B a r b a r a s h e r I l L u s t r a t I o n s b y r a L p h

Ice Cube on a Tray
Having a lot of interesting things to focus on in the short term sets a baby
up with the expectation that life has many things to notice. In this game, a
simple ice cube tossed on a high chair tray can provide some focused fun as
it skitters to-and-fro and your baby tries to catch it.
When my children were babies, I noticed that they always got fussy just
about the time I was making dinner. I think it was the smells that reminded
them they were getting hungry. Give them something immediate to focus
on, and make both of your lives easier!
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Focused
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Ice cubes
Food coloring (optional)
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Place a large ice cube on your child’s tray. (For added interest, make col-
ored ice cubes using the food coloring.) She’ll probably catch it and suck
on it for a while, then lose it again and chase it around some more. Keep an
eye out that it hasn’t melted so much that it might be small enough to swal-
low. Before you take the small cube away, replace it with another large one.
Your baby will also enjoy splashing the melted water.
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⽧ You could also make the ice cubes out of juice.
⽧ If you don’t mind messy, here are other interesting things to place on
your baby’s tray to capture her attention:
Soy sauce, mild mustard, or ketchup to squiggle around with her fingers
Whipped cream or meringue to poke and lick
Cornstarch on a secured mirror to see her reflection come in and out
of focus
Jell-O blocks to touch and to watch shimmy and shake