3 - 6 Months
3 months
Social
Becoming very alert.
Moving head deliberately to look around.
Smiles at faces.
Eagerly anticipates the breast or bottle.
Fixes eyes on mother or carer feeding them.
Begins to react to similar situations, eg. Smiling at parent, coos and shows excited movements getting ready for the bath etc.
Responding happily to playful tickle and cuddle.
Distinguishes between parents and strangers.
Physical
When pulled gently to sit, holds head up.
When lying on stomach lifts head up.
Fully stretches arms and legs.
Waves hands together.
Can hold small objects for longer.
Can briefly bear weight when held on legs, sags at knees.
Visual
Visually very alert.
Holds toys but cannot coordinate hand and eyes.
Looks at own hands and plays happily.
Makes eye contact.
Likes detailed contrasting objects.
Vocal/Auditory
Sudden loud noises still distress them.
May begin laughing.
Makes different cries according to need.
Turns head to the sound source.
Makes longer sounds
3-6 months
Social
Still friendly with strangers, but does like a familiar face close by.
Learns that people and objects have names.
Makes gestures to communicate needs.
Enjoys social interaction.
When offered a toy, reaches for it immediately .
Physical
Raises head when lying on back.
Sits when propped up, and turns head side to side to look around.
Hold arms out when they want to be picked up.
Bears weight on legs and loves jumping up and down supported.
Can roll from tummy onto side to back.
When lying on stomach lifts head and chest well off the ground.
Learns about objects by tasting them.
Everything goes straight to the mouth.
Very interested in toys and small objects and reaches out for them.
May start transferring toy from hand to hand.
Enjoy their feet as well as hands in play.
Visual
Can see across a room by 6 months.
Lifts head 90 degrees to locate people.
Eyes move together.
Stares at interesting small objects.
Easily distracted.
Vocal/Auditory
Enjoys social interaction.
Turns immediately to a familiar voice in a room.
Starts using sing-song vowel sounds.
Changes mouth shape to change sounds.
Laughs when tickled.
Chuckles and squeals aloud in play.