Infant Games

You can do anything with a 5 month old... Sing to her, play finger games, or just play 'tickle and giggle'. They are easy to entertain and love to see mommy's face!

Have fun!

You don't need to "play" all the time with a baby... they are developing naturally... they don't need to be "entertained" per say.
Even just lying on a blanket outside, looking up at the sky and clouds and trees is engaging for a baby. Even a bath at this age is an "activity" for a baby.
Their ability to "play" at length... is also limited, because after a few minutes, they get "tired" or over-stimulated. Then they may get fussy... thus, needing a nap.

If you think that you have to "entertain" a baby... all the time... you will also get worn out. Basic everyday things, and interacting with you, and having floor time with rattles and things around the house is plenty. Playing peek-a-boo too... is VERY good for a baby, because it teaches them "object permanence." It is a concept that developmentally, they go through.
Store bought things are not real necessary. Babies/kids learn in their environment. Even pots and pans.
Also be sure to baby proof the home, as she gets more mobile or starts rolling around and grabbing things.

ALSO, a baby NEEDS to have time to just hang-out and play by themselves. Of course with you there... but just let her hang and explore. This is also very beneficial for a baby... they learn self-reliance and have their own rhythm to things too. You don't have to play "games" with baby all the time. They need to explore on their own too... which is very important for development, and doing things at their own pace or interests. They personality will also develop this way.
She is too young to play "games" or to follow direction. Just even holding her and "dancing" with her to music, is plenty.

I recommend the book: "What to expect the First year." You can find it pretty much anywhere.

good luck,
Susan

join baby center, they have lots of age progression games and ideas for your child's age.

Even though she's young, you can still read to to her every day, anything with close contact, lots of facial expressions, sounds, tactile hand movement is good, sing songs.

Here is the 5 months page, lots of play ideas:
http://www.babycenter.com/302_5-months-old_###-###-####.b...

Peek-a-boo & Pat-a-cake are great games for this age! I also really like the www.babycenter.com website. They have great info on child development and things you can do with your baby as she grows.
Also, if you live in Mesa, Gilbert or Queen Creek, you can participate in a free, in-home program called "My Child's Ready" http://www.childcrisis.org/mychildsready/
This program comes to you in your home and teached you about your child's development, answers any parenting questions you have, and helps you find community resources that are benficial to you and your family.
Hope this all helps! :)

I agree with the other posts. At 5 months, anything is entertaining. Sit with her on your lap facing you and just simply talk to her in funny voices, make faces at her. There are so many toys and books and rattles that they love at this age. Talk, talk, talk . . . .they love to hear your voice.
This is the easy stage!!!

Have fun and enjoy every minute.

Things like peek-a-boo, finger play songs, patt-a- cake, This Little Piggy Went to Market. You may want to check out a book at the library for song ideas, etc. Even just reading to them - even at this age- is great. Most libraries have a story time, by age , that is fun for all ages. Most importantly, have fun!

Soft blocks are always fun. Stacking and Knocking down. Rolling a ball back and forth that is approved for this age bracket. From my experience, the basic toys like these are the best. She'll probably just watch you do this for now. Don't feel you have to entertain her all the time. They are easily amused at this age. Have fun with your little one.

Okay, so my 1st is now 25-months-old. I wish I had found this book when she was a baby, but was still happy to look through it and assure myself that I had done the "right" things for her development when it came to play. I found this book at Ross, but I'm sure you could get it at any bookstore or check it out from your library. It give some great ideas! Sometimes I just get stuck in what I can think of & this has helped give me new ideas without spending too much time thinking it over.

the parent's guide to PLAY by Dr. Wendy S. Masi and Dr. Roni Cohen Leiderman.

It's a Gymboree book.

You'll do just fine. Good luck!

Read to your baby as much as she will take! By reading to her now, she will learn so much. She will get used to sitting and listening, hearing and learning language (because the language of books is different), and eventually she will learn which direction to turn the pages and how stories work. There are many pre-reading skills learned by listening to others read, and they take many years to learn. It can also be great for bonding between you and her.

At this age they don't play , but they love to watch what is going on around them and to hear you talking to them , the words you say does not matter , it's more about the tone you use , even if you were telling her in a happy singy voice that you were putting the garbage out she would be entertained. Obviously you have things to be getting on with , so a rattle is also entertaining for them. I used to sit mine in the bathroom doorway while I cleaned so they could watch , they were also engrossed by the vaccuum