3 months

Your baby is learning to…

• Reach for dangling objects
• Kick their legs when laying on their back
• Hold their head up with some control
• Raise their head when placed on their tummy
• Roll over from back to front
• Smile or vocalise to initiate contact with others
• Laugh aloud
• Anticipate being lifted or moved

Reaching and Grasping

Baby becomes increasingly able to grasp an object placed into their hands. Encourage this by giving your baby interesting rattles and toys to hold regularly throughout the day whilst playing, in their car seat, or laying in their pram or stroller. Baby also begins to bat dangling objects and reach to grasp their toys. Encourage this by placing interesting objects around your baby’s play mat, hanging a mobile above the nappy change table, or laying your baby under an activity gym.

Have a Little Kick

No nappy time! Give your baby time on the floor to kick around without the restriction of their clothes or nappy (make sure they are still warm enough). Lay a plastic sheet under a towel to ensure that the flooring underneath is not wet by baby, and place your baby on the towel to kick around. This is a great opportunity to move freely and exercise their gross motor muscles.

Having a Look

Babies should be given at least 10 minutes across the day of tummy time from birth (lay your baby safely on a mat or blanket on the floor, face down). This helps to strengthen the muscles in their neck as they look up and around ‘tortoise-style’ to see what is happening around them. As your baby continues to practise, the muscles will become stronger, eventually leading to your baby being able to push their chest up off the ground with their hands. This is important in the lead up to your baby being able to crawl.

Rolling Along

Giving your baby time to roll on their play mat will assist them in developing this skill. Make sure the area is clear and free of unnecessary clutter to maximise baby’s space and movement opportunities.

Someone Smiled

To encourage your baby smiling, continue to place your own face close so that baby can watch your expressions and eventually copy you. After a while your baby will begin to smile at you as you speak to them or hold them, causing you to smile back. Once baby realises that they get a ‘smile response’ from you, they will be doing it all the time! Further stimulate your baby by talking gently and smiling at them as you speak. Have family and friends do the same and watch for baby’s reactions for the people they know best.

Going Somewhere?

Your baby has now started to develop trust in their main carers and will begin responding to being moved through their daily routine. Baby will start to put out their arms to be lifted, or will shift their weight to allow for easy pick-up. Remember to always tell your baby what you are about to do to further build trust and security.

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