In the first few months of a baby’s life, they are learning so much! As a parent or caregiver, you probably wonder how you can help a 3-month-old baby’s development. In this post, I will share sensory and learning activities that are fun and appropriate for a 3-month-old.
It’s important to remember that every baby develops at their own pace. These activities are developmentally-appropriate for babies 2 months to 4 months old (and beyond!). Explore the milestones for 3-month-olds below for more information.
Every baby will have their own preferences and things they enjoy. Pay close attention to your baby while you play together. You’ll quickly discover the types of activities they enjoy. I recommend learning about the benefits of sensory play for babies and stages of play theory too!
Always closely supervise your baby while they play!
Gross Motor Activities
Skills Targeted:Moving arms and legs, swiping at toys, holding head up during tummy time, lifting onto elbows/forearms during tummy time, bringing hands to mouth
- Place toys or folded blankets under a blanket for baby to explore during tummy time.
- Prop baby on a pillow or Boppy pillow during tummy time.
- Create a sensory bag with large heavy-duty ziplock bags, water, and floating toys. Tape to the floor for baby to explore during tummy time.
- Hang loofahs, scarves, or toys on a baby play gym for baby to reach for and pull.
- Adjust a baby gym so baby can move objects with feet and legs.
- Place toys just out of reach for baby to stretch towards.
- Place a toy in baby’s outstretched hand for them to pull towards their body.
- Ball up a scarf or blanket gently in your hand. Let baby grab one end and pull. (Similar to pulling a tissue out of a box.)
- Hold a rolling pin in front of baby. Encourage baby to bat or swipe the object to make it spin. This can also work with other toys that spin or twirl.
A 3-month-old baby is still building the neck strength to hold their head with control. They build control and strength in their arms to reach for toys and lift up during tummy time. A 3-month-old is also developing the torso strength and body control to eventually roll over.
Fine Motor Activities
Skills Targeted:Swiping at toys, noticing own hands, holding toys
- Place toys in baby’s hand for them to grip.
- Offer a blanket, loofah, hat, silk scarf, or mitten for baby to squeeze.
- Create baby treasure baskets to encourage baby to explore.
- Different toys that are the same color
- Toys that are the same shape (ball, links, round toy food)
- Toys of various textures (sensory blocks, sensory balls, o-balls)
- Toys that make sounds (rattles, instruments, keys, crinkle toys)
- Toys that are made of the same materials (wood, plastic, silicone, metallic)
Babies will develop gross motor skills before they can refine fine motor skills. Spending time on the floor exploring how their arms and legs move will help a baby learn to use and control their hands. 3-month-olds are practicing opening and closing their hands. They are also learning to hold toys that caregivers hand them.
Language Activities
Skills Targeted:Smiling, making eye contact, cooing and making new sounds, making sounds back and forth with others, watching faces
- While baby plays on the floor, narrate what they see or do.
- “I see you smiling. Do you like playing with your toy?”
- “You’re looking at the teddy bear. Do you want to touch it?”
- Talk to baby about your day as you cuddle.
- When baby coos or makes noises, pause and respond with a complete sentence.
- Label important object during care routines, such as bottles, diapers, and blankets.
At 3 months old, a baby learns to use nonverbal actions and sounds to interact with others. By watching a caregiver’s face, a baby memorizes the facial and mouth movements people use to communicate. They will begin to serve and return sounds to learn the rhythm of conversations.
Social-Emotional Activities
Skills Targeted:Smiling, chuckling, making eye contact/sounds/movements to catch someone’s attention, calming when soothed, turning towards voices, watching faces, noticing own hands, bringing hands to mouth, making sounds back and forth with others
- Hold baby up to the mirror or prop a mirror up for tummy time.
- “Look that’s [baby’s name]. That’s you!”
- Use clear contact paper to seal photographs to the floor or on the wall at baby’s eye level. This can be photos of family members and pictures from magazines.
- Hold up baby dolls or stuffed animals for baby to see. Identify facial features and body parts.
- Describe your actions during care routines.
- “We are washing the milk off your chin.”
- “I’m putting socks on your cold feet.”
- Use baby’s name often and label items in the environment that belong to baby.
- Name baby’s emotions and describe how you will help them calm.
Along with language skills, a 3-month-old baby is developing social skills such as smiling, reacting to voices, and making eye contact. 3-month-olds are slowly learning to manage emotions when comforted by caregivers. They are also building self-awareness as they show interest in their own hands and bring their hands to their mouths.
Cognitive Activities
Skills Targeted:Swiping at toys, watching toys and movement in the environment, noticing own hands, bringing hands to mouth, making eye contact/sounds/movements to catch someone’s attention
- Explore cause-and-effect by offering baby toys that make noise or move when touched.
- Hold a toy in front of baby’s face and slowly move it back and forth.
- Show and describe to baby how toy cars and balls roll. Then place them within baby’s reach.
- Describe how baby feels and what will happen next.
- “Your belly hurts a little because you are hungry. I’m warming up your bottle, and then you can eat. You will feel better soon.”
- “The pacifier fell out of your mouth, and you still want it. I’ll find you another one.”
A 3-month-old baby is learning how they can impact their environment. They will observe their environment to learn about objects and routines. They are just learning to use their body to solve problems, like stretching an arm toward a toy. 3-month-olds also start understanding cause and effect. They discover how their sounds, actions, and smiles make caregivers respond. For example, a smile and a coo can get an adult to smile and talk back.
