What better way to teach your baby than through fun, playful games. Games help our youngest learn language, social, and motor skills. Enjoy these time-tested games babies love to play.

Peek-a-Boo

This game teaches your baby that objects out of sight still exist and can be found—an important cognitive lesson for baby.

Here are some variations of the game:

• Hide your face behind your spread-apart fingers.
• Peek around the corner of a doorway.
• Use a light cloth that baby can pull off easily and victoriously as you call out “Peek-a-boo!”

This game can be played throughout baby’s first year of life and into toddlerhood.

Ahh-Boom!

When baby is between five- to seven-months old, prop her in a sitting position facing you on your lap. Lower your head and gently touch foreheads with your baby while slowly saying, “Ahh-boom!” at each touch. In time, your baby will anticipate the game by leaning forward before your foreheads meet.

Sooo Big!

Your little one loves it when you lift both his arms up very high and exclaim delightedly, “How big are you? You are so big!” Once your child has learned this game, lift your hands up high and let your child stretch his own arms way upward as you exclaim, “Sooo big!”

Pat-a-Cake

Babies learn to clap both hands together at the body midline between seven and nine months. “Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man; bake me a cake as fast as you can…” is an excellent rhyme to chant with your baby. She will enjoy mimicking your clapping, and her confidence will build as she learns the movements and words.

Oops!

This game can be played with various props but works particularly well with building blocks. Build a tower of blocks with your three- to six-month old and let him knock them down. This game teaches cause and effect—that actions have consequences. And it’s lots of fun!

This Little Piggy

Respond to your baby’s burblings with encouraging words as you play “This Little Piggy Went to Market” with her tiny toes. Your baby learns that despite being a small creature, she has control over play situations: Notice how she thrusts out her toes in a clear request to play the game again and again!

Here are some great places to take baby and find like-minded people in London. Some of the places cover bigger parts of the UK – check their websites for more information.

Mini Mozart: live classical music in an intimate setting of two hands full of babies. At the moment, Mini Mozart has 12 venues across London

Baby yoga: Mummy & Me yoga at Tri Yoga Primrose Hill (the café downstairs serves gorgeous cakes, which doesn’t hurt). They now also have classes in Chelsea. With baby massage and baby yoga growing in popularity. If you want to try it in your area, try googling ‘baby yoga’ and the first part of your post code

Baby swimming: You will both enjoy baby swimming!

Baby Rhyme Time at your local library: Easy, straightforward and free!

Gymboree: Gymboree classes are great fun

Classical concerts: The Royal Academy of Music at Wigmore Hall in London performs bi-monthly concerts for under one-year-olds. Adult tickets are £6, babies go for free. Book early, as they sell out quickly

Cinema mornings: Check with your local cinema if they do baby screenings – screenings where you are welcome to bring children under the age of one. Try The Electric in London, ODEON in various location or Gate Cinema in Notting Hill

Top Boys names

1  Jack

2 Oliver

3 Harry

4  Charlie

5 Alfie

6 Thomas

7Joshua

8  James

9  William

10 Daniel

Top Girls names

1  Olivia

2 Ruby

3 Lily

4 Sophie

5  Emily

6 Chloe

7  Grace

8 Jessica

9 Evie

Why?
Despite much research and the experiences of millions of mums-to-be, it is still unclear exactly why we crave certain foods or even non foods – called pica – during pregnancy (Davina McCall had an urge to chew on bath sponges…). Some say hormonal changes are responsible, or a need for certain nutrients. There’s no scientific evidence to back these theories up though, so we know cravings happen but don’t know the reason for them.
When?
Pregnancy cravings can strike at any stage, but are common in the early weeks and can change throughout your pregnancy. They may even be a sign you’re expecting.
What?
Sour and spicy foods are popular craves, along with pickles, red meat, dairy products and chocolate.

How?
Cravings can be mild or intense, but however they strike you, try and keep the rest of your diet as well-balanced as you can to help keep you and your baby healthy. You only need about another 300 calories a day when you’re pregnant, so make them as healthy as possible. Take a look at the Bounty Your Pregnancy guide for healthy eating information.
Who says?
Doctors and health experts advise that as long as what you really, really want isn’t harmful and is in moderation, pregnancy cravings are not a problem: ‘As long as you stick to a healthy food intake and don’t eat too much of something unsuitable, like foods that are high in fat or sugar, don’t worry: you’ll find that your craving will pass,’ says paediatric dietician, Lucy Findlay. But always discuss it with your midwife or doctor if you are in any way concerned.