In these early months, your baby is taking in the world through all his senses--smell, sight, taste, sounds and, especially, touch. Offer a variety of input for all the senses, but remember, he isn't yet grasping rattles or stuffed animals, so you are his most important "toy."

LOVING TOUCH

There's nothing like a massage to communicate love and closeness to a newborn, says Sheila Ellison, coauthor of 365 DAYS OF BABY LOVE: PLAYING, GROWING AND EXPLORING WITH BABIES FROM BIRTH TO AGE 2 (Sourcebooks, 1996) and creator of a video about baby massage.

In a warm room, sit on the floor with your legs out straight, back supported. Lay your undressed baby on a towel on your legs, facing you. Warm a small amount of vegetable oil in your hands, then place your hands on the baby's chest and firmly, but gently, stroke out to the fingertips, and down to the toes. Massage baby's palms and the soles of her feet, too. As you do, make eye contact, and talk gently with your baby. Notice what she seems to like, and stop when she begins to fuss.

TAKE A WHIFF OF THIS

Introduce different scents to your baby whenever you have the opportunity. Say "Smell this, baby" as you pass a flower (or coffee bean, or scented soap) under baby's nose, then tell him what it is. Other scents to try: vanilla, cinnamon, garlic, peppermint, dill, oregano, perfume or shaving lotion dabbed on a cotton puff, lotions and shampoos. Don't offer more than one or two scents at a time, and don't repeat any that make him grimace or turn away.

PUPPET ON A PLATE

Using a thick black marker, draw a simple, smiling face with bold features on one side of an uncoated white paper plate. Draw a sad face on the other side. Hold the happy face eight to 10 inches from your baby's eyes; when she has focused on it, slowly move it from side to side, and up and down to see if she "tracks" the face with her eyes. Then show her the "sad" side and watch her reaction. If you like, punch a hole in the top of the plate, thread a string through the hole, and hang the toy where it can turn freely and your baby can see it from her bouncy seat.

MIRROR, MIRROR

Babies love to look at other faces--which is exactly what they see when they look in the mirror. Stand with both you and your little one looking into the mirror (your hands will be free if you have your baby in a front pack facing forward). Now make exaggerated faces with accompanying sounds. Lightly tap your baby's nose with your finger, making a popping sound each time. Hold out or wave baby's arms, then do the same with yours. Sway from side to side with baby. Put hats on each of you. Resting the baby's infant seat in front of a mirror will give you a break and provide your little one an instant companion.

A TOUCH OF THIS, A TOUCH OF THAT

Offer your baby a variety of touch sensations: Gently tickle baby's tummy with a soft paintbrush, a hair brush, a feather or a cotton ball. Kiss, then blow gently across baby's tummy, hands, toes or face. Let baby feel the cold of an ice cube, as well as the warmth of a blow-dryer. Contrast the softness of a satiny blanket with the roughness of a nail file, the cushion of a couch versus the hardness of a counter. Say "warm" and "cold," "soft" and "hard" as you go.