Your
Baby's First Year ~ Month 3
Although
your baby may not be very mobile yet, they learn new skills
very quickly.
Injuries often happen when parents are not aware of what their
baby can do. During the first months of life, babies learn
to wiggle, kick, push, reach, roll over and put things in
their mouths.
Your
baby needs special protection at this age from:
-
Falling from beds or changing tables
- Choking
on small objects
- Burns
from hot liquids
SIDS
is still a concern -- it is most likely to occur in babies
around 2 to 4 months old. No one knows for certain what causes
SIDS. However, there are some things you can do to reduce
the risks:
- Have
your baby sleep on his back or side, on a firm sleeping
surface
- Breastfeeding
your baby -- babies who are breastfed are at a lower risk
for SIDS
- Keep
your baby in a smoke-free environment -- cigarette smoke
puts babies at a higher risk of respiratory infection
and increases the risk of SIDS
- Keep
your baby at a comfortable temperature -- not too hot,
not too cold -- a good rule of thumb is to dress them
in the same number of layers of clothing as you would
wear, plus one more layer
Your
baby is continuing to learn and grow each day. His eyes can
now follow a moving object, and he can see objects from 15
to 20 feet away. Your baby will soon discover his hands, and
will stare as he studies them and moves his fingers around.
If you lie him on his back, he will reach for hanging objects
and will swing at them, but will quickly lose interest if
the object is too far for him to reach.
Your
baby may soon treat you to one of the nicest sounds you will
ever hear -- his laughter!
