Three Month Old Milestones: What to Expect

At three months, your baby is shedding their "newborn" status and becoming a fun, interactive infant. The fourth trimester is ending, and you're likely settling into a rhythm. Babies at this age are more predictable, more interactive, and showing their personalities in delightful ways.

This is often when parenting starts feeling more rewarding—your baby smiles, coos, and clearly recognizes and loves you. AAP

Major Developments at Three Months

Social engagement: CDC

• Smiles spontaneously (not just in response)
• Enjoys playing with people
• May cry when playing stops
• Imitates some movements and expressions
• Shows a range of emotions

Beginning of laughter:

• Many babies laugh for the first time around 3-4 months
• May be a small chuckle or full laugh
• Usually in response to your silliness
• One of the best sounds you'll ever hear!

Physical Development

Head and neck control: Mayo

• Holds head steady when supported upright
• Lifts head and chest during tummy time
• Pushes up on forearms during tummy time
• May bring chin to 90 degrees during tummy time

Hands and reaching:

• Opens and closes hands
• Brings hands together
• Swipes at dangling objects
• May grasp (briefly hold) objects placed in hand
• Hand-eye coordination developing

Body control:

• May roll from tummy to back (some babies)
• Kicks strongly when lying on back
• Brings feet up and may grab them
• Overall muscle tone improving

Vision:

• Sees across the room
• Tracks moving objects smoothly
• Color vision improving
• Recognizes familiar faces from a distance
• Fascinated by faces

Cognitive Development

Learning: AAP

• Anticipates events (gets excited seeing bottle/breast)
• Recognizes familiar objects
• Shows preferences
• Problem-solving beginning (turns to find sound source)

Attention:

• Longer attention span
• Studies faces and objects intently
• Shows boredom when understimulated
• Curious about surroundings

Cause and effect:

• Learning that actions have results
• Notices when they make something move
• Repeats interesting actions
• Beginning of intentional behavior

Communication Development

Vocalizations: CDC

• More varied cooing
• Babbling starting (consonant sounds)
• "Talks" back when you talk
• Different sounds for different emotions
• May squeal with excitement

Listening:

• Turns toward sounds
• Recognizes your voice specifically
• Responds to tone of voice
• May startle less at sounds

Non-verbal:

• Facial expressions more varied
• Body language clear (excitement, boredom)
• Eye contact strong
• Communicates wants through movement

Social and Emotional Development

Attachment: AAP

• Clear preference for parents/caregivers
• May be wary of strangers
• Calmed by familiar people
• Shows distress at separation

Emotions:

• Expresses joy, frustration, boredom
• May protest loudly
• Shows anticipation (excitement before feeding)
• Has distinct personality emerging

Interaction:

• Enjoys social play
• May "flirt" with smiles and coos
• Likes watching other children
• Responds to emotions in others

Sleep at Three Months

Patterns developing: NSF

• 14-16 hours total daily
• Some babies sleep 5-6 hour stretches at night
• May be developing day/night pattern
• Naps more predictable for some

What to expect:

• Wide variation in sleep patterns
• Some babies sleeping through; many aren't
• Still too young for formal sleep training
• May establish bedtime routine

Feeding at Three Months

Breastfeeding: AAP

• More efficient—feeds may be shorter
• 6-8 feeds per day typical
• May be distracted during feeds
• Growth spurts may increase frequency

Formula feeding:

• 5-6 ounces per feeding
• About 5-6 feedings daily
• 28-32 ounces total daily
• More predictable schedule

Milestones Checklist

Most 3-month-olds: CDC

• Smile spontaneously
• Enjoy playing with people
• Copy some movements and expressions
• Babble and coo
• Turn head toward sounds
• Hold head steady
• Push up on arms during tummy time
• Open and close hands
• Bring hands to mouth

Some 3-month-olds may:

• Laugh
• Roll from tummy to back
• Grasp objects deliberately
• Sleep longer stretches

Talk to your doctor if:

• Doesn't respond to loud sounds
• Doesn't follow moving things with eyes
• Doesn't smile at people
• Doesn't bring hands to mouth
• Can't hold head steady when supported upright

Supporting Development

Physical development: Mayo

• Plenty of tummy time (building strength)
• Floor time for kicking and moving
• Reaching games (hold toys for baby to swipe at)
• Supported sitting practice

Cognitive development:

• Varied visual stimulation
• Introduce new textures, sounds
• Reading and singing
• Simple cause-effect toys (rattles, crinkly toys)

Communication:

• Talk constantly throughout the day
• Wait for "responses" in conversation
• Imitate their sounds
• Read picture books
• Sing songs with gestures

Social-emotional:

• Face-to-face play
• Silly faces and sounds
• Mirror play
• Interaction with safe others
• Consistent, responsive care

What's Coming Next

In the next month or two:

• Rolling both directions
• Laughing more
• Reaching and grabbing deliberately
• Putting everything in mouth
• More babbling with consonants
• Beginning to bear weight on legs

What Other Parents Ask

Q: My baby isn't rolling yet. Is that okay?
A: Yes! Rolling typically happens between 4-6 months. Some babies roll early (even at 3 months), while others take longer. Focus on tummy time to build the necessary strength. AAP

Q: My baby seems so distracted during feeding. Is this normal?
A: Very normal at this age! Babies become much more interested in the world around 3 months. Feed in a quiet environment if needed. Brief, focused feeds are often fine.

Q: Should I be doing more to teach my baby?
A: Your natural interaction IS teaching. Talking, singing, playing, responding—this is everything your baby needs. Formal "educational" activities aren't necessary. CDC

Q: My baby puts everything in their mouth. Is that okay?
A: Completely normal and developmentally appropriate. This is how babies explore. Just ensure objects are safe (no choking hazards) and clean enough.

The Bottom Line

Three months is a delightful age—your baby is social, interactive, and showing their personality. Major developments include strong social smiling, beginning babbling, better head control, and emerging reaching skills.

Key milestones:

• Spontaneous social smiling
• Cooing and beginning babbling
• Steady head control
• Pushes up during tummy time
• Opens/closes hands, swipes at toys
• Shows range of emotions
• Enjoys social play

Clara is here to help you celebrate your three-month-old's development!