Train your baby's brain at 3 months old
He now recognises familiar faces. Expect him to start gurgling – it’s his way of trying to talk.
What He Can Do
He’s fascinated by features and may want to reach out and touch you. Babies are prone to explore everything with their mouths as there are more nerve endings there than anywhere else. He can turn his head towards a sound and will watch you when you talk. His hand-eye co-ordination is starting to develop and he may attempt to get hold of his toys. He will also be captivated by his hands and may spend ages examining them.
How To Encourage Him
Now is the time to start reading to him. He will love the rhythmic sound of your voice. Vary your tone and get into character with funny voices. The temporal lobe – the section of the brain that governs language, hearing and smell – is becoming more developed. Research shows that babies who are read to at an early age have more advanced verbal skills. Talk to him about any tasks you’re doing. You may not think it, but it’s all going in and being absorbed by his developing brain.
The right toys for now
Invest in brightly-coloured books with big images. They will see him right through his first year. Touch and feel books are good, too, as he will love everything tactile. You can even make a touch-toy by stitching together different fabrics. Keep those little hands busy with hand-friendly toys like rattles and soft, squishy cubes. A baby gym that he lies under will also keep him nicely occupied.
Take it a step further
‘Build his sense of humour – a key to social interaction and bonding. Babies have a natural love of slapstick comedy. Indulge it by pulling funny faces and pretending to fall over – nothing is too silly. Make sound effects too.’
Have a look at our Baby Stages to see how your 3 month old is developing