Psychomotor development of the three-month-old baby, what can the baby do?
At 3 months of life, most babies babble spontaneously, which greatly touches their parents and grandparents. At this age their crying is easier to comfort and they are generally more expressive. 3-month-old babies entertain themselves by looking at their hands, opening and closing them… It is also common for them to put their hands in their mouths.
At 3 months of life, most babies develop a series of skills that indicate that the baby is developing correctly.
The main developmental milestones for 3-month-old babies are related to:
– Rough motor skills
– The use of hands
– The vision
– The audition
– The social relationship
– Baby language
Gross motor skills of the 3-month-old baby
Gross motor refers to the position of the baby’s body and the movements he can make at this age:
– Lying face down: rests on the forearms and raises the head 45-90º. Her thighs are stretched out.
– Lying on your back: look at your hands. His knees are still slightly bent, but she rests her heels on the bed.
– Holding him «sitting»: the back is straighter.
The use of the hands of the baby of 3 months
– When you put something in his hand, he takes it (involuntary grasp). This allows you to hold a rattle and shake it.
– He often has his hands open.
– He takes his hands and looks at them.
– Pull the clothes.
The vision of the 3 month old baby
– At this age, the baby follows objects well with his eyes, but is unable to grasp them with his hands.
– At this stage your visual field develops and you can see people and objects that are further away.
3-month-old baby’s hearing
– The baby begins to wake up with nearby noises. Before this age, he usually sleeps even when there are noises around him.
– Also turns the head towards the place where the sound comes from.
The social relationship of the 3-month-old baby
– He is able to be calm alone. Very attentive to his surroundings.
– The baby is easier to comfort than in previous months.
– Look when someone talks to him. She turns towards the sounds.
– Recognizes the most familiar adults.
– When seeing a toy or a familiar person or the chest, he actively and happily moves his arms and legs.
– Some behave differently with the father and with the mother: slower movements towards the mother. With father: wide eyes, waiting for game.
The language of the 3 month old baby
At this age, spontaneous baby babbling that sounds «a-goo» is typical. Also the baby begins to imitate some sounds.
Babies’ developmental milestones are indicative
Remember that the calendar of development milestones is always indicative.
Some babies acquire certain skills before others or develop one more quickly and another more slowly.
Premature babies, those born with low birth weight and those who have had problems in the first days/weeks of life may progress more slowly.
3 month old baby feeding
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to six months of life. Therefore, it is not yet the time to introduce complementary feeding. Regarding the frequency of feedings, it is possible that the baby sleeps all night and does not demand to breastfeed during it.
If the baby takes a bottle, at each health control visit, the pediatrician will indicate the amount of formula to be administered at each feeding.
How to stimulate a 3 month old baby
To strengthen the baby’s back muscles, we can lift both arms from the lying position. He is becoming more agile with his hands so we can give him a rattle or a toy so he can move it and make it sound.
The bath is a very stimulating moment for the baby, in addition to relaxing him, he will find it fun to splash with his legs and check that the water jumps when he does so.
The baby tends to put objects in his mouth, do not forbid it, as long as they are safe and clean. It is his way of discovering the world.