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Your 3-Month-Old Baby

Your 3-Month-Old Baby

Month 3

First Year

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Your 3-month-old baby starts revealing a personality and growing muscles.

Nutrients For You When Breastfeeding

Your Nutrition This Month

As breastfeeding mums, your diet and how you nourish your body matter.1 If you are breastfeeding, here are the essential vitamins and minerals you need:

Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is vital for the formation of red blood cells and producing energy. Where to find Vitamin B12? You can find Vitamin B12 in animal produce such as poultry and eggs.

Iron
Your iron levels may drop during breastfeeding. As such, replenishing your iron levels is important to prevent fatigue or an impaired immune system. Where to find Iron? Iron can usually be found in lean red meat and green leafy vegetables.

Calcium
As you might experience transient bone loss while breastfeeding, taking in calcium helps to build and maintain bone health. Where to find Calcium? Common sources of calcium include nuts and dairy foods such as milk and cheese.

Breastmilk Is Best For Your 3-Month-Old Baby

Breastmilk is best for babies. Consult your doctor before deciding to use infant formula or if you have difficulties breastfeeding.

3-Month-Old Baby Development

Your Baby’s Development

Your 3-month-old baby will spend a large amount of time entertaining himself with his hands. Most of the time, his hands will be open. The act of opening and closing them, as well as staring at them, will be almost as fun for your baby as exploring his stuffed animals.

While it may look like its all fun and games, your baby is also working on strengthening his hand muscles. In five to six months, he should be able to pick up toys. To help him along, put a rattle in his hand, and gently tug on it; this also helps him build muscle.

Your Emerging Social Butterfly

Your 3-month-old baby is becoming quite social, taking in more and more of the world around him.

Help him get more acquainted:

  • Carry him in a cuddled “sitting” position and showing him lights or brightly coloured objects.
  • Rock him in a rocking chair while talking softly and looking into his eyes.
  • Sing quietly to him before bed.
  • Give him different textures to feel, such as stuffed animals, plastic toys, or pieces of terry cloth or rubber. Since your baby may put the objects in his mouth, make sure they’re not too small and that the pieces can’t be torn off and swallowed.
  • Have enough quiet times. Babies need some quiet time to babble, play, and explore their world, so don’t leave a radio, TV, or stereo on for long periods.
  • Look in mirrors. Put a non-breakable metal or plastic baby mirror in the crib or playpen. Show him the mirrors around your home.
  • Prop him up so he can watch what goes on around him.

In general, by the end of his third month, here are some developments you can start looking for:

  • The ability to hold his head up steadily.
  • “Coo” and “goo” noises as well as other sounds.
  • Interest in reaching for familiar objects.
  • Focuses on closely held objects and follows them from side to side.

Don’t Make Comparisons

You shouldn’t be concerned if your baby does something later or earlier than your friend’s children. Children learn best and build confidence when you let them learn at their own pace, but if you’re truly concerned, check with your paediatrician.

Establishing Sleep Patterns For Your 3-Month-Old Baby

By 3 to 4 months old your baby should be sleeping for five-to-six hour stretches during the night.

Some tips and tricks

  • Establish a before-bed routine, whether it’s gently rocking him in your arms or stroking his back and arms.
  • Wait until he’s groggy, but still awake; then lay him in his crib, say “good night,” turn off the light, and leave the room.
  • If he cries, wait a few minutes before returning.
  • If he continues to cry, go back in the room (leaving the light off), rub him, and talk to him in a soothing voice until he quiets down, then say “good night” and leave the room again.
  • If he still continues to cry, check for a wet diaper, vomiting, fever, or other signs that he’s in distress. If his diaper needs changing, try to do it quickly and quietly, without taking him out of the crib and stimulating him too much. If he doesn’t need a diaper change (and he’s not ill), gently rub his back and talk to him in a soothing voice until he calms down, then say “good night” and leave the room.
  • If he begins to cry again, repeat this pattern until he falls asleep.
  • Whenever possible, try not to run to him on his first cry – if it’s a cry of distress or continues for a few minutes, investigate.

It may take a few days, but he’ll get the hang of it. Establishing this skill when your baby is still young will help prevent bedtime battles later.

References:
¹ Diet for Breastfeeding Mothers, Abbott Family. Available at https://abbottfamily.com.sg/articles/nutrition/diet-for-breastfeeding-mothers

SG.2022.27106.PND.1 (v1.1)

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The information on this website is provided for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Always consult your healthcare professional for medical advice.

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