As babies grow past 6 months, they start to master object permanence (the understanding that things still exist when hidden) and peekaboo gets a little easy for them. Games like hiding toys under a cloth, rolling a ball back and forth, and imitating sounds give her brain the stretch it is looking for. These games are free, quick to set up, and do more for her development than almost any toy you can buy.
There comes a moment, usually somewhere around seven or eight months, when you pop your hands off your face and say "peekaboo!" and your baby just... stares at you. Not with delight. With the mild tolerance of someone who has heard this joke before. You did not do anything wrong. She just graduated.
Here is what is happening in her brain right now, and the games that will light her back up.
Here is what is actually going on
Peekaboo works brilliantly for young babies because it teaches a foundational concept called object permanence. Up until about four months, when something disappears from sight, it genuinely ceases to exist in your baby's mind. Peekaboo is surprising every single time because she has no idea where you went.
By six or seven months, that changes. Her brain starts to hold onto the idea of things that are out of view. She knows you are still there behind your hands. She knows the toy still exists under the blanket. Peekaboo becomes less of a revelation and more of a confirmation of something she already suspects.
That is a huge developmental step. It is also a sign that she is ready for games that require a little more prediction, anticipation, and back-and-forth.
If you are noticing she seems less interested in play generally, it is worth reading about what to do when a baby seems uninterested in play since sometimes it is developmental and sometimes it is something simpler, like tiredness or overstimulation.
When older babies are ready for these games
Most babies hit this shift somewhere between six and nine months, which lines up with a busy phase in Willo's 35 developmental phases. Her fine motor skills are sharpening, her memory is getting stickier, and she is starting to understand that actions have consequences. She is not just watching the world anymore. She is experimenting with it.
The games that land best at this stage are the ones that give her a little agency: she makes something happen, you respond, she makes it happen again. That loop is enormously satisfying for a baby brain that is suddenly discovering it has power.
For more ideas on how to fill her awake windows well at this age, simple playtime activities matched to wake windows are a good place to start.
How to tell she is ready for more
You might be there already if:
- She has started looking for things that roll or fall out of sight
- She watches your hands closely when you are doing something, as though tracking the object
- Peekaboo gets a polite smile rather than genuine delight
- She is reaching for things, dropping things intentionally, and watching where they land
- She seems to want you to do something, not just be there
Games that actually work
Hide the toy under a cloth
Put a favourite toy under a muslin or a small blanket while she watches. Then ask "where did it go?" and let her find it. At first she will pull the blanket away immediately. Over a few weeks she will start to pause, look at your face for clues, and figure out that the shape under the cloth is the thing she wants. This is object permanence games in their purest form and it never gets old.
Roll back and forth
Sit opposite her with your legs out in a V and roll a soft ball toward her. She may not roll it back at first, but she will start to understand the structure: it goes to her, then it goes back to you. This is one of the earliest forms of turn-taking, which is the same cognitive pattern that underpins conversation. Some babies get genuinely excited when they figure out their part.
Copycat sounds and faces
Make a sound. Stick your tongue out. Clap slowly. Then wait. Many babies at this age will attempt to copy, especially sounds. When she does copy, repeat it back to her. You are building the foundation for early language through a game that costs nothing and can happen anywhere, including in a car seat or a pram.
The cup shuffle (easy version)
Put a small toy under one of two cups. Let her watch which cup. Ask "where is it?" She will reach for the right one. As she gets more confident, you can slow the reveal down so she really has to hold the memory. This is more demanding than it looks for a seven-month-old brain and genuinely satisfying when she gets it right.
Disappearing acts with her body
Instead of hiding your face, hide her hands in a blanket, or cover her feet and ask where they went. The magic of "her own body is the surprise object" is often funnier to a baby than a face reveal. It also gives her a different kind of sensory experience, which links naturally into sensory play ideas that build on what she is already enjoying.
There's a reason your baby is doing that
Willo maps your baby's first six years into 35 developmental phases. Instead of wondering what's wrong, you'll see what's actually happening and know it's right on time.
Get Willo AppThings that tend not to help
- Moving too fast. If she has not quite grasped the concept yet, she will not find it funny. Slow the reveal down. Give her a second to predict before you show her.
- Switching games too quickly. She learns through repetition. The same game five days in a row is not boring to her. It is satisfying.
- Complicated toys. The most developmentally useful games at this age involve you, her hands, and maybe a cloth. Expensive toys with lights and sounds are usually less engaging than a mum making a silly face.
- Expecting back-and-forth immediately. Turn-taking is a skill that builds slowly. She will get there.
When to stop reading articles and call your pediatrician
Play should feel mutual, even if lopsided. Speak to your pediatrician if:
- She is not making eye contact or tracking faces
- She does not respond to sounds, her name, or sudden noises
- She seems uninterested in people and objects both
- She has lost skills she previously had
None of these things are likely. But if something feels off, trust that feeling.
How Willo App makes this easier
Inside Willo App, you will find phase-matched play suggestions that shift as your baby moves through her 35 developmental phases. So instead of searching for what to play with a seven-month-old, the app tells you exactly what her brain is ready for right now, and why it matters. Ask Willo is there too, for the moments when you want to talk it through.
She is not done with peekaboo forever. She just needed you to level up with her.
Common questions
What age do babies get bored of peekaboo?
Most babies start to master the concept behind peekaboo between six and eight months, which is when the game loses some of its magic. They are not bored exactly, they have just understood it. That is the signal to move into games with a little more complexity.
What games are good for 9 month old babies?
Games that involve hiding and finding objects, rolling back and forth, copying sounds and faces, and simple cause-and-effect interactions are all developmentally well-matched for a nine-month-old. You do not need any special equipment. A cloth, a ball, and your attention are enough.
How do I teach my baby object permanence?
You do not need to teach it directly. It develops naturally as her brain matures. The best thing you can do is play games that gently exercise the concept, like hiding toys under a cloth and letting her find them. Repetition over several weeks is more useful than any single session.
Is peekaboo good for older babies too?
Yes, but the more complex versions work better. Instead of hiding your face, try hiding toys, hiding parts of her body, or playing hide-and-find behind furniture. The surprise element is still there, but now she has to hold the memory of where something went, which is a more demanding and satisfying challenge.
What games help baby development at 6 to 9 months?
Games that build object permanence, turn-taking, and early language are the most useful at this age. Hide-and-find games, rolling a ball back and forth, copying sounds and expressions, and simple two-cup shuffles all target the cognitive skills that matter most in this window.
My baby doesn't seem interested in games. Is that normal?
It can be. Babies who are tired, teething, or going through a growth phase are often less interested in play. If disinterest in play and people is consistent over several weeks, it is worth mentioning to your pediatrician. Most of the time, it is just a phase.
