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3 To 6 Months - Your Baby Responds To Its Surroundings

As your baby grows, he will begin to make sounds like "bah-bah-bah", "da-da-da" and "ma-ma-ma". This is called babbling and is the beginning of meaningful speech. He will become more social, kicking his feet and waving his arms whenever he sees or hears someone he knows. If he hears a noise, he will turn his head toward the sound. It is important for you to be relaxed and cheerful as you care for him. You are sharing special moments of fun and love. Your touch and your voice are helping him to learn to relax and enjoy life.

Things Your Baby May Do

  • Reach for toys or people
  • Laugh out loud
  • Roll over
  • Turn toward a familiar voice
  • Hold head steady
  • Babble and coo
  • Notice small objects
  • Push up with arms while on stomach
  • Sit up straight with help
  • Begins to focus on patterns in black and white

SAFETY FIRST!

Hold your baby when you give him a bottle. Do not prop the bottle up with pillows or other objects.

When your baby can sit up, remove all toys that are strung across the crib. He might become tangled in the strings.

Remember: Handle your baby gently, even in play. Shaking a baby or jolting him by tossing him in the air can cause brain damage.

Toys You Can Make Or Buy

toy guitar
  • Small rattles
  • Fabric balls
  • Bright colored pictures to cut out and place on walls
  • Music boxes
  • Soft, squeaky toys
  • Cloth Books

stethoscopeHealth Hints:

Well Baby Check-ups: 4 months, 6 months

Your child may begin cutting new teeth.  This can make him very uncomfortable. He may run a temperature, have an upset "tummy," be fussy or cry. Offer him a teething ring which has been placed in the refrigerator. Be patient with him!

Things You Can Do Everyday To Help Your Baby Grow

Read to your baby. Cuddle your child in your lap and hold the book so both of you can see it. Change your voice to show happiness, sadness or other feelings as well as act out different characters in the story. Point to the characters in the book and talk about what they are doing.

Play peek-a-boo with her. Laugh when she laughs

Hold her in your arms and dance around slowly. She will enjoy the movement and closeness.

Make sure she is put in a safe place such as on a blanket when on the floor. Now she can move around freely and exercise her arms and legs.

When your baby hears sounds around the house, show and tell her what they are; for example, point out popcorn popping, music playing on the radio, birds singing or a plane flying high in the sky.

Soothe him when he cries.  First check to see if he is hungry or wet and take care of those needs.  If he still cries, rock him or walk with him cradled in your arms.  Rub his tummy or his back to ease him.  Sing or talk to him as you calm him.

Talk to her while she is awake. Share what you are doing; for example say: "Mama is sweeping the floor so that the house will be nice and clean."

Hang a mobile over your baby's bed that has pictures of you, your baby and your family. Change the mobile pictures to pictures of objects like trucks, dolls, animals or to simple patterns you draw in black, white or red. (See directions below for making a mobile.)

Making a Simple Mobile from Objects Found at Home

You will need:

  • Plastic clothes hanger
  • String - Cut in 6 inch lengths
  • Glue - A washable school glue
  • Plastic lids to coffee can or butter tubs
  • Pictures of family or pictures of objects - can be cut from a child's coloring book - Simple patterns in black, white or red are recommended for this age.

Directions:

  1. Glue pictures onto both side of the lids of the coffee can or butter tub. Make sure there are no rough edges on the lids.
  2. Punch a small hole at the top of the lid. Pull the string through the hole and tie it. (A dab of glue on the knot will keep the string from coming undone.)
  3. Tie the other end of the string to the middle and the ends of the clothes hanger.
  4. Hang the mobile so that your child can see it.