Baby's Development (Birth to 3 months)

Wonder what's your baby up to at this stage? Here we share some guidelines from MumCentreMalaysia for your leisure reading :)

At 1 month

The first month is a wonderful period of discovery — discovering your baby’s likes and dislikes, your child discovering new sensations and sounds, and the both of you discovering each other

What your child might do

Physically and mentally • Moves head from side to side • Gazes at human faces • Can focus on objects up to about 12 inches away (without seeing details) • Blinks at bright lights • May follow an object with gaze but loses it after a while • Likes contrasting colors and patterns • Has strong reflexes • Brings hands to face • Turns towards familiar voices and sounds • Likes skin contact with closest caregivers • May smile at familiar faces Language and emotions • Responds to loud sounds • Cries if over or under-stimulated • Makes small cooing noises Feeding • If breast-fed: Most breastfed babies feed ‘on demand’, i.e. whenever hungry • If formula-fed: A one-month-old will usually drink about three to four ounces of milk per feeding (about 18 to 32 ounces a day) • May pass stools at least three times a day Sleep Your baby may have more established sleep-wake patterns, sleeping every two to three hours, awaking to feed then going to sleep again. Remember to place baby on his/ her back for bedtime! Your baby should be sleeping for at least 16 to 18 hours a day. However, some newborns tend to be more wakeful than others and this is perfectly normal. Ideal toys for this age • Child-safe music boxes • Child-safe activity mirrors • Stuffed toys (without sharp and/ or metal parts) Useful tips Give baby some tummy time so that he/ she can look at the world in a different way. Also, it’s never too early to begin reading to your child. Use a steady tone — but keep it expressive, low and comforting — to help strengthen the bond between you.

 At 2 months

You may begin noticing more dramatic changes in your baby, especially in gross-motor skills and how he/she responds to you. Be ready to snap these first, responsive smiles! What your child might do

Physically and mentally • Briefly lifts head • Smiles directly at familiar faces • Imitates facial expressions • Shows obvious liking for visual stimulation • Kicks and waves arms when excited • Begins unclenching fists • Correctly locates frontal sounds • Personality traits start becoming more obvious • May begin learning the relationship between cause and effect • May briefly hold a rattle Language and emotions • Gurgles and squeals when happy • Shows emotions more easily • May repeat vowel noises like “ooh” and “aah” Feeding • If breast-fed: May nurse at least once every three hours. Your breasts should feel softer after each feeding • If formula-fed: From now till the next few months, baby may drink about four to six ounces of milk per feeding (about 23 to 32 ounces a day) • May pass stools less often than during the first month Sleep Your baby should now be able to sleep for longer stretches in the night. Ideal toys for this age • Floor gyms (with kicking toys) • Activity mats Useful tips If you are a working mum, allow baby to spend more time with other caregivers such as the grandparents or babysitter. This allows them to establish a bond with baby before the end of your confinement period.

At 3 months

Has it been three months already? Your baby is now probably much more awake and alert than he/ she has ever been before this. Now is also a great “hands-on” time for play and learning!

For more parenting articles/tips, please visit MumCentreMalaysia's website.