Best Way to Help a 2-to-3-Month-Old Baby Learn and Develop Skills

Your baby is now stronger and more in control of her movements, and will become more responsive and communicative towards you, using gurgles, sounds, and smiles. By the end of this month, she will be able to hold her head steady, and she will have discovered a source of great pleasure – her hands.

Physical development

As your baby gains control over her body, she will begin to understand how she can use it to learn more about her world.

Pushing up

Her neck muscles will now be so strong that, when she lies on her back, she can lift her head and hold it up for several seconds. When you grasp her hands and pull her to a sitting position, her head may no longer flop back, but will lift up as her body is pulled upwards.

Sit her in a bouncy chair or a baby play nest, and she may be able to hold her head steady. Lie her on her stomach and she’ll begin doing mini push-ups, trying to lift herself with her hands and arms, and turning her head to get a good look at what’s around her.

She may not be able to hold these positions for long, but every time she does it her muscles are strengthening. This gives her much more opportunity to take in her surroundings, and she will become increasingly curious about them.

Happy hands

They may have been there all along, but your baby has only just noticed that her hands are there! Her hands will now become an ever-present source of fascination to her, and she will spend a lot of time lying still and intently examining her new­found fingers, watching as they interact with one another.

By the end of this month, she will be able to bring her hands together and play with her fingers, jamming them in her mouth, where she will enjoy sucking them. She will love to watch her hands as they clasp and unclasp, and will press her palms together in a clapping motion.

Activities to develop skills

Now that your baby is responding to you and conversing with you more, you will have even more fun playing and interacting with her. She still needs all the cuddles and words of encouragement and reassurance, but you can expand your repertoire with more adventurous activities such as bouncing games and singalongs. Try lying her on her stomach from time to time. Roll a ball towards her and let her stretch towards it. As she plays, she is strengthening her neck, arm, and leg muscles.

Touching and kicking

Let your baby touch toys or objects of different textures, temperatures, and materials: fur, silk, velvet, water, warm skin. Let her lie on a play mat that has materials of different textures sewn carefully into it or Velcroed to it.

Singing games

•    Gently bounce your baby on your knee to the beat of many babies’ favourite song: “Horsey, Horsey”.
•    Sing splashing songs in the bath, counting songs when you play with her fingers, lullabies when it’s time to go to sleep – she’ll love them all!
•    Try patting out the rhythm of the songs on her tummy or hands as you sing to her. This will give your baby even more enjoyment.