How to play with your baby, 3 months old

Can you believe you’ve already journeyed through the first two months of your baby’s life? As magical as they are, we also know how exhausting it is. Your little one is up at all hours thinking 3am in the perfect time to get in a full course dinner…and two hours later it’s already time for a snack! Who knew that such a tiny little bundle (who supposedly sleeps 15 hours out of the day) could be so much work?! 

 The good news is that by 3 months, your baby  might be giving you longer stretches of sleep at night, and all of those short naps and feedings have added up to a healthy growing brain! And that exponential growth means even more fun during play time for you and baby.

So, what’s going on in Baby’s world during month 3?

Month 3 Milestones

By now, your baby might be starting to:

·     Raise head & chest during tummy time

·     Intentionally open & close hands

·     Bear weight on legs

·     Bat at objects

·     Shake toys

·     Track movements with eyes

·     Recognize familiar people & objects

·     Coo & respond to sounds

·     Smile (on purpose!)

·     Enjoy playtime 

Wow! That’s quite the jump from last month. Can you imagine if we continued to learn and develop at the same rate as a newborn? We would be geniuses! 

With all of those new developments and skills, it’s even easier to make the most of Baby’s alert time. Here are some our favorite activities that will keep the smiles coming (while helping your baby master more new skills).

1.     Follow the Voice

While talking or singing to your baby, change positions to see if your little one can find you. Start the conversation above your baby to engage her, then move to each side, down toward her feet, and back behind her. Not only will she be able to use her senses of sight and hearing for find your voice, she’ll also be motivated to use her neck muscles, which are getting stronger and more coordinated this month. Your baby will later use those muscles to roll over. 

2.     Foot rattles

Have you seen the adorable little socks with rattles or bells sewn on? Your baby may not seem interested if you simply stick them on his feet, but if you put a small pillow or rolled towel under his hips, he’ll be able to see them better and feel more motivated to look down and play. This strengthens his coordination and encourages him to use those neck muscles some more (while tracking objects with his eyes).

3.     Silly Faces

Babies LOVE to look at themselves. Hang a full length mirror horizontally along a baseboard, and watch your baby make faces at herself. If tummy time is too long, flip her over on her back and she can look sideways toward the mirror. Go ahead and make some silly faces along with her! She’ll love learning different expressions. Frown and say, “sad,” then smile and say, “happy!”

4.     Up, Up, & Away!

Just kidding. We aren’t asking you to do anything crazy, but safely attaching a helium mylar balloon to your baby’s foot (with your careful supervision – this is not a time to go knock out a chore) will hold your baby’s attention for a while. This gives your baby a simple understanding of cause and effect: when he moves his leg, the balloon moves, too!

5.     Rubber Duckies

Is it too early to start water play? No way! Fill a shallow pan with enough water to make a few colorful rubber duckies float, and watch your little one try to bat at them. This is a great way to make tummy time last longer – just place a pillow or rolled towel under her chest to prop her up enough to reach the ducks.

6.     I Spy

Fill a clear water bottle with colorful or interesting little toys, and close it securely. Let your baby have fun trying to roll it to see the pieces and move them around. (This is another activity that requires close supervision in case the lid comes off – do not give this to your baby in the car or another time when you aren’t close at hand.)

7.     Keep Reading

Even if your baby doesn’t seem interested in the story or pictures just yet, get in the routine of story time. This is a great activity right before bed. You can even sing a lullaby or nursery rhyme with pictures instead of reading a story. In a few months, you’ll be amazed to see your child pointing at pictures or reaching for a book all of a sudden. This sets the foundation for reading, and it also encourages your baby to focus for longer periods of time.