Your baby is learning from the very beginning — through movement, connection, curiosity, and everyday play. From reaching for a toy to making eye contact during tummy time, simple interactions help support your baby’s cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and language development throughout the first year.

The good news? Supporting infant development doesn’t have to be complicated. Developmentally appropriate play is less about doing more and more about creating opportunities for your baby to explore, discover, and build new skills at their own pace. With the right developmental toys, simple baby play activities, and responsive interaction, everyday moments can become meaningful opportunities for learning through play.

In this expert Q&A, we spoke with Dr. Maral Amani, Pediatric Physical Therapist and Child Development Expert at Lovevery, about how parents can confidently support baby development through simple, connection-based play. From understanding what “developmentally appropriate play” really means to choosing toys that encourage curiosity, movement, and problem-solving, Dr. Amani shares practical, encouraging insight for new and expecting parents navigating the first year of life.

TL;DR (for the parents running on 3 hours of sleep)

  • Your baby learns through simple, everyday interactions—not complicated setups.
  • The best play meets your baby exactly where they are, not where you think they should be.
  • Connection beats perfection—eye contact, talking, and responding matter most.
  • Toys should invite curiosity, not do all the work (less flashing, more thinking).
  • You don’t need a packed schedule—outside time, movement, and repetition go a long way.
  • Brands like Lovevery help simplify what to use and when—but you are the main event.

Whether you’re looking for baby play ideas, tips for choosing the best developmental toys for babies, or expert guidance on supporting developmental milestones in the first year, this conversation is full of approachable, research-backed advice to help make playtime feel natural, engaging, and fun. 

Let's get into it:

Developmentally appropriate play means meeting your baby where they are. Not rushing ahead to the next milestone, but rather giving them opportunities to explore and practice the skills they're currently building. Early development doesn’t need to be a race through a checklist of milestones. Instead, it progresses more like a pyramid, with each new skill built on a strong foundation below it.

Research shows learning is most effective when experiences fall into the ‘sweet spot’ between what is just challenging enough to help a child progress, but not so difficult that it causes frustration or overwhelm. When experiences meet children in this zone, development unfolds naturally, supporting confident growth from the very start.

2. How does play support a baby’s brain development in the first year?

Many parents are surprised to learn how much is happening in their baby’s brain during the first year of life. It’s hard to imagine a sleepy newborn actively learning, but that’s exactly what they’re doing.

Play is how babies build their brains. Every time a baby reaches for an object, hears your voice respond to their babble, or drops something and watches it fall, they are forming and strengthening neural connections (about a million new ones per second in the first year). Research shows that it takes 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain, unless it is done through play, in which case it takes only between 10 and 20 repetitions.

The most powerful play is interactive and connection-based. When a baby does something and gets a response from a caregiver (coined as serve and return by Harvard researchers), they are building the foundation of their social-emotional and language development.

3. How does play evolve over the first year, and what are a few simple examples of appropriate play at different stages?

While play for an infant looks very different from that of toddlers, children of all ages are learning through joyful engagement with their surroundings and the people in their life. 

For newborns, play is really rooted in the senses and in connection with caregivers. Create opportunities for your baby to be free to move. Some of the most important physical, sensory, and cognitive skills your baby will develop in their first year of life happen through moving their body. Give your baby lots of active awake times when they are free to turn their head fully toward sights and sounds, to reach toward their toys or their toes, to lay on their tummy and their sides as well as their back, communicate face-to-face with you, and to read.

In the months following the skill of sitting, play becomes increasingly purposeful. Babies experiment with filling and dumping, posting objects into containers, and repeating actions to test outcomes. Language comprehension grows rapidly, gestures become more communicative, and early pretend play begins to emerge. Playthings that introduce early problem-solving and object permanence like dropping a ball through a tube and exploring cause-and-effect through items like a sensory switchboard are especially fun at this stage. 

When children are older, appropriate play is highly based on their interests and skills. For example, if a child is interested in sensory play, you could include more sensory activities in their daily play to build on their interests because children learn best when they are having fun.

4. Should parents lead playtime, or let their baby take the lead? How can they find the right balance?

Follow your baby's lead. Children are wired to learn through exploration, and when we constantly intervene, we can interrupt that process. When you pause and observe before stepping in, you give your baby the chance to problem-solve and discover what they're capable of.

That being said, parents still have an important role, but it just looks more like a supportive presence than a teacher. The right balance can come from narrating what your baby is doing, responding warmly when they look at you, and resisting the urge to hand them something they're working to reach. That small moment of effort is where so much of the learning actually happens.

