My Baby
Play · 7 to 20 months
A tunnel of cushions
Sofa cushions, a cardboard box open at both ends, a sheet over two chairs. Burns energy, costs nothing.
A tunnel out of what the house already has
Cushions, the sofa, a box open at both ends and a sheet over two chairs. A short route for her to crawl through entertains better than most toys, and it changes shape every time you build it.
How to build it
- Short: a metre and a half is already an adventure. Too long is frightening.
- Always with both exits open and visible. A closed tunnel becomes a trap.
- Something soft underneath, a rug or a folded duvet.
- You at the other end, calling. That is what gets her through the first time.
- A toy at the end, to give her a reason.
Safety, in three lines
Nothing that could collapse on top of her, no heavy furniture as walls, and you nearby the whole time. If she gets stuck halfway and complains, take a piece apart rather than pulling her.
The record
Lie on the floor outside and film the exit of the tunnel. The face appearing is the shot. It is worth more than any photo of the finished tunnel.
More ideas for this stage
Play
The mirror
Sit with her facing a mirror and talk. The reaction changes from month to month, and filming the same scene every couple of months makes a beautiful sequence.
Outings and fresh air
The first trip
What to bring, how much travelling time she can take, and how not to come home without a single photo of the three of you.
Play