At the age of three months, a child with proper development for his age begins to actively explore the world around him, he rises, leaning on his forearms, and tries to hold his head in order to examine everything that is around. If the baby lies on his back, he sees everything that is on top and studies it with interest. It is very important that a three-month-old baby be able to focus and concentrate his attention on objects, study them, and understand that their sizes are different from each other . In order for a child to develop correctly, he will need toys for children of 3 months.
Baby development at 5 months
A five-month-old baby should be able to roll over from back to stomach. Some children at this age also spin in the opposite direction - from their stomach to their back. Also, subject to proper development, the baby should:
- Rise from a position lying on your stomach, leaning on your hands;
- Play with rattles, reaching for them while lying on your back;
- Recognize familiar adults (parents, relatives) and react quickly to them;
- Laugh and babble when played with.
Some children at this age already sit up from a position lying on their stomach, while others crawl “on their bellies.” However, most babies during this period only actively roll over, strengthening the muscles of the back and abdomen.
Attention! If the baby is breastfed and is gaining weight well, you can start complementary feeding no earlier than five and a half months. The first food can be milk porridge or fruit puree. Artificial babies are introduced to additional nutrition a little earlier - exactly from 5 months.
Mental development
During this period, children's senses improve. The child gradually learns to distinguish all the colors of the spectrum, and not just the main ones. The baby especially likes bright colors. The baby fixes his gaze on an object well and can engage with one or two toys for a long time. Also during this period, boys and girls begin to experience an increased need for the company of an adult. Children love to be lifted out of the crib and begin to ask to be held, “manipulating” adults. Babies respond vividly to finger play, reading poetry and singing lullabies.
Physical development of the child
The baby, who will soon be six months old, most likely already has one or two teeth. If there are no teeth yet, the baby's gums gradually swell, so during this period the baby may show increased anxiety and have difficulty sleeping at night. The baby's back and shoulder muscles gradually become stronger. The child pulls himself up in his arms and makes his first attempts to sit. The hand muscles develop intensively: the child no longer clenches his hands into fists, but opens his fingers and examines them carefully. Lying on their backs, children make active movements with their arms and legs, reach out with their toes and try to put them in their mouth. Active preparation for the crawling period begins.
Five-month-old baby can roll over on his own
Emotional and social development
A pediatrician and a neurologist can tell parents how to develop babies at 5 months. Much depends on the individual characteristics of the baby, heredity and temperament. At 5 months, the child does not yet divide people into “friends” and “strangers”. If the baby is treated well, he is not afraid of strangers and willingly goes into their arms. The fear of “strangers” appears a little later, after six months.
Five-month-old babies react very quickly to older children. Therefore, if the baby has brothers or sisters, communication between elders and younger ones should be encouraged in every possible way. However, if the age difference between children is less than 6 years, joint play should only take place under supervision. Under no circumstances should older children be allowed to pick up a baby. A five-month-old baby is an active and restless creature who can easily jump out of the hands of a confused six or seven-year-old.
If parents and other household members often call a boy or girl by name, the baby quickly gets used to this word and readily responds, turning his head in the direction of the sound. Hearing any voice or other sound, the child listens carefully. Five-month-old babies have sensitive hearing, so under no circumstances should you make noise or shout loudly in the presence of the baby, especially while he is sleeping.
Children who will soon be six months old do not like loneliness and constantly need emotional contact with adults. The baby often asks to be held, this is not just a whim - in the arms of an adult, the baby feels protected.
Cognitive development
If parents don’t know what to do with a 5-month-old child, toys that stimulate cognitive activity will help them. Developmental mats are very popular; you can buy them or make them yourself at home. Such a rug can entertain a fidget for a long time. It is a small piece of dense material on which are securely attached:
- Velcro;
- Fastening buttons;
- Rattles and other interesting toys;
- Plastic rings of different diameters.
