Child Development at Three Months Old

As your baby enters the third month of her life, she will continue to develop her strength and become more aware of her body’s capabilities. Discover the various child development milestones at three months old and learn what to expect in this exciting stage.

According to Donna Eshelman, a movement specialist and the founder of Stellar Caterpillar, a company based in Los Angeles that focuses on assisting babies in achieving their gross motor milestones in the first year, the third month of your baby’s life is an important time in the development of their behavior.

According to Eshelman, “the first couple of months are really about feeling their bodies and focusing on sleeping and eating.” “The third month is when you should start to see the first signs of movement. The kicking becomes significantly more powerful and starts to take them somewhere, such as onto their stomachs. It marks a significant juncture in the story’s progression.”

Continue reading to find out more information about the third month and what you can anticipate happening during that time.

What You Should Anticipate During the Third Month

Your little one will start to laugh and babble around the third month, which is a very exciting time (so don’t forget to get the camera ready!). However, they will also start to develop hand-eye coordination, which will help your child accomplish something truly remarkable: they will develop the ability to roll over onto their stomach.

Your baby’s movements will become more deliberate and consistent as they experiment with new movements.

Head control.

According to the medical director of the Pediatric Care Center at Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, Kenneth Wible, M.D., “the most important thing is the head control that a baby gains.” “If you hold them upright, they should be able to keep their head still. If they can get their arms under them, they will occasionally be able to lift their heads.”

Use their hands more frequently.

Your infant will also use her hands more, and she may eventually bring both of them together in front of her. According to Dr. Wible, “If you give them a toy or something else that catches their eye, they won’t steal it, but they will hit it with their fist.”

Develop coordination with arms.

As the month progresses, your infant will continue to gain strength in his core and lower and upper extremities.”

During the third month, they put a lot of effort into developing their arm coordination; during this time, they also learn how to maintain control of their arms and increase their awareness. Toys that make noises can be very beneficial for them because it provides them with feedback about where their arms are.” Around the 33rd week of pregnancy, the baby may be seen rolling from back to tummy or vice versa, as described by Eshelman.

Every Infant Achieves Milestones At Their Own Pace

If your child appears to be behind in reaching certain gross motor milestones, you shouldn’t panic. According to Dr. Wible, it is not a cause for concern if a baby does not put his hands together or if he does not mean necessarily babble but makes other sounds. “Everything is done in their own time and at their own pace.”

However, if your infant’s arm or leg movements are asymmetrical or if he favors one extremity over the other, you should inform your doctor. According to Dr. Wible, this could be a sign of a central nerve injury; however, he says that at this age, he doesn’t like to dwell on red flags too much. “I’ve seen babies with warning signs who were ultimately healthy,” he says. “I’ve seen them turn out just fine.”

How You Can Assist in Your Child’s Development

You can help your child improve their motor skills in many ways. Although you may not be able to hasten your baby’s growth and development, you can make acquiring new motor skills enjoyable for you and your child. Here are some suggestions:

Playing on One’s Belly

Every day, you should spend a good amount of time putting your infant on his or her stomach. Eshelman says that this is a very significant point in time. “It’s almost like a cornerstone when it comes to motor development.” When babies do tummy time, the pressure of their hands on the floor helps to connect them to the muscles in their hands and shoulders, which helps them develop strength.

The benefits of the physical activity that your infant participates in now may become apparent in the future. After a while, between the ages of six and seven months, Eshelman says, “When they first sit up, they will have such beautiful posture if they have had a lot of practice..” The majority of the time, their parents will put them sitting up too soon, and because they do not have the strength, their spines will curve backward.

Discover together.

Your infant should be encouraged to become curious about their environment. He recommends that you “allow them to touch their feet to surfaces” and that you “challenge them with toys and attractive objects that encourage them to try to reach or grasp for something.”

Engaging in activities that require the use of one’s hands.

Toys that produce a sound in response to a baby’s movement, such as a rattle, are favored by Eshelman. “As opposed to something electronic that lights up when you push a button,” she says, “I prefer toys like this.” The movement of the hands and arms is helped along by the unplugged rattles, whereas the electrical toys help along the movement of the fingers. “It is important to choose rattles of a size that Baby can comfortably grasp. The ideal first rattle should have a straightforward maraca or barbell shape, “She goes on to say.

Consult with Your Physician

Talk to your family physician or pediatrician if you have concerns about your child’s growth and development. The United States Department of Health and Human Services recommends that parents take their newborns in for a well-child checkup no fewer than six times before the child’s first birthday. Your pediatrician will be able to track better when and how well your child reaches important developmental milestones if you do so.

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