Infant Playtime with a Stuffed Animal

Play is a natural way to support the parent-child bond. Try engaging your infant in playtime with stuffed animals!

Get ready

Sit on the floor and put a stuffed animal in front of your baby. Smile and wave the stuffed animal’s arm, and say, “Hello.” When your baby looks at you or the animal, it is time to play!

Try this!

Head and toes

Touch the stuffed animal’s head. Then touch your baby’s head and say, “head.” Let your baby touch the stuffed animal. If they touch its toes, say, “toes.” Touch your baby’s toes, and say, “Your toes!” Name other parts too.

Animal sounds

Let your baby hold the stuffed animal. You can try this during tummy time, when your baby is laying on their back, or when they are sitting in your lap. Talk to your baby. “What sound does a bear make? Roar!” “What sounds can you make?”

Read together

Sit with both your baby and the stuffed animal on your lap. Read a story together. Use the stuffed animal’s paw to point to a picture. Say, “sun” as the bear points at the sun. When your baby points at something, say the name of what they are pointing at.

While you play...

Watch carefully. Is your baby pointing at the stuffed animal’s nose gently? Or are they squeezing and poking at it? Either one is okay! They are still learning how to be nice. Say what you see, “Bear’s nose!” or “Squeeze!”

Practice together. If your baby poked the stuffed animal’s eye, you can say, “Ouch!” for the stuffed animal. You can pet the stuffed animal, and say, “Gently, please.” Your baby might not say words yet, but the stuffed animal can talk to them.

Say, “Yay!” Is your baby excited about something they did? Say, “Yay!” and make the stuffed animal jump with joy. If your
baby claps their hands, make the stuffed animal clap its hands—and you clap your hands too. Everyone can be happy together!