Baby Care Encyclopedia

Three-month-olds commonly have calm, wakeful periods of up to 45 minutes, and by six months of age, many babies stay awake for stretches of two or three hours. As babies spend more time awake, the opportunities for interaction with parents, sib­lings, and caregivers increase dramatically. These periods of playful give-and-take can be a source of endless fun for everyone involved. They are also vital to the baby’s physical, mental, social, and emotional development.

Babies are fascinated with objects that move and make noises, and they love to touch, grasp, shake, and pull whatever they can. They are also fascinated with people and enjoy watching their gestures and facial expressions. Here are a few examples of games that will delight your baby and stimulate her development:

•  Hold a toy so that the baby can reach for and grasp it. Start by holding the toy close to the baby’s chest and directly in front of her eyes. As early as three months of age, the baby will bat at the toy. When she is a month or two older, increase the challenge by holding the toy farther away and to the side so that she will need to turn and reach.

•  Hold your hands a few inches from the baby’s feet to provide a kicking target. Alternatively, suspend a rattle or some other noise-making toy over the crib, low enough for the baby to kick. (To prevent accidents, be sure to remove such toys as soon as the baby is able to raise her head and chest, which happens at about five months of age.)

•  Help the baby gain better head control by pulling her from a reclining into a sitting position. Lay the baby face-up and grasp the wrists in each of your hands. Then gently draw the baby by the arms into a sitting position, holding his or her gaze as you do so. By the fifth month, you may be also able to pull the baby onto her feet.

•  Take the baby on a tour around your apartment or house; stop in front of the mirror and other eye-catching objects and give explanations.

•  When your baby is watching you, make slow, deliberate movements (puffing out your cheeks, clapping your hands) that she can imitate. Begin by clapping the baby’s hands together yourself. When the baby makes cooing or spluttering noises, repeat them back to him or her.

Toys   For  Three-   To   Six-Month-Olds

As a baby becomes more interested in objects, she can get much more enjoyment from toys. Here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing play objects for babies aged three to six months.

?  Pick bright, colorful toys, particularly those that have red and blue, the two colors that babies seem to prefer.

?  Look for toys that make interesting sounds.

?  Provide toys that are the right size for the baby to hold and grasp.

?  Avoid toys that have separate or detachable parts that may come off in the baby’s mouth.

?  Avoid toys that have sharp points and edges.

?  Give one toy at a time to avoid confusing the baby.

?  Choose toys that are somewhat similar to each other. Babies like things that are familiar. It may take a few weeks for a baby to show an interest in a new toy that bears no resemblance to any of his or her older toys.