Your baby has reached month three, the showtime of what some seasoned parents may describe as the enchanted months.

For the next several weeks, your cute bundle of smiles will probably be pretty happy (often, hopefully!), sleeping for longer at night (sometimes!), and not yet independently mobile (less stressful for parents).

In other words, your baby will be a picayune treasure to be around for a good bit of the time. Ahhhhh.

Here's what else to expect this calendar month.

Your 3-month-old baby'south evolution

At a Glance

Sleeping basics

Babies upwards to 3 or 4 months old need fourteen to 16 hours of sleep in a 24-60 minutes catamenia, usually waking every 2 to four hours to eat. They'll probably be on the longer end of that range by the 3- or 4-month mark, though every infant is unlike.

Feeding basics

Breastfed babies should eat equally much every bit they want at this historic period, only a general rule of pollex is 4 ounces of pumped chest milk or formula every iii to four hours (give or take) over a 24-hour period.

Did you know?

Babies this age love hugs, which can help with cognitive evolution, research shows.

Your baby volition most probable be able to lift the head xc degrees — thanks to all that stomach time exercise you've been providing.

Other milestones to look for this month: She'll be able to express joy out loud and tin probably anticipate existence picked up when she sees you reach out.

She'll also probably be able to gyre over and plough in the direction of a sound.

Many babies this age will have expanded their speaking repertoire to be able to string together vowels and consonant sounds — similar "ah-goo."

And all babies love to play with their favorite toys — play gyms and action mats, of course, but as well sensory toys that trill, squeak, tweet or rattle when pressed or shaken.

Loftier on the fan favorite list are fun things that play music, especially in reaction to your baby's movements. And considering your trivial one is reaching for toys now, she'll specially love whatever plaything she can grab.

Be sure to continue reading to your curious cutie and watch how captivated she is past the pictures as you turn the pages.

Your 3-month-quondam baby'south growth

Does your babe seem to exist gaining a little too much weight, or a little also picayune?

Earlier you jump to any conclusions about your little one's rate of growth, conversation with your doc about whether she is actually overweight and not just baby-appropriately rounded … or really underweight and not just genetically predestined to be on the slender side.

For an accurate assessment, talk to your pediatrician and take a look at your babe'southward weight in relation to length on the height-weight chart.

If both the height and the weight are on a similar curve, it could exist that your baby is just bigger or smaller than average.

Just if your picayune 1'southward weight seems to be moving up faster than babe'southward length, or vice versa, your medico will let you know (and you lot can ask for advice too). Your infant may be picking up a few too many pounds too quickly … or non putting them on quite quickly plenty.

Why does information technology matter? Babies who gain weight also rapidly in the first vi months may be at an increased risk of obesity by as early on as historic period three. And babies who stay overweight through historic period iv are at increased risk of condign overweight adults.

And then in one case your doctor confirms that your babe needs to slow downward a fleck, you'll want to put the brakes on the fast-paced growth past not overfeeding your trivial i.

In other words, don't always soothe baby with a bottle or the breast whenever she'southward fussy. Endeavor other sources of comfort and realize those cries may not always hateful she'south hungry.

Also try not to push baby to finish the bottle or the other breast if she signals she's full. And make certain your baby gets plenty of time to movement around while she's awake. Resist the urge to strap baby into the car seat or swing about of the twenty-four hour period.

If, on the flip side, your baby seems to be on the too-lean side (and the doctor agrees), you'll probably need to step upward your feeding efforts then she tin can step up that weight proceeds.

Make sure your lilliputian 1 is eating often enough and getting enough milk during feedings. Some babies are besides busy or likewise sleepy to demand regular meals, and others skimp on feeds considering they're just equally content to suck on a pacifier.

Your iii-calendar month-old baby'due south health

Infant is in between well-baby visits this month, merely in that location are still plenty of exciting things happening with her growth, development and health.

