Encouraging Healthy Development - Healthy Development Ideas - 3 Months

Incredible growth occurs during the first three years of a child’s life. There are many things you can do to support and nurture healthy development during this time. Below, we’ve listed some specific activities to help a 3-month-old baby develop and grow.

Moving - Physical or Motor Development

Cuddle and touch your baby gently.
Put baby on his/her back to sleep during naps and at night.
Have Tummy Time: Place your baby on his/her tummy when he/she is awake and put toys nearby, and encourage your baby to lift his/her head up by holding toys at eye level.
Give your baby something to reach for and hold onto such as your finger or a toy.
Hold your baby upright with his/her feet on the floor or on your lap.
Use toys that are soft, safe for infants and colorful to attract your baby's attention.

Talking - Communication and Language Development

Watch your baby to learn his/her signals – does your baby cry when hungry, rub his/her eyes when tired or look away when he/she wants to do something different?
Imitate your baby’s sounds and act excited and smile when he makes sounds.
Talk, read and sing to your baby.
Respond to your baby’s cries and coos.

Interacting - Social and Emotional Development

Help your baby calm himself/herself by guiding his/her fingers to his/her mouth, giving a pacifier or offering a favorite blanket or soft object.
Cuddle, talk and play with your baby while feeding, dressing or bathing.
Hold your baby when feeding and also enjoy some skin-on-skin time.
Comfort your baby whenever he/she cries.
Establish a routine such as regular bedtime and naps, and feeding on demand.

Thinking - Cognitive Development

Provide interesting things to look at.
Talk to your baby as you move about the room.
Read and sing to your baby.
Play peek-a-boo.
Watch how your baby is discovering his/her body – looking at hands, sucking on feet, arching back and trying to roll.

If you have concerns about a child's development and think a child might need extra help to learn and grow, don't hesitate to refer a child.

The family will be contacted by the local school district to arrange for a screening or evaluation to determine if their child is eligible for Infant and Toddler Intervention or Preschool Special Education services in Minnesota.

Refer a Child

Services are free!

Regardless of:

Income
Immigration Status