In the third month of life, the baby is already beginning to actively learn about the world around him. First of all, he examines his face, eyes, and mouth with his hands; knows how to distinguish a conversation from other sounds, and also begins to recognize different family members. At this age, the child is already “grazing horses” – for 10-15 seconds he can hold the head, lying on his tummy and trying to sit down if someone pulls up the handles. It is from three months that the period of active socialization and interaction with the surrounding environment begins.
Physical development
At three months of age, the baby is already about 800 grams and 3 centimeters larger than the previous month of life. It is also important during this period to pay attention to the size of the head – its circumference should increase by 1 cm and be compared with the chest contour. If this does not happen or the glans grows too quickly – you should consult with a pediatrician. Although usually, these figures are leveled in the fourth month.
The large crown of a three-month-old baby does not yet have bone tissue, so it is still open, but already noticeably smaller in size compared to previous months. It does not pulsate, soft and not tense. You should not be “afraid” of this part of the body, it can be touched and should be washed, like other areas.
Attention and movements
The three-month-old child is already actively smiling, thus showing his needs and sympathies. The baby already examines human faces with attention, especially the area of the nose and forehead. Lying on the tummy, the baby at three months old is already trying to raise the chest, leaning his hands on the base.
In general, at this age, the movements of the baby are already more coordinated and purposeful. The grasping reflex disappears, the palm straightens and the child already reaches out to take the toy.
From this period, it is worth starting to prepare the apartment for frequent tests “to taste”, because it is from three months that the child actively learns the surrounding objects through taste. Therefore, everything that falls into the hands or, even, in the field of view, most often passes the “tasting”. It is not worth striving for absolute sterility of all things in the house, because the baby must adapt to microrganisms, the usual absence of dust and dirt is usually enough. However, it is worth taking care of the inaccessibility for the child of small, sharp, prickly objects, medicines, household chemicals, as well as everything that can break, in any way injure the baby or what the child can swallow.
From the age of three, parents already notice behind their son or daughter the ability to notice movements and sounds and concentrate on them. For example, the baby turns his head and gaze towards an interesting or new sound and follows with his eyes an object of bright color that moves slowly.
Baby’s sleep in the third month
During the third month, the baby’s sleep is still uneven. The child often wakes up suddenly, which sometimes scares parents, but you should not be afraid – this is absolutely normal for babies of this age. Moreover, you should not shout at the baby or create other stressful situations due to which the child gets excited and finally wakes up. Interrupting sleep can make a child into a habit, which is then very difficult to get rid of.
If you do not show excessive fright or emotionality, but give the child time to calm down and fall asleep, then over time a conditioned reflex of restful sleep is formed and sleep becomes less intermittent and calmer.
In order for the child to fall asleep faster, you should take care of sufficient activity during wakefulness, but not immediately before bedtime. The general rule: the baby should be tired enough to want to sleep, but not be overexcited due to excessive activity just before bedtime. Also, do not use a crib for games or any activity – it should be associated in the child exclusively with sleep, so that over time the installation of “sleep” will be formed while in the crib.
Language
Such desirable first “mom” and “dad” to hear from a three-month-old child is unlikely to succeed, but the baby is increasingly willing to communicate. New sounds, intonations appear, the baby listens more to the surrounding sounds and begins to respond to them.
Often the desire to communicate arises alone when the baby accompanies the game with sounds. According to some studies, this is due to the temperament of the child – babies who like to talk alone during the game grow calmer.
From three months it is worth actively stimulating the infant’s communication skills and the desire to communicate:
- talk to the baby during the game;
- accompany your actions with words, telling your baby what you do when caring for a child or spending time together;
- turn on the music for the child so that the baby gets used to the different sounds and learns to feel the rhythm.
Medical support
In addition to a routine examination by a pediatrician, a three-month-old child should be examined by a neurologist, an optometrist and an orthopedist. If the pediatrician considers it necessary, then the baby should be shown to other specialists. Do not be afraid if the child was prescribed drugs for the prevention of rickets and anemia – this does not necessarily mean that the disease already exists, usually at this age – this is only a preventive measure.
At three months, control blood and urine tests should also be done and prepared for vaccinations against pertussis, polio, diphtheria and tetanus. It is administered with DTP vaccine at the end of the third month after examination by doctors, if there are no contraindications and the baby feels satisfactory.
Vaccination should not be neglected, because it is an effective method for preventing a number of infectious diseases that are common in Ukraine. There is no cure for some of them, for example, for tetanus, so the vaccine is the only method of protection against a deadly disease.
Finally, we note that it is worth remembering the individual characteristics of development and in no case panic if the weight, height or skills of a child at three months are somewhat different from those described in our material. We indicate the average values and guidelines, but by no means the exact framework into which the baby should fit. It is necessary to be attentive to the baby, teach him to explore the world, help him adapt to the environment, and discuss everything that worries in the process of development with a pediatrician.
Natalia Kuzio
