Auditory Stimulation:

Hold your baby and talk to him *face to face*. Make eye contact even if your child can’t. This provides vision stimulation and places the child in a position to reach out and touch you. It encourages imitation and adds to the bond between you.

Choose one to three favorite songs, poems or stories and do them every day. This will help develop your child’s memory as well as interactive skills and help to stimulate speech.

Comment on baby’s movements. Respond to her sounds with words If your child is hearing-impaired, touch her to respond to movements and sounds..

There are products on the market available from New-Age shops which combine aromatherapy burners with different sounds such as birds, nature, the ocean etc etc. They can be set to a timer and set to go off after an hr or so. Boots in Rep of Ireland sell a very good one.

There are some wonderful toys on the market some which work at touch of a button and speak a word with sound effects. The RNIB produce a great toy list of mainstream toys made by Tomy, Vetek and others which are really great for special needs children. Early Learning Centre have many multi-sensory toys.

Avoid clutter; it’s confusing. This is true of clutter you can see and clutter you can hear. Don’t provide more than two or three toys at a time. Don’t have the TV or the radio on at the same time. If your child is playing with a sound toy or you are singing to him, turn the TV or radio off.

 Tell your baby what is about to happen before you begin or end an activity.

Stimulate all the senses: sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing. This is best accomplished by including your child in everyday activities. Bring her into the kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, etc. Talk to her about what you are doing. Let her touch things before you use them: her diaper before she’s changed; her washcloth before she’s washed; her spoon before she eats.

Talk to the child as you do housework.

Music

Relaxation sounds and CDs  which are melodic to lull him to sleep. As well as classical music, pop music and nursery rhymes and songs to stimulate him.

This can make a fun game if you use a toy such as drum or rattle (or a bell anklet on his leg) and you waggle his hand or leg in time to the music, this is guaranteed to make him smile. Wrist rattles here are also good fun if you attach them to his ankles and wrists!

Tactile Stimulation

If you're inventive you can create a multi-sensory world for your child just by using your imagination. 

Hand and/or feet painting - using leaves, marbles or other objects.

 Involve an older (sighted) sibling by giving them a project. For example every day after school they  must bring home at least one        object for him to explore - i.e.: different flowers, leaves, large rocks  (under supervision of course - ensuring the parts are not too small or dangerous)

Pet shops are brilliant places to buy noisy toys!!! A big hit is a ball with a bell in it.

Use a plastic 2 litre bottle - filled with rice/pasta etc for a lovely noisy sound

Bath spa which can be attached to the side of the bath and which makes a Jacuzzi type jet which can be angled to his feet or hands. Use some bubble bath which makes bubbles and a nice smell. 

Touch Farms/Zoos are brilliant. Many pet shops will also oblige you (if you explain the situation) by enabling the child to feel the various animals.

Pay attention to your child’s reactions. If he’s over-stimulated, he’ll let you know by tuning out, turning away, pretending he’s asleep or crying. Try to end activities before your child has had enough of them.

Dried pasta in a bowl (different shapes and textures), wet jelly, custard, flour and water! (All designed for maximum feel and mess!)

A local carpenter can help you with off cuts of wood! Different wood has different textures and smells! Again watch to ensure it's smooth enough and won't splinter delicate fingers!

Water and sand.  The beach is a brilliant place, with plenty of different sounds and smells. Sandpits are great fun!