Lying on his stomach on a rug, the child gets acquainted with objects that have different textures and shapes, and gets his first idea of the concepts “hard - soft”, “smooth - rough”. The baby can be taught to distinguish toys by shape and color, as well as to perform simple intelligence tasks (for example, unbutton and fasten a button or Velcro).
Also, for the first lessons, you can give your baby pyramids and sets of small multi-colored bowls that are nested one inside the other. While the child is not yet able to assemble the pyramid on his own, he will enjoy looking at the bright rings. This is a good way to develop vision and attentiveness. Just keep in mind that children at this age can get tired quickly and are not able to engage in the same activity for a long time. If your baby wants to sleep, you shouldn't entertain him. All classes are conducted only during active wakefulness
The baby loves to look at surrounding objects
Educational toys for children of three months
To determine what toys are needed for children at 3 months, the parent should know that at 3 months the baby develops the following skills and abilities:
- Hearing,
- Vision,
- Coordination,
- Observation,
- Ability to determine the distance to an object,
- Ability to hold an object and move it,
- Tactile sensations.
In order to develop each of the factors described above, you can choose several toys, or even one combined one, the main thing is that it can help influence the comprehensive development of the baby.
Toys for 3-month-old children that develop hearing
An excellent example of such toys are classic rattles. When choosing them, pay attention to the fact that the baby can grab the handle and the rattle is small in size, then the baby will be able to move it independently and observe, thereby developing attention.
Another great example of a toy that develops hearing are hanging bells or carousels that start and sound pleasant music.
Toys for children from 3 months that develop attention
A three-month-old baby already recognizes his parents perfectly and examines their faces. If you want him to become more and more attentive, then place a baby doll in the crib, at a short distance from his face. The baby will probably start looking at his face, he will become interested in watching you play with the doll. Show your child where the doll's nose is, then show him yours with your finger, and then his nose. Do the same with the cheeks and eyes. The baby will focus his attention and watch your actions. In the same way, introduce your baby to body parts.
There are special colorful rattles that can be tied to the baby’s hand, making involuntary movements, he will understand that the toys make pleasant sounds and will watch them. Thus, for the first time the baby will become acquainted with the cause-and-effect relationship, that his movements are not random, but something always follows them.
A play mat with a sound mobile hanging above it is an excellent example of a toy that will captivate a child and develop hearing, vision, attention, and the ability to determine the distance to an object.
Toys that develop tactile sensations
Simple beads are a great example of a toy that will help a child understand tactile sensations. Lightweight wooden toys with a refrain texture will also help your baby learn tactile sensations. With his fingers, he will pluck objects and understand that they can be different.
How to help your baby develop fully
In order to stimulate the active mental and physical development of a baby at this age, it is necessary:
- Monitor the dynamics of weight gain to prevent malnutrition. If the baby is breastfed, you can periodically do control weighings after feeding;
- Talk to your child as often as possible, encouraging him to “answer”;
- Give your boy or girl a variety of age-appropriate toys to encourage fine motor development;
- Do general massage and gymnastics daily, and carry out hardening procedures.
How to develop a baby at 6 months
In the summer, you should periodically leave the baby naked without a diaper so that the baby can take air baths.
Interesting. At this age, children love to swim. Parents can show their child how to hit the water with their arms and legs. The baby will be happy to repeat these movements and splash in the bath. Starting from the fifth month of life, you can bathe daily in a large adult bathtub, after washing it clean.
Children love to take a bath
What to play with your baby
There are many activities with a 5 month old baby that are easy for parents. Usually kids react to them with great pleasure. The easiest way to keep a boy or girl busy is with finger games. They promote the development of fine motor skills and develop coordination of movements. The baby gets great pleasure from practicing on a fitball - a large rubber ball. You can roll your baby on a fitball while lying on his stomach. This exercise develops muscles well and motivates the baby to take active actions: pulling up, crawling, turning over.
Development of actions with objects
Playing with a 5-month-old baby at home must certainly include actions with toys and other objects, because at this time the baby is actively mastering the objective world. A baby who will soon be six months old, as a rule, already knows how to:
- Reach nearby objects from a position lying on your stomach and pull them towards you;
- Reach hanging rattles from a position lying on your back and slightly rise when trying to sit up;
- Take small rattles in your hands, rattle and knock them;
- Throw toys out of the crib.
