As a mom of 2 and a developmental therapist specializing in babies and toddlers, I have spent a lot of time with 3-month-old babies!
At 3 months old, babies are working on a lot of developmental milestones.
They’re becoming more mobile and are working on their gross and fine motor skills.
At this stage in baby’s life, they are starting to engage more with their environment and are becoming more aware of the world around them.
This is an exciting time for both babies and parents!
As your baby starts to explore more, there are a lot of different activities you can do to help support their development.
Here are some ideas for both indoor and outdoor play, as well as some tips on how you can incorporate learning into your daily routines.
Remember, it’s also important to provide opportunities for your baby to have independent play time where they can just sit back and observe!
Fun Baby Learning Indoor Activities
When my son was 3 months old it was January in North Dakota.
Did we ever go outside?
Sure…but I must say I avoided it as much as possible.
So, when I was stuck inside I had to get creative with my baby boy’s indoor activities.
Here are some ideas!
Practice Tummy Time throughout the Day
One activity that is great for supporting your baby’s gross motor skills is tummy time.
At around 3 months your baby is working on building strong core muscles that they will someday use for sitting up, crawling, standing, and walking and one of the best ways to encourage motor development is to let your baby play on their tummy.
In most cases, short bouts of tummy time sprinkled throughout the day work better than trying to go for a long session.
I love to tie tummy time in with other daily routines so that you can really get in the habit of doing it.
For example, right after you change a diaper you can do a few minutes of tummy time.
Just got your little one dressed for the day? Do some tummy time!
Mirror Baby Play Ideas
Mirror Mirror on the wall…who is the cutest baby of them all?
Yours of course!
As your little one is starting to become more aware, taking some time to do some mirror play can be so much fun and encourage baby learning.
Using an unbreakable mirror like this during playtime or tummy time can be a great way for your little one to see their own reflection as their vision comes in.
If you don’t have a small mirror like the one I talked about earlier, any mirror will work!
While holding your baby, stop in front of a mirror and show it to them.
Watch how they react! Do they seem interested?
Try making different facial expressions or sounds and see how they respond.
Sing Songs and Fingerplays to Bond and Build Communication Skills
There’s nothing quite like singing lullabies to your little one.
Some of my best memories are singing with my babies when they were little and also just playing them music from different genres!
It’s a moment of pure connection between you and your baby.
Plus, studies have shown that singing to your infant can help promote brain development.
My kiddos are now 4 and 6 as I write this and at times I wonder if introducing them to songs and music from the start may have helped!
So why not give it a try?
Start by choosing a few of your favorite nursery rhymes or children’s songs.
You can check out my library here.
If you’re not sure where to start, try looking up some classic lullabies online.
You can also ask friends or family for recommendations.
Once you have a few songs in mind, try singing them to your baby while you’re cuddling or rocking them.
You may even want to try swaying or dancing along as you sing.
Putting them in a position where they can see your face while you sing their favorite songs is a great way for you to connect and encourage social development.
The key is to have fun and make it a special bonding experience for both of you.
Give Your 3-Month-Old Baby a Tour
One thing to keep in mind when it comes to baby activities is to keep it simple!
Remember that everything is new to your baby and sometimes the most simple learning activities are the best!
Switching rooms or even giving your 3-month-old a tour of your house can be a simple way to encourage language development and provide a little stimulation.
This can also be a great activity if you feel a bit awkward talking to your baby because you are just telling them all about your house and what you see.
Get as detailed as you want and have fun!
For more easy ideas and activities on how to support your baby’s development CLICK HERE.
Activities for 3-Month-Old: Play with Toys & Objects
At three months old, babies are starting to gain a lot of new skills.
They are learning how to hold their head up, how to roll over, and how to reach for things.
They are also starting to learn about the world around them.
One of the best ways for babies to learn is through play.
When babies play with toys, they are exploring and discover new things.
They are also practicing important skills, like fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Toy play is essential for babies’ development and can help them learn about themselves and their surroundings.
It is also a great way for parents to bond with their babies and create special memories together.
So make sure to set aside some time each day for some fun toy play!
Here are a couple of my favorite toys for this age and some ways that you can play with them!
Best Toys for 3-Month-Old Baby
Oball
I love the Oball because it is easy for the baby to hold onto and is fun for the baby to explore.
You can roll it back and forth, shake it, or even bounce it!
There are lots of options when it comes to ball play with babies so just have fun and get creative!
Colorful Rattle
Rattles (these were a favorite with my kiddos) are a great toy for babies because they are easy to hold and shake.
They make a fun noise that helps to stimulate your baby’s senses.
Rattles also help to develop your baby’s hand-eye coordination.
To play with a rattle, simply hold it in one hand and shake it.
Modeling how to play with toys for your little ones can be a great way to start off a play session.
For young babies, you can also show it to them and move it vertically and horizontally to see if they can track it with their eye gaze.
Working on visual tracking is important as their vision comes in.
As your baby gets older, you can teach them to shake the rattle themselves.
For an extra challenge, try hiding the rattle under a blanket and see if your baby can find it.
Activity Gyms
Activity gyms promote physical activity and exploration during playtime.
By hanging colorful toys from a gym, babies can work on their motor skills by reaching and grabbing.
Additionally, activity gyms encourage cognitive development as babies try to figure out how to make the toys move.
And because they can be used both indoors and outdoors, activity gyms provide a versatile play space for little ones.
