How do you play with your 3 month old?

[Anonymous]

I sing songs and make faces and talk to her, but I'm really sort of confused about what I should be doing to play with my baby in between feeding and napping? She is 3 months old. Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

In addition to the things you list, we do tummy time, play on activity mats, and I also read books to her (which usually lasts only a couple minutes b/c she gets bored). Sometimes she just lays in her crib and watches the mobile. She likes to be held, and so I also just walk around carrying her and talking to her (here's Mommy's room, etc.).

[Anonymous]

I agree with the tummy time. We also sang songs songs, read and we did infant massage. I loved it since it was our special time after I came home from work and it helped her sleep through the night. Relish your time with your sweet little bundle. I miss rocking her in her room with soothing music!

[Anonymous]

Cuddle, talk, and sing. And cuddle some more.

[Anonymous]

One nice thing about the Sears Baby Book is that it has suggestions for different ways to play as baby gets older. Right now, though, sounds like you're doing just fine!

[Anonymous]

Get out of the house - not only for a change of scenery and fresh air, but even a simple trip to CVS or a walk around the block (do you have a rain cover for the stroller? Works well to keep the cold and wind out too!) is stimulating.

I also set our baby in the swing as I do chores around the house - vacuum, dust, fold the laundry, etc. It must be very fascinating to watch mommy fold socks because DD is so wide-eyed

[Anonymous]

Also, putting on some rhythmic music and having a little "dance party" is fun. Lay baby in the boppy or on back. Swing their legs and arms in circles or bring them together. Have them watch you make dance moves. You can also do "bicycle legs" moving their feet like a bicycle front and back. I usually do this while making up a story of how DC is "oh you're late for work, hurry up, get on your bike, bike to work! Oh, you forgot something, go backwards now!" etc. Its silly and he liked it. They are old enough to kick around at 3 mo. but sometimes showing them movements is cool.

Also, do things with other senses. Go around the house and feel things that are soft, rough, bumpy. Smell the spices in your pantry together.

[Anonymous]

I have a 3.5 month old. Her day pretty much consists of:

-- sitting in her Bumbo or bouncy seat while I talk to her/narrate what I'm doing (folding clothes, unloading dishwasher, etc.)
-- tummy time
-- playing on her play mat -- she really enjoys grabbing and kicking at it now.
-- lying in her crib watching her mobile
-- sitting on my lap while I talk to her, sing to her, tickle her, pull her up, help her stand, etc.
-- lying on a mat on the table doing the same things (I think she must like the height or view, b/c she loves this)
-- rocking (either just rocking and cuddling her or rocking and reading to her)
-- strolling or running errands.

And she's just starting to grab/hold onto/shake rattles and toys, so I spend a good bit of time offering her different toys and stuffed animals to see if she'll like them. She likes it when I make the little stuffed animals kiss her nose.

[Anonymous]

Around this time my DD really started enjoying looking at herself in the mirror. At around 3 months, she was just starting to notice herself in the mirror and now, at 4.5 months, she absolutely adores the mirror. She gets this HUGE smile everytime she sees herself, like she's quite smitten with what she's seeing. We spend a LOT of time hanging out by the bathroom mirror!