Connection and play in the first year - PDF checklist
The most important part of play is an attentive relationship with a caregiver. Talking, singing, looking at one another and safely exploring do not require a large toy collection. The month ranges organise ideas. They are not a developmental test or a list of skills your baby must perform by a set date.
Follow your baby's lead
If your baby turns away, fusses or needs rest, pause or change the activity. You do not need to finish a game or complete the checklist. Everyday care also provides opportunities to talk, connect and learn one another's responses.
Simple objects and attentive company
Choose toys according to their age guidance, warnings and instructions. Check their condition and make sure there are no small detachable parts, cords or accessible batteries. A large-looking object can contain a small component. Put soft toys used in shared play away from your baby's sleeping space.
Discuss developmental concerns individually
Babies develop at different rates, but a parent's concern deserves discussion. If your baby was premature, ask about corrected age. Contact a healthcare professional if your child loses skills or you are worried about responses, movement, hearing or vision; do not wait to finish a checklist.
Preparation checklist
0-3 months: getting to know each other
- Talk and sing during calm everyday care; watch how your baby responds to your voice and contact.
- Offer time looking at your face and briefly sharing simple pictures, without making your baby focus.
- When your baby is awake, offer short, constantly supervised tummy-time activities adapted to their needs.
4-6 months: reaching and responding
- Respond to your baby's sounds and expressions, leaving time for a reply.
- Offer safe, age-appropriate objects to look at and grasp, within comfortable reach.
- Allow free movement on a safe surface; do not force your baby into a position they cannot yet hold.
7-9 months: exploring together
- Choose simple games that repeat sounds and gestures and allow calm exploration of objects.
- Share books, name familiar people and things, and follow your baby's interests.
- Provide room to move safely according to current abilities, without rushing the next stage.
10-12 months: shared ideas
- Play at passing, putting in and taking out large age-appropriate objects.
- Use simple gestures, songs and names for actions, waiting for your baby's cues and initiative.
- Watch for tiredness and the need for a break; short moments together are valuable opportunities to explore.
Questions to discuss with a professional
- How can we adapt activities to my baby's health and current abilities?
- Should we account for corrected age in our circumstances?
- Which observations should I share when discussing development?
Frequently asked questions
Do we need to tick off every activity in a particular month?
No. Month ranges organise suggestions. Choose activities that suit your baby's interests and abilities, taking breaks in response to their cues.
Can this checklist show whether development is typical?
No. It offers ideas, not screening or diagnosis. Discuss observations and concerns with a doctor, midwife or appropriate professional, especially if skills are lost.
How to use this checklist
Tick the points you have discussed or prepared and add your own arrangements. Ticking a box does not confirm safety, health status or completion of a medical procedure. Revisit the checklist as your family's needs change.