Parenting is at once one of the most rewarding and most challenging jobs that one can take on. Here, you watch a little human grow before your eyes and become his or her own person. For most, though, the most memorable period of being a parent is when a child is between the ages of 3 months and 6 months. Here are some parenting tips for 3-6 months babies that will help to make this delicate stage easier for you.
At 3-6 months old, a baby can already be positioned on his belly and challenged to reach a rattle that’s placed in front of him/her, an exercise that develops and improves motor skills. Playing with bubbles is also fun for babies. You can blow bubbles to allow movement for the baby’s arms and demonstrating to them on how he/she can swat them.
You can also act as a chair to your infant, placing him in front of you as you support them and hold a small book or toy. Simple gestures of care and love can be done in this position, such as whispering in the baby’s ear and planting a soft kiss on the cheek. You can also help guide your baby from a sitting position to a standing one, by placing him on your knees and slowly lifting the child to a standing position. This helps your baby gain more strength in the legs and provide more balance. Bouncing is another fun activity that your child can do. Just hold on to the child’s hands so he can stand up on your lap, on the sofa or even on the floor. You can enjoy watching the child bounce as he giggles and smiles before your eyes.
At this certain age, your baby is prone to certain germs and bacteria. So before you hand him any item, ensure that it is clean. Also, try to avoid giving them small objects as these can be swallowed by your baby. It is also recommended that you breastfeed your baby. It not only decreases your demand for expensive formula milks, but it would surely increase your baby’s antibodies, which protect him from common colds and coughs.
Babies at this age should also be taken for regular checkups. Pediatricians would better know the progress of their growth and development. First-time parents, in particular, shouldn’t be shy when in front of their children’s doctors and ask all the questions they might have. Diet, sleeping habits should be on the to-discuss list.
Your kid, at this point in time, would have sleeping patterns that are unpredictable. Most of the time, they get a maximum of 16 hours of sleep a day. But be sure that the majority of that uninterrupted 16 hours are done during night time.
Babies at this age tend to be very active, and this is why parents should take all the precautions. Keep your child away from dangerous places and objects such as those with sharp corners or small, detachable parts.
There are definitely more parenting tips and tricks to getting through the 3 month to 6 month-old phase of your child’s development. But these few tips can help get you started on the way to raising a healthy, happy baby.
