummy Time: Begin with short tummy time sessions, around 5-10 minutes, three times a day. This helps strengthen the neck and upper body muscles, preparing the baby for more advanced movements. By 7 months, your baby should be attempting to bear weight on their extended arms, and attempting to reach for toys while on their tummy. 

Sitting: By 7 months, your baby should be developing stationary gross motor skills such as sitting with arms propped in front of them. Practice by sitting behind your baby and placing toys at eye level for them to facilitate an upright sitting posture. You can also use a booster seat to support your baby in a safe sitting position. Click here or the image below to try this ergonomic booster seat for your infant.

Rolling Practice: Gently help your baby roll from their back to their tummy and vice versa. Use enticing toys placed just out of reach to motivate these movements.

Crawling Prep: By 9-11 months your baby should be crawling on their belly (army crawling) or crawling on all fours. Introduce toys or objects of interest a short distance away to stimulate the baby’s curiosity and encourage them to start exploring movement. To assist your baby with maintaining weight on their hands and knees, you can position a small pillow underneath their belly for support and can encourage your baby to crawl over small and medium pillows which in turn increases strength and coordination skills.

Enhancing Fine Motor Skills

Here are some exercises and tips to help your infant develop or maintain fine motor skills, particularly grasping and releasing objects.

Texture Exploration: Provide a variety of textured toys or fabrics for your baby to touch and explore. Let your baby explore their sensory toys using their mouth and hands. This sensory experience stimulates their oral and tactile senses. Click here or the image below to try this sensory toy variety pack.

Grasping Activities: Offer small, safe objects like rattles or soft toys for your baby to hold and manipulate. Encourage transferring objects between their hands. The O-ball is a good toy for your baby to easily grasp and learn how to transfer from hand to hand. Click here to try out this O-ball.

Mirror Play: Hold a baby-safe mirror in front of your baby to engage them visually. This activity promotes reaching, touching, and interaction.

Exploring Sensory Sensations

Introduce your baby to various textures and sensations, that’s how your baby will learn to explore their surroundings and will encourage curiosity to facilitate movement and engagement. 

Water Play: Allow your baby to splash and play in a shallow basin of lukewarm water. This sensory activity enhances their tactile experience. Play and splashing in the water is also good exercise for your baby to improve strength and endurance. 

Sensory toys: Introduce toys with different textures and sensory experiences for your baby to explore using their hands and mouth, stimulating sensory development. A sensory play mat is a good way to stimulate your baby’s senses while also challenging their gross motor abilities thus increasing strength and coordination. Click here to try this sensory mat!

Boosting Cognitive and Communication Skills

Always encourage your baby to develop cognitive and communication skills through engaging activities.

Storytime: Read colorful picture books to your baby, pointing at pictures and making sounds or simple words to encourage interaction.

Music and Singing: Play soft music or sing nursery rhymes to your baby, promoting cooing, babbling, and rhythmic movement.

Face-to-Face Interaction: Maintain eye contact, imitate your baby’s expressions, and engage in games like “peek-a-boo” to encourage communication.

By following these pediatric activities, you can provide your baby with a nurturing environment that supports their growth and development. These carefully designed activities not only maintain existing skills but also encourage the acquisition of new ones, ensuring that your little one reaches their developmental milestones with confidence and joy. Always remember to adapt the activities to suit your baby’s unique preferences and needs, and consult with a pediatrician or occupational therapist if you have any concerns about your baby’s development.