Baby physical development 3 to 6 months

Developmental milestones include:

• Between 4 - 6 months, he rolls over
• By 4 months, he can lift her head and chest when he's on his tummy
• By 3 months, he plays with his fingers and looks at his hands
• By 3 - 4 months, he can grasp an object
• By 5 - 6 months, he can chew
• He can make and hold eye contact
• He enjoys looking at brightly coloured objects

 

What can I do to encourage his physical development?

 

• To practice his grasping skills, offer him a soft rattle (or any other small soft toy that makes a noise) so that he can discover that he can make a noise with it when he moves it.
• Give him plenty of tummy time - at this age, he should enjoy it more
• When he's on his tummy, put toys in front of him and encourage him to reach out to grab them -he'll probably do this accidentally at first.

 

Signs that suggest a developmental problem:

 

• His muscle tone is exceptionally low or high (he's tight or floppy)
• His fingers don't spontaneously extend
• His legs and arms remain flexed the majority of the time
• His eyes don't follow what is going on around him
• You are still consistently struggling to settle him
• He is not putting on weight at an acceptable rate
• He is disinterested in his surroundings

All children are different and develop at different rates, so don't be overly concerned if your baby is acquiring new skills at a different rate to those around him. But if you are worried about him development, talk to a health professional for a little reassurance.

Find More

• Sign up for your expert FREE weekly email guide to baby’s first year
• Baby reflexes
• 3-6 months social and emotional development
• All baby growth articles

 

This article was written by Ella Walsh for Kidspot - New Zealand's parenting resource for newborns and baby. Sources include SA Government's Parenting and Child Health and Raising Children Network.