Parents can be involved in the preparation of activities as well. Children benefit from open ended play, but there are opportunities where parents can scaffold a play scenario to spark curiosity and creativity. For example, parents can set up a sensory table with taste-safe materials and a few spoons and cups to prompt fine motor play.

5. What does a realistic, low-pressure play routine look like for busy or tired parents?

The first few weeks of parenting are all about survival. If you’re keeping your baby fed, safe, and loved, then you are doing everything right. When wake windows start to get longer, consider practicing tummy time with your baby by simply putting them on your chest. While you’re there, slowly talk to your baby (in “parentese”) so they can carefully watch your mouth and facial expressions. 

One additional way to support your baby’s development when you are feeling overwhelmed is to wear babywear. Babywearing is a great way to free up your hands while also promoting a secure attachment. Bonus: if your baby is awake and looking around- this counts as tummy time!

For any age, the easiest way to support your baby’s development in a low-pressure way is to get them outside. The outdoors is the ultimate playground for brain development and the best part is the mess stays outside.

6. Are there any common misconceptions or mistakes you see parents making when it comes to play in the first year?

One of the biggest myths is that development is a straight, predictable path with fixed timelines. In reality, babies develop in bursts, pauses, and individual rhythms. Another misconception is that earlier is always better, when often taking time to master foundational skills (like crawling) leads to stronger long-term outcomes. Milestones are helpful guides, but they don’t define a child’s potential or how good you are as a parent.

Above all, what matters most is the quality of connection and the love your baby feels. A secure attachment is the foundation for future social-emotional development. My biggest piece of advice: focus your energy on connecting with your child.

7. Why do you believe Lovevery is a valuable addition to a baby registry, especially in that first year of development?

Lovevery takes the science of early childhood development and turns it into simple, joyful play. As a new parent, knowing what to use to support your baby’s development and when can be so overwhelming.

There are so many things to consider in the first year of development. Lovevery really simplifies this for parents with playthings that are uniquely designed to meet children where they are, gently nudging new skills and curiosity forward with beautifully simple, research-backed tools. 

Most baby toys are designed to entertain and distract with lights, sounds, and battery-powered buttons that do the work for the child. They can be engaging at first, but when the toy does all the work, the child misses out on important learning. The most powerful toys aren’t the ones that do the most. They’re the ones that invite the child to explore, experiment, and figure out how things work. 

The more a toy does, the less your child does. Lovevery understands that, and it shows in the design. Every product is tied to a specific developmental stage and serves a real purpose, whether that's building fine motor coordination, object permanence, or cause-and-effect understanding.

If you’re building your baby registry and looking for thoughtfully designed toys that support developmental milestones through every stage of the first year, Lovevery offers research-backed play essentials created to meet babies exactly where they are. Explore developmentally appropriate playthings designed to grow with your child — and consider adding your favorite Lovevery items to your registry to support joyful learning from the very beginning.

You can also shop curated Lovevery products in the Poppylist Shop to find parent-loved favorites designed to support learning through play from newborn days through the toddler years.

Common Questions About Baby Play (Answered)

What is developmentally appropriate play, really?

It just means meeting your baby where they are. Not rushing ahead. Not trying to “optimize” every moment. Just giving them the chance to practice what they’re already working on.

How does play actually help my baby’s brain develop?

Every interaction—reaching, babbling, making eye contact—is building connections in their brain. It’s not the complexity of the activity. It’s the repetition and responsiveness that matter most.

Do I need special toys to support development?

No. But the right toys can make it easier. Look for ones that encourage your baby to explore, move, and figure things out—not ones that do everything for them.

Should I be leading playtime?

Nope. Follow your baby’s lead. Your role is less “teacher” and more “support system.” Pause, watch, respond. That’s where the magic happens.

What should play actually look like in the first year?

It’s simpler than you think:

  • Newborn: eye contact, talking, being held, tummy time
  • A few months in: reaching, grabbing, exploring textures
  • Later: dropping things (on repeat), putting objects in and out, testing cause and effect

It might not look like much. It’s doing a lot.

How much playtime is enough?

You don’t need a schedule. Short, connected moments throughout the day > one long “perfect” play session.

Are light-up, noisy toys bad?

Not necessarily. But they tend to do the work for your baby. And the more the toy does, the less your baby has to.

What’s the biggest mistake parents make?

Thinking they need to do more. More toys, more structure, more stimulation.

Most babies need less—just more space, time, and connection.