So you’ve made it through months one and two. You and baby
already have your own special language with each other and he’s starting to
respond to your baby talk and smiles. So… now what?
Three- and four-month-olds are in an interesting transition
– just starting to gain mobility and awareness of people and objects
surrounding them, but they’re also still bitty babies. Since he’s still not
able to crawl away, this is a great time to do your own thing, but you can also
take your mama-baby activities to the next level. Check out the suggestions
below and stay tuned for more!
1. Baby sign language
While most babies won’t be able to sign back for several
months, it’s never too early to start introducing key signs – if anything,
it’ll get you into the habit of integrating signing into your regular speech. Think
of this as you sowing seeds for five or six months from now when baby is trying
to communicate, but can’t yet use words. Instead of frustration, you’ll have a
secondary outlet to share his wants and needs!
There are quite a few products you can buy to learn to sign
with baby, but there are also plenty of videos on YouTube, and a quick Google
Image search turns up more instructional images than we could count. If you’re
a hard-copy info fan, check out Baby Signing Essentials: Easy Sign Language for
Every Age and Stage by Nancy Cadjan, which takes you from introduction of
signing around four months all the way through two years, including which signs
to integrate at each stage.
2. Organize
For lots of moms, organizing is on the level of having a
tooth pulled. But like a trip to the dentist, organization is an unfortunate
necessity – especially after you’ve added a load of baby gear to your house. It’s
easy to get completely overwhelmed when looking at the big picture, so take it
one room at a time or, even better, one four-foot section at a time. Everything
needs a home and if it’s not used or needed, toss it!
We recommend checking out The Organized Mom: Simplify
Life for You and Baby, One Step at a Time by Stacey Crew. Crew is the
founder of the GOPACK Method, which stands for Grouping Objects, Purging,
Assigning, Containing, and Keeping It Up. While this book was originally
intended for expectant moms prepping for baby, it’s just as useful now that
baby is here. She breaks down a standard house room-by-room with tips and
tricks in each.
It’s the perfect time to organize, mama, especially before
baby is on the move!
3. Tummy time
While tummy time isn’t possible with every baby, research
shoes that by three or four months, babies should be getting at least 20
minutes of tummy time a day. Make this time fun for both of you by laying
out her baby gym or a thin, but comfy, blanket. Pick a few board books and
select toys, introducing one at a time. If you offer too much at once, she
could get over stimulated and upset, so pace yourself! Read a few books, shake
a rattle or two, and be sure to give her positive reinforcement with a, “You
go, girl,” “Good job,” and “So strong!”
Speak with your pediatrician to find out if tummy time is
right for your baby and if not, what alternate methods you can try.
4. Sleep
It’s still early in your mama journey and man, are you
tired. You are owed a daily nap for at least the first six months, so do not
feel guilty about grabbing a power nap or even a lengthy afternoon snooze
session.
