By the time he’s 3 months old, your baby has become very aware of the world around him. He shows interest in people and things, his eyes will follow moving objects and he recognizes familiar sounds and voices. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, these are all important sensory milestones for your baby at 3 months, and it’s so exciting to watch the changes that happen almost daily.
Here are more details about those sensory milestones and information on how you can help support your child through this period:
And read
our guide to developmental milestones for kids
.
Eyesight and Visual Processing
Christine Doucet, an infant massage and development instructor at the Center for Families, says that babies will first look at objects only with their eyes, but will start turning their heads to follow objects at about 3 months old. Your baby is still nearsighted, meaning he can only see objects that are close to him, but that means more attention for you. “Children prefer faces,” Doucet says. “They will be more interested in your face than in any other objects.” You’ll notice your child staring at you a lot, especially when you’re holding him, which Doucet says is just him learning and taking it in.
At the end of this period, your baby is beginning to use his hands and eyes in coordination, and he’ll try to hold on to things. He still doesn’t have much control over his grip, but he’ll reach for objects that you hold in front of him. Be careful if you wear glasses — he’ll be grabbing for those all the time!
Sound and Sensation
Your baby at 3 months is recognizing sounds and even trying to imitate them. If he hears something, he’ll turn his head in the direction of the sound, and he’ll smile when he hears your voice. He’ll also turn his head toward smells that he likes, and turn away from smells he doesn’t like. He’ll recognize your smell, too, which can comfort him when he is upset. And while you’re still feeding him either breast milk or formula, KidsHealth.org says that babies at this age actually have quite the sweet tooth — which is exactly why he likes breast milk or formula so much!
At this age, your baby also really likes soft tactile sensations, such as the feel of your skin against his. This is a great time to introduce games such as “This Little Piggy” and to give him a lot of differently textured toys to play with.
How to Support Your Child’s Sensory Development
Doucet explains that you can help your baby adjust to the new world around him by massaging him. “Touch is the most important thing to a baby because it is the sense that is the most developed for them,” she says. Dr. Janis Halpern, a pediatrician at Margiotti & Kroll Pediatrics, recommends lots of skin-to-skin contact for tactile stimulation, such as hugging, holding and kissing your baby.
Your baby can’t see very far yet, so play games with him by holding objects that are brightly colored or high-contrast near his face. As he gets a little older, you can move them around for him to follow with his eyes. Dr. Halpern adds that mobiles are great visual stimulation for young babies.
Even though your baby is beginning to use his hands, he’s still not very coordinated. Both Doucet and Dr. Halpern suggest helping your baby to soothe himself through oral stimulation. For example, you can help direct your baby’s fingers toward his mouth, or give him a pacifier.
You’re already talking, reading and singing to your baby, so keep it up. Now that he is starting to recognize and make sounds, it’s even more important to his development. He will also start to imitate some of the sounds he hears, so get close to him so he can see you. And make his sounds back to him — it will really excite him.
For more, check out this Overview of
3-Month-Old Milestones
.
Bev Feldman is a parent and blogger in the Boston area. She has a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and has worked in the fields of early childhood education and family support.
