I sarang

1~3 months

• Growth and development
• Relationship and Communication
• Behaviors
• Safety
• Feeding
• Excretion
• Sleep
• Health and daily life
• Playing and Learning

1. Physical growth

The average weight of a 1-3-month-old male baby is 4.5-6.4 kg, while a 1–3-month-old female baby is 4.2-5.8 kg. The average height of boys is 54.7 to 61.4 cm, and the average height of girls is 53.7-59.8 cm. Increases in height and weight are noticeable during this period.

(Source : Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency : 2017 Korean National Growth Charts for Children and Adolescents)

2. Development

• 1) Senses
  • Vision : Improved eyesight allows the eyes to follow the movement of toys and see objects relatively clearly within a range of 30 cm. They can follow an object moving slowly in front of them 180 degrees while lying down. If you hand a mobile (start with black and white and move to color), they will look at it. The pupils can move and the eyes can blink.
  • Hearing : Babies respond to their mother's (or the primary caregiver's) voice by distinguishing it. They often calm down and babble at the sound of their mothers’ coaxing. They become more responsive to various sounds and turn their heads toward the sound. They will respond to various sounds, and can distinguish sounds such as the doorbell or telephone, so they will turn their heads toward them.
  • Smell : Their sense of smell is sensitive enough that they may turn their head in the direction of the smell.
  • Taste : At 2-3 months of age, the sense of taste is further developed, and is developed enough to prefer a particular taste.
  • Touch : Their sense of touch is developed, so they may cry when their diaper gets wet.
• 2) Movement/Exercise

  The baby's hands, which were previously tightly closed, gradually begin to open and they will suck their fingers. Arms and legs become active. The baby kicks vigorously and can turn their head from side to side while lying down. In the early stages, babies cannot completely control their neck. However, the neck is gradually controlled. The baby’s legs, which used to look bow-legged, will begin to straighten out, and their hip and knee joints become more flexible, giving them more power to kick. They become more active with increased movement, such as swinging their arm toward a moving object. From around 3 months, your baby can try turning over from prone to lying on their back.

• 3) Cognitive skills(Learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  They will start to pay attention to your face. The baby begins to follow objects with their eyes and can recognize people from a distance. If their activity does not change, they may become bored, which will result in reactions such as crying. In addition, infants at this age gain new experiences through actions they perform accidentally and may repeat those actions. For example, if an infant finds a new experience fun, such as accidentally putting their finger in their mouth, they will continue to try it.

• 4) Language/Communication

  When they feel good, they mumble and babble. When the primary caregiver responds to the baby's babble, they become more excited and babble incomprehensible words or laugh out loud. They may show a social smile, smile at their mother's face, and turn their head toward a sound. They also make a throat-rattling sound while cooing.

• 5) Social/Emotional

  Babies may briefly soothe themselves by bringing their hand to mouth and eating/sucking it. They start to smile at people and try to look for their parent. They look up when they hear their parents' voice.

3. How to Promote Development

• Hold, talk to, and play with your baby while feeding, dressing, or bathing.
• Talk to your baby, read to them, and sing to them.
• Respond to sounds and expressions by imitating what your baby does.
• Help your baby learn to self-soothe by letting them suck on their fingers.
• Pay attention to your baby's different cries so you can figure out what they want.
• Play peek-a-boo.
• Hold a toy or rattle above your baby's head and encourage them to reach for it.
• Use various sensory toys.

If any of the following occurs, consult a doctor :

• Your baby does not respond to loud noises.
• Your baby does not follow the movement of the objects.
• When you stimulate the area around your baby’s mouth, it does not move in that direction.
• Your baby does not show any sucking behavior when anything touches their mouth.
• Your baby does not have enough strength to hold onto what is in their hand.
• Even if you put your hand in front of your baby’s eyes, your baby does not blink reflexively.
• Your baby’s body movements are not symmetrical, with only one side being used or one side not being used at all.

(Source : Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency : 2017 Korean National Growth Charts for Children and Adolescents, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services : Developmental Stages, Ministry of Health and Welfare: Parenting Guide for New Dads)