To get the most out of an activity gym (this is the one we had), you can encourage your baby to explore all of the different features.
You can help your baby reach for a toy, or show them how to make the hanging toys swing.
As your baby becomes more mobile, they can start to crawl or scoot around the gym to discover new things.
They will also be able to explore it as they change positions from lying on the floor to sitting.
With a little imagination, a baby gym can provide hours of fun and learning for your baby.
Supervised Independent Playtime for a 3-Month-Old Baby
We have been talking about ways to engage with your baby, but what about independent play?
Supervised independent playtime is one of the most important baby activities that encourage healthy development in all areas.
I am not saying to simply leave your baby off on their own, what I am saying is we want to balance the time that we are engaging with them with time when they are able to be on their own.
You become an observer instead of a playmate!
This gives you the opportunity to sit back, drink your coffee and just enjoy watching your little one instead of leading the play.
By doing this your child learns to problem solve and entertain themselves which is a skill that you will want them to have.
You set up the environment by putting their favorite toy just out of reach so they need to navigate how to reach it with their own hands.
This simple way of setting up the environment is a great way to build cognitive skills.
Fun Activities you can do Outdoors with your Baby
If the weather is nice, take advantage of it!
Outdoor baby activities do not need to be fancy!
Spend some time outside with your baby in a park or in your backyard.
When my daughter was a 3-month-old baby, it was May and we were living in Indiana which meant the weather was wonderful!
Plus I had a busy toddler as well so we were getting as much outdoor time as we could!
Take Your 3-Month-Old for a Walk
One of my favorite things to do was go for walks.
I needed the exercise and fresh air and my baby could join me in the stroller or baby carrier!
As I walked with her I would tell her about what I saw.
Just narrating what you see while on a walk with your baby is a great way to support infant language development because babies need to hear words many times before they will understand them or try to imitate them.
There were times when my daughter would be fussy for a walk and one way I found to calm her was to sing lullabies or songs while walking.
Not only can this be calming for the baby but it also supports language skills which will someday lead to your baby’s very first words!
Take Learning Activities Outside
Grabbing a blanket and laying it out under a shady tree for playtime can be a wonderful way to switch your baby’s activities up just a bit!
Grab some age-appropriate books (check out my favorite baby books here) and read while outside together.
Another great option is to bring a basket of different toys out for them to enjoy with some supervised independent play or by engaging in play with you.
Encourage Baby’s Development by Including them in Daily Routines
Sleep when the baby sleeps and fold laundry when…the baby folds laundry!
Ok…so maybe your baby won’t be quite ready to fold clothes but you can still include them in the process in meaningful ways.
Being a parent to a young baby can be hard because sometimes we feel like we suddenly can’t do the things that we normally would because we have a baby to attend to.
However, you do not have to be doing child center activities and baby activities 24/7.
You can go ahead and do the daily activities that you need and want to do with the baby by your side!
Encourage Fine Motor Skills through Sensory Play During Laundry Time!
When we think of sensory play, we often think of activities like sensory bins filled with rice, beans, or water.
However, there are many ways to incorporate sensory experiences into baby activities without using a bunch of materials.
One way is by adding tactile sensations during laundry time!
As you’re folding clothes, let your baby feel the different textures of the clothes.
For example, you can let them feel a soft baby blanket, a pair of jeans, or a cotton onesie.
You can get more ideas on how to encourage learning all day long HERE.
When you go outside with your little one there are also lots of ways to explore using simple sensory play ideas.
Crunching leaves with your feet, exploring new sounds of wind chimes or birds, or even touching the bark of a tree are all simple playful ways to explore using your baby’s senses.
Safety Tips for Three-Month-Old Babies
Keeping a 3-month-old baby safe while playing can be a challenging task for any parent or caregiver.
At this age, babies are developing rapidly and are naturally curious about their surroundings.
Therefore, it is important to create a safe play environment for them.
Clear the space of any small items or objects that could pose a choking hazard, and make sure to always supervise them during playtime.
You may also want to consider investing in some age-appropriate toys, such as soft blocks or rattles, to encourage safe play.
Remember, the safety of your little one should always be a top priority, but don’t forget to have fun and enjoy this precious time with your growing baby!
Have Fun with Your Baby!
These are just a few ideas of activities you can do with your 3-month-old baby. By engaging in playful activities with your baby, you’ll not only be helping them learn and grow—but you’ll also be creating lasting memories that you’ll cherish for years to come!
You can find more simple baby ideas HERE.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many ways to stimulate your 3-month-old baby. Some ideas include reading or singing together, playing peek-a-boo, or taking a walk outdoors. Keep in mind that everything is new to babies and want to avoid overstimulating them as well!
Yes, they may be able to see the screen somewhat but according to the AAP, it’s best to avoid screen time for babies under the age of 18 months.
This includes TV, computers, tablets, and phones.
The only time I would recommend using screens with babies under 18 months is if they are screen-timing a family member!
This can be a challenge for any parent! Some ideas to entertain your baby throughout the day include reading books, playing music, taking walks, visiting friends or family, or attending baby classes/playgroups.
It’s important to mix things up and try different activities to see what your baby enjoys most.
You can also include your baby or have them nearby while you are doing things you need to get done throughout the day like laundry and household chores.
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Kayla O’Neill has a master’s degree in education as well as a bachelor’s degree in special education with an emphasis in early childhood education. She has been working as a developmental therapist with babies and toddlers in early intervention since 2012. She is also a mom with two young children.