Learning, Play, and Your 1- to 3-Month-Old

Encouraging Your Baby to Learn

Respond to your baby's coos and gurgling with sounds of your own so that your baby will be encouraged to keep using his or her voice for expression. Through these exchanges, your infant hears the sounds of language and learns about conversation.

Your baby's sense of touch is also getting better. Provide colorful objects of different textures, shapes, and sizes for your infant to hold and explore. This is a good age to introduce an infant gym with interesting objects that dangle for your baby to swat at. Or hold a toy just out of reach for your baby to reach for, swat, and grab hold of. But don't string up toys on cribs or other baby equipment — your baby could get tangled in them.

At times your baby will have had enough stimulation. Watch for signs that your little one might be overstimulated and ready for a break.

Other ideas for encouraging your baby to learn and play:

• Gently clap your baby's hands together or stretch arms (crossed, out wide, or overhead).
• Gently move your baby's legs as if pedaling a bicycle.
• Use a favorite toy for your baby to focus on and follow, or shake a rattle for your infant to find.
• While awake, let your baby spend some time on his or her tummy to help strengthen the neck and shoulders. Always supervise your infant during "tummy time" and be ready to help if he or she gets tired or frustrated in this position. Never put a baby to sleep on his or her stomach. Infants should sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Make different facial expressions for your baby to imitate.
• Talk to your baby and let your baby respond.

There's a wide range of normal among babies. If you're concerned about your little one's vision or hearing, or your baby doesn't seem to be developing well in other ways, talk with your doctor.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: August 2011