When a baby turns three months old, It marks the beginning of a precious and fun time where they learn to master control of their little bodies and interact with the world around them.Here are some activities I did with bub that you can try:
1. Read to baby
It’s never too early to start reading. At this age, comprehension is not the main point. Using books with big pictures, high-contrast colours, and interactive elements captures baby’s attention and develops the brain. Cuddling with baby and letting him/her listen to your voice helps them bond with you. Bub’s favourite book is a book from NLB’s free Early Read program called “My Little Fish” by Lucy Cousins. It has beautiful, colourful pictures and a finger puppet which makes her giggle.
Sign up your baby as a library member and collect your baby gift pack! More deets here.
2. Talk and sing to baby
Talking and singing to babies exposes them to language, rhythm, and emotion and develops their language skills. Making silly sounds at them can also draw a smile or laugh, which are important milestones at this age. Bub was really fascinated whenever we made new sounds she hadn’t heard before!
3. Practice reaching for toys
At this age, babies have “discovered” their hands and begin to explore the world with them. Hold up a toy above them and have them reach for it, or brush a toy against their fingers so that they can grasp it. Placing a toy beside baby while they lie on their back also encourages them to turn their body and work out those back muscles.
4. Practice visual tracking
Bub especially loved toys with lights and sounds. I hold these toys in front of her and let her track them, making sure she moves her head from side-to-side. Try using smaller toys or objects. At this age, they should be able to focus on smaller objects like a raisin.
5. Look in the mirror
Babies love looking at faces, why not let them look at their own? They may not recognise themselves just yet, but soon they will learn. I have a small, baby-safe mirror that I hang from her play gym so she can see herself while lying down. I’d also carry her to mirrors around the house so that she can look at herself and at the silly faces I make at her. Just make sure any mirrors you’re using in your play area is unbreakable and safe for children!
Check out this floor mirror which is baby-safe!
6. Set up a play gym
Set up a play gym on the floor with hanging toys. It develops their sensory and motor skills and keeps them entertained (thus freeing up some time for you to relax). There are many play gyms available on the market. Nearly all of them come with loops to hang toys, and some have additional developmental activities like different textures, built-in mirrors, sounds, music, and lights.
I have this inexpensive and awesome baby gym set up at my parent's place for when we visit!
7. Tummy time with toys
Tummy time is important in helping master head control. You can do tummy time on the floor or even with baby on your chest. In the early days, Bub really hated tummy time, so I’d keep it short but do it several times a day. Sometimes, I used a tummy time pillow or rolled up a swaddle cloth and tuck it under her chest for an extra boost. Placing toys in front of her while she does tummy time also keeps her motivated to keep her head up.
This tummy time floor mat comes with a pillow, mirror, and toys that's great for baby's development.
8. Bring baby out for short walks
Babies love exploring the world round them. Bringing baby out for a short walk in a stroller or carrier is a welcome change in environment that stimulates their senses and piques their curiosity. At 3 months, Bub would always be looking around at the greenery (yay for building those neck muscles too!) from her carrier when we took her out for walks to nearby parks.
I love the Ergo Baby Omni 360 cool air mesh carrier. While there are many carriers in the market, Ergo Baby is one of the best brands. Although this model is a bit pricier, we thought we'd "invest" in a good product that will be frequently used and used for a few years! It suits our needs because it can carry newborns all the way to toddlers (3.2-20kg) in all positions, and is made of a cool mesh (so it doesn't get too hot for baby).
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