Sensory Activities
Skills Targeted:Moving arms and legs, swiping at toys, turning head to sounds, watching toys and movement in the environment, bringing hands to mouth, holding toys
- Place baby on different textured surfaces for tummy time, such as blankets, yoga mats, playmats, or flooring.
- Offer baby toys made from various materials, not just smooth plastic.
- Securely tape different textures of ribbons, cords, or yarn to the floor for baby to touch and pull.
- Gently rock baby while you hold them.
- Move play time to a different room so baby can experience different lighting. Adjust lighting by opening or closing curtains or moving light sources.
- Chill toys (such as teething toys) in the refrigerator before offering them to baby.
- Soak toys (such as teething toys) in warm water before offering them to baby.
- Offer baby a wet washcloth or sponge to squeeze.
- Offer baby toys that jangle, jingle, crinkle, or make other noises.
A 3-month-old baby is still new to the world, so all experiences are sensory experiences. Babies begin to build awareness of how their body exists in space at this age. They are developing the use of their hands to hold and explore objects. 3-month-olds will react to sounds in their environment and focus on moving objects.
Literacy Activities
Skills Targeted:Watching books and movement of pages turning, smiling, cooing and making other sounds, reaching towards book
- Create a daily routine that includes reading a book, such as before bed or after a meal.
- Prop an open board book in front of baby during tummy time.
- Explore touch-and-feel books or sound books.
- Create a circle of open, propped books around your baby to look at during tummy time.
- Share sensory board books with baby. Purchase or check them out from the library.
- Offer fabric books or Indestructibles books for baby to hold, pat, and squeeze.
- Share waterproof bath books with baby.
- Share favorite nursery rhymes with baby. When baby is older, purchase or check out board books of familiar nursery rhymes.
The goal of sharing books with a 3-month-old is to make reading part of a daily routine. Cuddling with a baby while reading and smiling together over a book at playtime creates a positive association with books. It’s never too early to instill a love of books.
Music Activities
Skills Targeted:Responding to sounds, cooing and making other new sounds, moving arms and legs
- Create a playlist of meaningful songs you want to remember to share with baby as they grow up.
- Read song and rhyming board books to baby.
- Gently move or touch baby’s hands, arms, and feet during action songs and fingerplays.
- The Itsy Bitsy Spider
- Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
- I’m Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee
- Add songs to daily routines, such as a bedtime lullaby or a good morning song.
- Hold baby as you gently sway and rock to the music.
- Offer baby rattles and toys that jangle during playtime. Hold them up for baby to watch as they make noise.
For a 3-month-old, music activities are a fun, sensory experience. A soothing lullaby and rocking can calm them. They will smile and chuckle during fun action songs or fingerplays. Dancing while being held will stimulate a baby’sproprioceptive and vestibular senses, too! Plus, songs are an incredible way to introduce language.
Outside Activities
Skills Targeted:Watching objects and movements in the environment
- Take baby for a walk in a stroller or carrier.
- Sit outside together and describe the weather to baby.
- Share nature board books with baby, especially during an outdoor storytime.
- Look out the window together. Gently place baby’s hand on the glass and describe if the window feels cold or warm from the sun.
- Take tummy time outdoors. Let baby place their feet or hands on the grass.
For a 3-month-old baby, just being outdoors is a sensory learning experience. They can feel the warm sun, hear birds, and see shadows moving. Babies are building an understanding that there is more world beyond their home or childcare.
Popular Questions about 3-Month-Olds & Play
What milestones happen when a baby is 3 months old?
Remember, every baby will reach milestones at their own pace. You can use the CDC milestone trackerapporcheckliststo follow your baby’s development. Talk to the pediatrician if you are concerned about your baby’s development.
- Smiling
- Chuckling
- Making eye contact, sounds, or movements to catch someone’s attention
- Calming down when soothed
- Watching faces
- Cooing and making other new sounds
- Making sounds back and forth with others
- Watching toys and movement in the environment
- Moving arms and legs
- Swiping at toys
- Holding head up during tummy time
- Lifting onto elbows/forearms during tummy time
- Noticing own hands
- Bringing hands to mouth
- Holding toys
What should a 3-month-old do in a day?
Create a daily schedule for your 3-month-old, including feeding, diapering, sleeping, and bathing routines. Between basic care routines, your baby can play in a safe space on the floor. 3-month-olds need plenty of time to play on the floor, on their backs and on their bellies.
Your 3-month-old can play in a safe space alone, with you nearby to supervise. You should also make time to cuddle and play with your baby throughout the day.
Try to minimize the time your 3-month-old spends in bouncy seats or swings.Screen timeis also not recommended for babies.
How often should you play with a 3-month-old?
The amount of playtime will be different for each baby. Your baby also needs time each day when you play with them. Add the amount of playtime that works for your baby’s daily schedule. Playtime is best when your baby isn’t sleepy or hungry.
Your baby can also play alone in a safe space on the floor, with you nearby supervising.
You can include storytimes, songs, and “talking” back and forth to diapering, feeding, bathing, and bedtime routines to add more play!
What exercises can I do with my 3-month-old baby?
3-month-old babies need to spend time on their tummies every day. Tummy time helps babies strengthen their torso and upper body muscles.
You can gently bend and move your baby’s arms, hands, legs, and feet. While you do this, talk to your baby or sing a song like “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.” You can also read a board book such asWhose Knees are These?orWhose Toes are Those?
Your 3-month-old may also enjoy “standing” on your lap while you securely hold them under their arms. Only do this activity if your baby can hold their head steady.
