Here are some tips for helping you think about the difference between healthy stimulation and overstimulation with your new baby.

Prevent toy overwhelm

Choose simple toys with sensory experiences matching your baby’s natural learning mode. Babies inherently want to use their hands, movements, thoughts, and ideas to create play (active engagement) rather than having play be something that happens to them (passive entertainment).

To support active engagement, avoid toys that only invite them to watch something else happen (light-up, noisy, battery-operated). Instead, offer toys that do nothing unless your baby is the one playing (blocks, rattles, balls).

The more passive a toy is, the more stimulating it will be. The more active a toy is, the more overstimulating it can be.

Find the right balance between unscheduled and overscheduled

Establish consistent routines that are flexible and include downtime. Babies thrive on predictability, and this type of structure helps them (and you) feel secure and well-rested.

However, avoid rigidity to routines and be wary of saying yes to too many outside commitments or outings that could lead to overscheduled days. While social interaction is important to combat postpartum isolation, excessive stimulation can lead to overstimulation.

Consider the ways your home makes you feel

If we know too many toys can be overwhelming, we can also consider how our entire home might be overwhelming. If things are cluttered, disorderly, bright, and loud, it will be difficult for your baby to feel calm and connected to their surroundings.

In fact, babies are pretty sensitive to order – not just in terms of daily routines but their physical surroundings. Too much clutter or movement can hinder their ability to settle, observe, focus, and adapt.

This doesn’t mean you should aim for an impossible standard of always keeping a tidy house. Messes happen! However, it would be remiss to overlook the importance of maintaining and restoring order in our homes.

To check whether or not your home may be overstimulating, get on your baby’s eye level and look around. Ask yourself if the space feels inviting, warm, and uncluttered. Make changes to support a calm and inspiring space you can both enjoy.