Month 3
Choose your topic
Menu
Menu
Choose your topic
Maybe you’ve already developed something like a routine – or maybe not. Or maybe the rhythm you thought you’d found has disappeared from one day to the next. That is quite normal: your baby is continually going through big changes – so-called growth spurts – which are often accompanied by new abilities, but also new challenges.
Most babies now have a reduced need for sleep and the waking phases increase accordingly. During this time, they curiously explore the world, but also themselves. Babies find their hands and feet, for example, extremely interesting: your baby may be fascinated by the movements of their own hands and like to put them in their mouth again and again. This is because the “oral phase” begins around the third month. It is an important developmental step in which children experience the world with the mouth as an organ of touch. Babies put everything they can get their hands on into their mouths. That’s why it’s important to be vigilant: small objects such as marbles or button batteries are easily swallowed and can be dangerous. Baby-friendly toys such as rattles, teething rings or animals made of child-safe rubber, on the other hand, satisfy the baby’s curiosity in a safe way.
All these new impressions support brain development, but can sometimes also cause to your baby to be more restless and sleep more irregularly, cry more often and suddenly get much more clingy. This can be a sign that they are emotionally challenged at the moment and therefore needs even more closeness.
Your child has continued to put on weight and some babies now have the famous “baby fat”: a round face, full cheeks and adorably chubby arms and legs. But as already mentioned: Not all children are the same and even a thinner, more delicate child can be a healthy child as long as they are within their percentile.
Some babies suffer from the infamous “three-month colic” during this period. These abdominal complaints don’t last that long – they’re named after the point in time at which they usually emerge. Why babies often suffer from abdominal pain during this time has not been conclusively clarified. One reason may be hasty drinking, which causes too much air to enter the stomach and trigger discomfort. Very gentle abdominal massages in a clockwise direction or a hot water bottle can help. Most babies also like it when they can kick their feet against something – for example your hands or a pillow. If you feel that your symptoms are getting worse, ask a medical professional for advice: Even if the colic is usually harmless, in rare cases something else can be the cause of the discomfort.
Water is a fascinating element for babies. Whether it’s experiencing how the water splashes in the bathtub when you splash it with your hands or how it feels to be completely weightless in a large swimming pool. Dedicated baby swimming courses are usually offered from around three months. It’s not about the baby learning to swim, but simply the joy of water and a bonding activity for babies and parents. However, if your baby doesn’t enjoy the water in the bath, it’s probably too early and you’d better wait a little longer until your baby is ready.
During this time, some parents also ask themselves whether it is best for the baby to sleep in bed with their parents, in their own bed or in their own room. There is no “right” or “wrong” answer here: the important thing is that the sleeping situation is right for everyone! Whether it’s in their own bed in their parents’ room (“co-sleeping”), in the same bed as their parents (“co-bedding”) or in their own room: the main thing is that the baby feels safe and secure, that they don’t get too warm and that there is no risk of them pulling a blanket, pillow or large cuddly toy over their face. It is also recommended that babies sleep on their backs. Sometimes different sleeping options need to be tested until you find one that suits everyone best.