Your baby can hold their head up high and may lift shoulders and chest off the floor during time on their tummy.
Your baby’s body should have completely uncurled by now. They can hold their head up in line with their body and are starting to use their arms for support. Most babies at this stage will be grabbing and clutching objects. They’ll continue to be fascinated with their hands and will start to stretch and reach for objects, putting everything in their mouth, including their own toes!
Feeding your baby
Your baby may seem much hungrier, but don’t be tempted to start introducing solids as it’s more than likely that they’re just going through a growth spurt. Breast milk or formula contains all the nutrients your baby needs from birth to around six months of age, so you can rest assured they’ll be well fed this way.
There have been lots of discussions amongst experts as to optimal timing to introduce solid foods. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breast feeding to six months. National guidelines suggest solid foods should be introduced from around six months but NOT before four months.
Communicating
Your baby will soon start to make soft ‘cooing’ sounds. These will tend to start with letters like D, B and M, which can be made with their lips. It is not surprising then, that ‘mama’ and ‘dada’ become some of your baby’s first words – another exciting moment to celebrate!
Their senses are growing
Loud noises will startle or make your baby cry, but your familiar voice should be enough to quickly comfort them. They now start to become very curious about what’s going on around them, and use as many senses as they can to explore their world.
Did you know?
Touch is the only sense that gives your baby the three things they need:
1) It helps provide them with a sense of safety and security
2) It gets them involved with the world around them
3) Its a way that you can communicate with them and they can respond to you - as if you needed an excuse for more cuddles!
Stimulate your baby’s mind and body
A mobile above your baby’s cot - especially with dark and light coloured pictures and shapes - will give your baby something interesting to focus on. Now is the perfect time to hang another mobile with different shapes above your baby’s cot at a level that’s just within reach.
Bright colours, gentle rattles and chimes will stimulate your three month old baby who’ll soon learn that reaching up to touch the objects gets them moving and making sounds. This is a great help too for your baby’s hand-eye coordination.