Entertaining a 3 Month Old

The best things for a child that age are activity mats, mobiles in their crib, rings for them to try to grab (though it's going to be a few more months before he really gets it), and most importantly, you.

Just sitting interacting with him, talking to him, singing to him, letting him look into your face and mimic expressions are great ways to interact.

Your pediatrician should have given you a copy of "Your Baby's First Year" - it is free from the American Academy of Pediatrics. I'd highly recommend reading it so you know what the developmental milestones are.

He won't be ready for the Exersaucer until about 6 months. But, the bouncy seat, swing should both be good now. We had our kids in the Bumbo for short periods (5 minutes or less) at that age.

They are still mostly about instinct at this point in time. Your closeness, voice, smell will all be critical for a few more months.

I have a four month old, plus two older kids. Here's what he likes: me singing, playing peek a boo, talking to him while I change him, etc. He loves laying under his activity mat or mobile in his crib, short periods in his bumbo (but be advised they really don't have the neck/core strength to be in there much yet, even with the back support), and his swing. Our baby chair has a toy bar also which he likes. He's getting very good at tummy time - we have several different play mats with bright colors or toys sewen into them for him to explore.

I would advise against an exersaucer or jumperoo until your child's feet can touch, flat footed. I've heard two bad things about parents who use those too early: pressure on the femeral artery when their feet "dangle" cutting off/reducing circulation or keeping the kids too high which can encourage "toe walking" where kids learn to walk on their tiptoes instead of their whole foot. Basically babies bodies are not meant to be upright until they develop the muscle strength to hold themselves up without towels. Their spines are still developing and they just don't yet have the strength to support their big heads. He'll be able to use them soon enough, don't push it. Our son is long, so his feet do touch, but he still will "crumple" when he gets tired. I don't let him spend much time in either yet.

Our 4 mo old loves sitting in his high chair at mealtimes. He plays with toys (like those chain links with a ball attached to one end) or other colorful toys. He's also started veggie baby food and some cereals. It's nice to be able to put him down and eat a meal! Nighttimes are so fussy. I think his high chair is "training" him to sit by us when we eat, so he gets used to mealtimes at the table and me not holding him.

I hope this helps!

Yes, if he can hold his head up...just tuck him in there all comfy cozy and secure! He will love it!

If he can hold his head up well, go ahead and put him in the exersaucer. Just tuck blankets around him for support. He's pretty young to "entertain" but try mirrors, and bright toys that make noise, or movement. Read to him too, they're never too young for that!

We put our son in the exersaucer at 3 months. He had great head control and I lowered the sides down so his feet touched the bottom. I put a little "tummytime" pillow behind him that wrapped around to support him. He loved that! I agree that talking/singing to him is probably most fun for him. Babies love looking at mommy's facial expressions. I also "read" baby books with pictures of other babies or animals in them.

One other thing I would do was "tactile" time. I learned this from Gymboree class I took and you don't have to buy anything. I would take scarfs, feathers, beads, etc. from around the house and run them over his face and body. Then I would run them through his fingers and toes and sing songs while doing this. I would also use them for tracking exercises. It's very stimulating to them and soon enough your son will be grabbing them and feeling for himself. Good luck!