Talk to Your Baby with Body Language
You and your baby are "talking" to each other even though he doesn't say words yet. You are doing what comes naturally. You are using body language as well as words.
Body language includes what you do with your face, the tone of the sounds and words you make, singing, eye contact and body movements. You can show love for your baby by hugging him and rocking him. You can show love by playing with him and smiling at him. He will "talk" back to you with coos, wiggles and smiles.
Even at three months, your baby knows the sound of your voice from other people's voices. He will make eye contact with you to "say" that he knows you are his mom or dad. He will turn toward you and brighten when he sees and hears you.
You are learning to "speak" your baby's language, too. You can tell the difference when he is crying because he is hungry or because he needs changing. You can tell when he's crying because he wants you to hold him.
You have learned when he is tired of playing or has had enough to eat because he turns away or stiffens his body. He will make sounds other than crying to let you know how he feels or what he wants. You can tell when he wants some quiet time to just look around or to take a nap.
Talking with your baby lets him know he is loved and you care about him.
What's It Like To Be Three Months Old?
How I grow
- I don't bob my head as much.
- I keep my hands loosely open most of the time.
- I will hold objects, but I will not reach for them.
- I move my arms and legs a lot.
- When held in a standing position, I can bear some weight on my legs.
- When I'm on my tummy, I can hold my head up for 10 seconds or longer.
- I touch my face with my hands.
How I talk
- I gurgle, whimper and chuckle.
- I don't cry as much as I used to.
- I squeal and make other sounds when you talk to me.
How I eat and sleep
- I may have one feeding at night.
- I may sleep through the night.
- I may need a morning nap and an afternoon nap.
How I respond
- When I see you, I turn my whole body to face you.
- I turn my head toward the sounds of singing or talking.
- I may stop or start crying depending on who is holding me.
How I understand
- I'm beginning to remember things.
- I'm beginning to recognize different people in my family.
Help Your Baby Every Day
Here are things you can do to help your baby every day:
Babies learn by watching and touching things. They are exploring their world. Encourage exploration. Promote your baby's curiosity and exploration by holding things within his reach and helping him touch them.
Exploring on his own is important for your baby. But don't limit it to that. Help him seek new experiences, like reaching for your hand and touching your fingers. Babies also like to feel things that are soft, fuzzy or smooth.
Be your baby's teacher. Your baby learns about life by watching you and what you do.
Babies learn when you do simple, everyday things. This is as simple as looking in your baby's eyes and making funny faces. Or let him touch your face and hair.
Get excited with your baby about all the things he does and the sounds he makes. You and your baby will enjoy this. Make a big deal out of little things, like when your baby makes a little sound while you're talking to him. Let him know he is a great talker. Help him to learn to "talk" back and forth. When he coos at you, gently coo back. Wait and see if he "answers" you with another coo. If he does so, you should answer him. Do this with giggles, coos and other baby sounds.
Do activities over and over again with your baby. Learning goes on each time your baby practices a skill. Let him try new things over and over again. This is as simple as helping him to pat his hands together.
Protect your baby from disapproval. Don't tease or punish him. Never permit others to tease, punish or shake him. Punishment does not work with babies. Punishment can be very harmful to babies. It can cause the wrong lessons to be learned.
Communicate. Use sounds, songs, gestures and words with your baby. When you do this, you help him learn about language and its many uses.
Take good care of your baby. Watch him closely. Make sure your home is a safe place for him to explore. Try to keep an orderly, healthy routine. Your child will begin to know that some behavior is OK at some times but not at other times. He will also begin to know that there are reasons for this.
For more information about dads and their baby's first year, get The Everything® Father's First Year Book by Vincent Iannelli, MD, which is published by Adams Media and is now available at your favorite bookstore.
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