A Baby 3-6 Months

Growth and Development
By three months babies become more visually alert and are attracted by nearby objects that move or are brightly coloured. Curtains, leaves, shadows, mobiles, etc. will be studied intently for a few minutes. You will notice that they now put their hands together over the chest and study them thoughtfully. They will then put them into the mouth for further exploration.

At about the same time babies will begin to produce more saliva and dribbling will increase.

Progressively they become aware of, and explore, other parts of the body - chest, genitals, knees, toes, and such. Slowly they learn 'what is me and what is not'.

Some time during these three months, babies will learn to turn over from tummy to back. Imagine their delight when, after practising for weeks, they finally succeed and the entire view of their surroundings changes. The ability to roll over and move will develop more quickly (and safely) on a firm stable surface such as the floor rather than a bouncy soft bed.

At first they may cry for you to help turn them back, but they soon learn to do this for themselves and can move very quickly.

Most babies of this age will sleep less during the day than they did previously, but probably for longer periods at night.

Teeth
Teeth are beginning to form in the baby’s gums well before birth. Eruption times, sizes and shapes of teeth are determined by inherited make-up. Babies may be born with a tooth, or may be still toothless at 12 months and, whichever way, it really doesn’t matter. What does matter is the exposure to any sweetened fluid or food such as honey, condensed milk, sugared fruit juices, sweet biscuits or sweetened milk, etc. These foods favour development of acid in the mouth, which can attack tooth enamel and is the major cause of early dental decay.

Babies are conditioned by what they are given to eat and drink. These early feeding patterns tend to remain throughout life. For example, if all the fluids are sweetened, babies cannot be blamed for preferring them to water.

Baby as a Social Being
Most babies will be starting to develop their own distinctive personality by now. They may be placid, impatient, easygoing or demanding. Most parents find that they feel differently towards each of their children. Possibly to some extent this is because each child is different and responds in an individual way. It is important to realise that babies bring their own personal contribution to the baby-parent relationship.

Probably the most outstanding characteristic is their friendly, social behaviour towards everybody.

So sociable are they that sometimes babies of this age seem almost to prefer playing to eating. Somehow they never come to very much harm and in the quieter hours of feeding take enough food to maintain good nutrition - though weight increase may slow down for a few weeks.

If their experience has been consistent with prompt response to their cries, they will have learnt that they get fed when they are hungry, cuddled when in need of comfort or reassurance and so on.

Four-month-old babies may stop crying and even smile when parents are seen or heard approaching, knowing that their needs will be attended to, and so begin to develop a sense of trust.

Learning Through Play
What is fascinating about being a parent is watching and helping babies to learn about themselves, their surroundings and what can be done with them. Most babies, provided they are given the opportunity, will show determined repetition of any new activity until its possibilities have been exhausted.

Before three months, anything put in the hand only provided experience in touching. From now on, babies will grasp and take objects straight to the mouth, using this as a means of investigation. This is the first example of using the mouth as an important means of learning.

The opportunity to learn is obviously reduced by excessive use of a dummy. Later, babies will examine things visually and match the information acquired from touching, mouthing and watching. They will now reach out to touch bright interesting objects, and toys that make a noise will be shaken deliberately.

Opportunities to look, touch, mouth and listen will help them to learn, and practising helps develop coordination.

Interruptions when playing contentedly alone (although welcomed by babies) tend to encourage the need to be entertained by other people rather than to play by themselves.

Playthings which match the baby’s developing skills will provide stimulation and enjoyment, e.g. bright colourful objects suspended within baby’s field of vision, strings of rattles stretched across the pram or bassinet (within reaching distance), a soft ball or ‚texture block’ to grasp, a small lightweight rattle to hold, etc.

All toys need to be durable, washable, with smooth edges, and have no small beads or bells that could be swallowed. The average baby’s grasp is strong and they are quick and persistent. Cuddly toys are best stuffed with old nylon stockings. Crumbed plastic foam may be unsafe as children push pieces up their noses or ears, or may even choke if it is swallowed. Fur toys are best deferred until babies are older because of the intense interest in mouthing.

Sounds are interesting now and babies’ own vocalising is a new game. They will deliberately set about engaging attention by smiling and ‚talking’. Their enjoyment is matched by adults, because their obvious love of people is hard to resist.

Because babies enjoy them, bouncinettes and recliner chairs are frequently used. They are cool and easily carried. For short periods they can be useful, but they are no real substitute for being held.

For baby, a rug on the floor is the best place to exercise, learn how to control muscles and practise new skills. Baby walkers are not recommended because they do not allow this to happen. They can also be dangerous.

From this outline, it is evident that the baby’s own priorities are something like the following:

• First and most important - people
• Then the opportunity to learn and practise developing skills
• Safety, which is linked with development in early childhood.
• Understanding development patterns helps parents to anticipate the necessary precautions that must be taken to provide for their baby’s safety.

Safety
Between the ages of three and six months, babies learn to reach out and pick up objects, put things in the mouth, lift the head, sit with support and roll over.

To Keep Your Child Safe

• Always place your child in an approved child restraint every time you go out in the car.
• Never leave your child unattended on a change table, bed, chair or table, at a supermarket check- out or in a car.
• Never drink tea or coffee or smoke a cigarette with your baby on your knee.
• Protect baby from passive smoke as well as from the dangers of lighted cigarettes.
• Cigarettes are dangerous - if eaten, medical attention should be sought immediately.
• Always restrain your child in a highchair, shopping trolley or pusher to prevent falls.
• Never leave your child alone in the house when you go out.
• Always be present when your child is chewing 'finger foods’.
• Provide only safe toys.
• Make certain your child receives all the recommended vaccination.