At this age, plastic or rubber toys that are easy to clean are best for your baby. It is not worth giving your child plush animals, because the little explorer will certainly put them in his mouth. During bathing, children's rubber ducks or “sea inhabitants”, from which water flows when pressed, are well suited. The baby will be delighted, repeating this “trick” many times.
The best toy at this age is a good old rattle. Before giving it to a child, parents should make sure that there are no cracks on the toy so that the baby does not get hurt during active actions with the object. During a walk, if the child is not sleeping, rattle pendants that are attached to the stroller will help to entertain him.
The baby loves to put toys and other objects in his mouth.
Development of movements
To know how to develop a child at 5 months, parents should have a rough idea of his physical capabilities. All children are individual. However, most kids at this age can:
- Rise up, holding the hands of an adult, and briefly maintain a sitting position;
- Transfer rattles from one handle to another while lying on your stomach;
- Stand firmly on your feet if an adult holds the baby under the armpits;
- Hold a bottle or mother's breast in your hands while feeding, creating a comfortable position for yourself.
Parents often do not know at what month of life the child learns to sit, and force him to sit down ahead of time. Pediatricians categorically do not recommend placing a baby on pillows if he has not yet made attempts to sit up on his own. Also, you should not often put your baby on his feet, he is not yet ready for this. On the contrary, any attempt to move on the stomach should be encouraged. Crawling is an excellent exercise; it has a beneficial effect on the overall physical condition of the baby and helps strengthen muscles and bones.
To encourage the baby to move around in space, parents should place him in a playpen or on the floor (after laying down a clean blanket). Next, the baby is laid out on his stomach. 2-3 bright toys are placed at some distance from him. Seeing them, the child will begin to make active movements, trying to push off with his legs and arms. Gradually he will learn to crawl “on his bellies” and will soon stand on all fours. The main thing is to create the right conditions for the baby to move freely and safely within the playpen or fenced area in the room. According to Dr. Komarovsky, most children first learn to crawl, only then sit up from a position on all fours.
Many babies make their first attempts to crawl on their stomachs.
After six months, a well-developed baby begins to acquire new skills every day: he learns to sit, walk and crawl, and with the appearance of teeth he gradually switches to adult food. In order for a five-month-old baby to safely survive this time of intensive development, parents must support the baby in everything, keep him busy with interesting activities and constantly monitor him. If there is something alarming about your baby’s behavior or well-being, you should consult your pediatrician.
Educational games for 3 month old babies
The first game for a three-month-old baby “What do we have here?”
You have already noticed that the baby has learned to fix his gaze on an object that interests him, then the educational game “What do we have here?” is suitable for you. Choose a bright toy of orange, yellow or red, show it to the child when he fixes his gaze on it, move it from side to side and follow the baby’s gaze. It is very important that the child learns to concentrate his attention in this way.
Game "Bicycle"
An excellent exercise game for three month olds. Place your baby on a hard surface, lift his legs and make gentle circular movements with them, as if riding a bicycle. This activity is very useful for the muscle development of a child in the first year of life.
Game "Grab it!"
A great game for a 3 month old baby - “Grab it!” It helps develop attention and coordination of movements. Tie a small, bright rattle onto a bright satin ribbon. Raise it above your baby and shake it to get their attention. When the child begins to stretch on it, move it a little so that the child begins to move differently. Allow your child to grab the toy and praise him for his attentiveness and persistence.
When choosing games and toys for children aged three months, remember the baby's safety. It is better not to allow your baby to play with rag toys on his own, as he will put them in his mouth, suck and chew them, and dyed fabrics may contain elements that are harmful to health. Toys should not be easily disassembled or contain small parts that a child could swallow. Do not buy toys “for growth”; most likely, after a while, more modern and effective games for the development of the baby will appear.
