Week 35: Building Brains Through Play
At 35 weeks — just over eight months — your baby’s brain is developing at astonishing speed. And the most important tool for supporting this growth? Play.
But not the kind with batteries and flashing lights. Your baby learns best through open-ended, responsive play — the kind you do naturally when you follow their lead, copy their sounds, or share a giggle over something silly. Every block they bang, every peekaboo game you repeat, every moment you spend simply being with them — these are building blocks for learning, communication, and connection.
Development
Your baby may be:
Pulling to stand confidently and starting to “cruise” along furniture
Moving smoothly between crawling, sitting, and kneeling
Using a pincer grasp (thumb and finger) to pick up small items
Showing curiosity about how things work — poking, flipping, banging
Cognitive development is surging:
Cause-and-effect is a major theme (“If I drop this, what happens?”)
They may remember where a toy is hidden or anticipate a familiar routine
You’ll notice more focus and persistence during play
Their emotional world is growing too:
They show delight, frustration, or surprise more clearly
They may seek comfort or reassurance mid-play
They often look to you for feedback — a shared smile, a clap, a nod
Sleep
As your baby becomes more active and alert, sleep needs may shift:
Many babies now take two naps per day
Some will start resisting one nap (usually the late afternoon one)
Movement in the cot — crawling, pulling up — can interfere with settling
Sleep can be helped by:
A consistent wind-down routine
Plenty of active play during the day
Responsive night-time care if they wake distressed or disoriented
If separation anxiety is increasing, stay present and gentle. Babies this age don’t need to be taught to sleep — they need to feel safe enough to sleep.
Feeding
Feeding is more hands-on (and messy) than ever:
Your baby may enjoy feeding themselves soft chunks or strips
They might attempt to drink from an open cup with your help
Their gag reflex is moving back, allowing better chewing and swallowing
They may develop strong preferences — and suddenly refuse old favourites
Let them explore food with all their senses. If they seem disinterested some days, that’s okay — breastmilk or formula still provides their main nutrition.
You might also notice an increase in breastfeeding during emotional or developmental leaps. Feeding is still a key source of comfort.
Play and Interaction
This is the golden age of interactive play. Try:
Stacking cups or blocks (they’ll knock them down with joy)
Simple shape sorters or toys with moving parts
Rolling a ball back and forth
Mirror games, imitation, and peekaboo
Your baby loves:
Face-to-face connection
Repetition
Games with clear cause and effect
Let them lead the play whenever you can. Even short bursts of shared attention build their brain and your relationship.
Top Tip of the Week
“Don’t underestimate the power of five minutes of undivided attention. It’s not about entertaining — it’s about connecting.”
Real Life Reflections
It’s normal to feel like your day is a loop of clean-up, comfort, and repetition. You might wonder if you’re doing enough. But the truth is — you already are.
If your baby is safe, fed, held, and seen… that’s the foundation of healthy development.
No toy, program, or “activity schedule” replaces a present, responsive parent. Your everyday moments are the curriculum. You’re the favourite teacher.
Looking Ahead
Soon, you may see:
Babbling that sounds like real conversation
Attempts to stand alone
Separation anxiety peaking during certain transitions
First signs of pretend play (offering you a toy “to eat,” for example)
There’s so much learning packed into this stage — and your presence is the most important ingredient of all.
Further Reading:
How Your Doctor Might View Night Waking Explore how medical professionals may interpret night waking in infants and the importance of understanding these perspectives within the context of gentle parenting approaches.
Nighttime Breastmilk Learn about the unique properties of nighttime breastmilk and how it supports both your baby's and your own sleep cycles.
The Misleading Myth of Sleep Regressions Understand the developmental reasons behind changes in your baby's sleep patterns and why these shifts are often mischaracterized as regressions.
