I have a bunch of newborn toys
hanging around the house. Soft, plush bunnies and teddy bears, brightly colored
plastic teethers to chew and hold on to, and plenty of black and white
checkered objects (for those first weeks when babies can only see black and
white). These are all guaranteed to hold your newborn’s attention. Honestly, I
found these to be absolutely worthless for at least the first three months of a
baby’s life.
Might I offer an alternative to the
vast array of toys that companies are hoping you will spend money on? A full
grown tree, visible from any window in the house, will keep your newborn’s
attention like nothing else will (with the exception of nursing). Mere days
after the birth of both our daughter and son, I remember being in awe of the
power of nature at such a young age. The contrast between the blues and whites
of the skies and clouds and the greens and browns of tree trunks and leaves
captured the attention of our tiny babies even more than face to face time with
mommy and daddy. Eyes were especially drawn outside on windy days when clouds
billowed by and branches swayed to and fro.
Let me further suggest that that
fresh outdoor air will calm a baby better than any sound machine. My second
baby was fussier during the first few weeks of existence than my older one. I
remember evenings when his little stomach seemed to be giving him no relief and
he would cry softly throughout the late evening hours. Walking up and down the
halls would sometimes appease him but, more often than not, simply walking out
onto the porch would bring a calm to the little one cradled in my arms and
sleep was soon to follow.
God has created us to revel in the
natural world around us. From infancy, there is a connection to nature that
just blows my mind. It takes hard work to turn us and our kids away from that
connection. We must increase T.V. time, surround ourselves with expensive toys
and gadgets, decrease outdoor time and allow for more sedentary activities.
Sadly, that reality is becoming more and more prevalent. I want to say “yes” to
the simplicity of nature and all it has to offer and “no” to manufactured
happiness.
My youngest is 4 months old now. He
has started learning to grasp things that are put before him. I am just now
using one or two of those colorful teething toys. But I am happy to say that
being outside still catches his attention and calms him down more than any of
the other baby objects lying around the house. And it does wonders for mommy,
daddy, and big sister too!
