How to stimulate baby's development at home from birth

Why stimulate baby's development?

From birth, a baby's brain develops at an astonishing rate. According to Naître et grandir, experiences during the first years of life have a decisive impact on a child's cognitive, emotional, and social development. Stimulating a baby doesn't mean overstimulating them — it's about offering them rich experiences adapted to their age.

0 to 3 months: awakening the senses

At this age, babies discover the world mainly through their senses:

• Sight: show them contrasting black and white objects 20-30 cm from their face
• Hearing: talk to them, sing lullabies, play soft music
• Touch: caress them, give them gentle massages, offer different textures
• Tummy time: a few minutes a day to strengthen neck muscles

3 to 6 months: discovering the body

• Offer colorful and noisy developmental toys to grab
• Encourage baby to grab objects of different shapes
• Play mirror games — babies love to see themselves!
• Sing nursery rhymes with gestures

6 to 9 months: active exploration

• Offer Montessori & educational toys suitable for manipulation
• Encourage sitting and crawling
• Name everything you do and see together
• Suggest simple peek-a-boo games

9 to 12 months: towards autonomy

• Encourage baby to stand up and take their first steps by holding them
• Offer toys suitable for 1 year olds to develop fine motor skills
• Read books with large colorful pictures
• Let them explore safely on all fours

Key principles to remember

According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, the best stimulations are those that happen naturally in daily life: meals, bathing, walks, affectionate exchanges. No need for expensive toys — your presence and love are the best development tools!

Discover our selection of bath, developmental, and sensory toys from 0 months to support every stage of your baby's development.