All Things Month 3

Information is for month three of baby’s life.  I am in no way a doctor, medical professional, or even experienced in child care.  This is just information that I have gathered from books, websites, my pediatrician, and hearsay.  The time schedules and suggestion of eat/wake/sleep cycles are from Babywise.  The progression of development is from What to Expect the First Year.  Feeding amounts are the recommendations from my doctor.  Everything else is from various websites and friends.

Feeding/wake/sleeping:

• 28 – 32 ounces in 24 hours
• Baby’s sleep stretches one hour for every week of age
  • For example, at 5 weeks old, a baby can sleep 5 hours.  At 6 weeks old, a baby can sleep 6 hours. Etc.
• The first and last feeding of the day are the two strategic feedings.
  • It doesn’t matter what schedule your baby is on, all other feed-wake-sleep cycles will fall within those two “fixed” feeding times.
  • Need to remain consistent
• Between 7 and 10 weeks, the 8 feeding cycles will merge into 7
  • Middle-of-the-night feed is dropped
  • Baby begins sleeping 8 hours a night
  • Decide the time for the first morning feeding
  • Below is an example schedule

• Between 10 and 15 weeks, the 7 feeding cycles will merge into 6
  • Late evening feed is dropped
    • If baby is difficult to wake for this feeding or shows a lack of interest, these are good indicators that baby is ready to drop this feeding
    • Gradually move the late evening feeding time backward by 15 minutes each day until you meet the time that you want baby to go to bed
  • Sleep stretches to 10 – 12 hours
  • This phase continues until baby starts solid foods, sometime between 4.5 and 6 months old
  • Baby’s wake times are significantly longer
  • Below is an example schedule

 

By the end of month three, baby may be able to:

• Lift head 45 degrees while on tummy
• Kick and straighten legs while on back
• Bring hands to mouth
• All things from 1-2 weeks
• Things accomplished in month 1
• Things accomplished in month 2

 

Activities you can do with baby:

• Pop goes the weasel
• Two step or waltz with baby on hip
• Various drums

• Let baby kick and splash in tub
• Sitting pretty

• Peek-a-boo
• Play telephone with baby and have a conversation with her
• Use a flashlight and have baby follow the beam of light
• Prop baby’s bum up while she is on her back with a pillow or rolled towel. Put colorful socks or foot rattles on baby’s feet, so she looks down.
• Place a soft toy on baby’s chest for him to look down and study.
• Position baby in an activity gym so that the toys are hanging above the belly and feet. Baby may look down or kick toys with feet.
• Lay baby over a boppy with baby toys in front of her so she can grasp and play with the various toys.
• Brush baby’s “teeth” with an infant toothbrush.  This will play on baby’s touch senses.

• Tuck a piece of tissue paper under the cushion of a couch.  Place baby on back in front of the tissue paper wall with feet touching the tissue paper.  Knees should be slightly bent to encourage baby to kick the crinkly paper.
• Place a bath toy in a shallow pan of water.  Lay baby on a boppy tummy down (chest on boppy and hands in front) in front of the pan of water.  Allow her to splash and push the toy around.
  • Can also lay baby to where her feet are in the water, so that kicking causes splashing.
• Place a bin of fresh herbs in front of baby laying in tummy time or side-lying position.  Allow baby to feel and smell the herbs.  Make sure to wash her little hands after this activity.
• 1-2 Week activities
• Month 1 Activities
• Month 2 Activities