We’ve all been there, it’s evening time and you’re busy trying to prepare dinner, sort the laundry, answer the phone and check emails – taking multi-tasking motherhood to new levels. As you’re dashing about the house, baby emits an ear-piercing cry from the cot. Luckily daddy has just arrived home and scoops her up. He talks to her soothingly and swaddles her in a soft blanket. As he rocks her.

This can be a lovely way to distract a fussing baby. Leave some handy chimes or bells around the house, or in the car. Glass or crystal, metal spoons, bells, a tuning fork, wind chimes or musical instruments will all have the same effect. When your little one is feeling a little tired and is perhaps close to tears, try using the chimes to distract them. Ring the bell, strike.

In one of our PlayLabs recently a mum was saying how her football-mad husband sometimes dashes home from work for “kick-off time” – and no, this doesn’t mean watching his team playing in the Premiership, rather their three-month-old boy on his playmat. Dad puts baby on the mat and oohs and aaahs as his son reaches out with his arms and legs, usually with a baby gym overhead. To mum.

Use a big blow-up beach ball or exercise ball (or a yoga ball) to roll baby around on, carefully supporting him. Place him on top of the ball on his stomach for rolling along the floor, rocking side to side, or holding him while bouncing up and down. Start with slow movements as baby gets used to this new position. Place yourself behind baby as you roll the ball backwards.

It might seem that your little one has a never-ending supply of energy and enthusiasm, so have fun together in this structured exercise routine! Play some fun, rhythmic music and announce that it’s “exercise time” before you begin. Let your child mirror your simple bending and stretching movements like these: put your hands on your head, touch the floor (well, at least she will!), shake your hands way up high.

You’ve probably realised by now that your new baby is your No 1 fan as he gazes intently at your face when you cradle him or during feeding time. For the first month, he can focus only about 20cm to 30cm away. That’s just far enough to clearly make out the face of the person holding him. If you hold him close, he will find your face and expressions so.

This is a fun and physical way to get baby moving! Using a soft towel, place your baby onto it on her tummy. Pick up one side of the towel and slowly raise it, causing baby to tilt to the side. Continue to slowly roll baby over, talking to her as you go, and using a hand to guide her as she turns. When your baby turns over, show your.

Ask mums the clearest memory they have of giving birth and – apart from the pain – most will say it’s those precious moments when they got to hold their little bundle of joy for the first time. In those wondrous seconds when you have skin-to-skin contact with baby, you begin to realise that baby is comforted by being close to you, your voice, your scent and your warmth. This.

This is playful way to develop body awareness. Say or sing “where is Daddy’s/Mummy’s nose?”, then touch your nose saying, “Here it is!”. Then say “Where is Molly’s nose?” and touching her nose say, “There it is!”. Repeat with other facial features and body parts. You can change the tune or voice (high or deep) for added entertainment. Then move onto where is the chair? Where is the front door?.

After the first few months of broken sleep, endless feeding, changing and settling baby before you have to get up almost immediately again to soothe her, the ‘baby fog’ slowly begins to lift. You’ve gotten into a routine; you and your partner share the baby duties. At last, you’re getting out to meet friends for a coffee. Then Granny mentions the W word. She thinks the baby is big enough.