Baby eczema

If your lilliputian ane has dry out, flaky, rashy pare, she could accept infant eczema. In babies, rashes unremarkably start out on the scalp and face. Children with lighter pigmented skin tend to take pink or ruby-red version, while babies with darker pigmented peel tend to have a red-brown, purplish or grayish rash. Read More

Ear infections

Babies get ear infections when they take hold of a common cold or other upper-respiratory infection, which causes the lining of one of the ear tubes to keen, go congested, and accumulate fluid. Read More

Baby sunscreen rules

Babies this age should exist kept out of direct sunlight, simply if you lot tin can't find a spot in the shade, it's okay to apply a little bit of infant-condom sunscreen with an SPF of 30 to 50 to your little one'south face up, dorsum of the hands and tops of the feet. Read More

COVID-19 symptoms in babies

Most babies seem to develop fairly mild cases of COVID-xix, and some of the symptoms — runny nose, sneezing, cough — are similar to those of the common cold. But infants may have higher rates of more than serious illness than older kids. Read More

Skin rashes

Problems bites, allergies and viral and bacterial infections tin can all cause itchy rashes that tin can range from scaly or pimply to oozy. Rest bodacious, about skin rashes are no large bargain, and will go abroad on their own or with a little assistance from the doctor, who may suggest a prescription or OTC cream or medication. Read More

Postpartum & new baby tips

Babe at terminal

She may not get an bodily diploma, merely this calendar month marks your baby'due south official graduation from newborn to infant condition. She'south still got a lot to learn (obviously!), but one thing she definitely realizes now is at that place's more to life than eating, sleeping and pooping!

These days, she'due south likely to stay awake for longer stretches during the solar day and (with any luck) stay asleep for longer at night besides.

Your baby is no doubt making y'all chuckle too, and she's probably giggling by now (bring on the raspberries!) as well as bringing those little paws together (handclapping hands!).

Some babies may fifty-fifty begin to comport a fleck of weight on their legs, but don't worry if yours doesn't — she's non ready and that'southward merely fine.

Exercising after baby

If you're struggling to discover time to fit in exercise, be easy on yourself. It tin can be as simple as taking out the stroller.

Just make sure you lot've gotten the green light from your practitioner before starting back into your do routine, and never exercise to the signal of exhaustion (you're probably exhausted enough from the lack of sleep!).

Besides helping you with weight loss afterward commitment, a brisk walk with babe is a great way to run into other parents, stay good for you and articulate your heed.

Your baby'due south personality

One thing your 3-month-sometime baby is definitely ready to do is show yous that budding personality.

She may be serious, empty-headed, gregarious, persnickety or determined — the bottom line is she is who she is and she's all yours!

Don't requite in to the urge to compare your little one with other babies. Every infant is different and special!

Finding a caregiver

Online searches can be a expert way to detect child care, only the best way to find out most summit-notch babysitter or nanny candidates or reputable day care centers is often word of mouth.

Don't be shy about asking parents if they tin can recommend a nifty infant caregiver. Nursery schoolhouse teachers and your child's pediatrician are also good sources, as are bulletin boards at your doctor's part, library or firm of worship.

If you do go online, get names of licensed day care centers near y'all from your land'south Web site (usually, the two-letter of the alphabet postal abbreviation followed by .gov). And so arrange a visit with your little one.

Looking for a nanny? Agencies on the Web sometimes sell lists of pre-screened candidates — though you should always await into references yourself and make sure there's been a thorough background check, as well every bit doing in-person interviews (with your infant!).

Boosting baby's development

Aside from your usual care and feeding of your baby, your job now is as well to stimulate your little ane'due south intellectual growth.

That's less complicated than it sounds — singing and talking are two wonderful ways to help a baby'south encephalon shift into high gear.

Some new twists to effort:

  1. Utilize different tones of voice as you speak.
  2. Sing songs with surprise endings — "Pop Goes the Weasel" is an oldie but goodie.
  3. When you tell a story or recite a plant nursery rhyme, insert your baby's name for a character's name and so she gets used to hearing information technology in a variety of tones and situations.
  4. Some other great way to increment infant's sensation of the globe is to have your petty one on expeditions. Go for a walk and scout infant respond with glee as she sees leaves motility and birds fly, or listens to the sounds of dogs, cars and simply well-nigh anything that makes a noise.

Fun games for baby

At playtime, those trivial hands and fingers are your baby's still favorite toys, but now she might be able to do even more with them.

During tum time, which she should be becoming a pro at by at present, try rolling a ball about 2 anxiety in front of your infant. With a piffling practice she'll shortly be able to coordinate hand-and-eye movements to accomplish for it.

It'southward schedule time!

At present that your babe is iii months quondam, she's developmentally prepare to be put on a schedule. Yay!

Just don't insist on a minute-by-minute plan. A likewise-strict schedule can exist as well much, while none at all is also stressful and hard on the whole family.

How tin can y'all establish a routine that works for everyone? Try to introduce a few anchors into your infant's day: a special chair for nursing, for example, a walk later on dejeuner, and bathroom and bedtime at the same time and in the same style each evening.

If she's feeding more frequently than you'd like, gradually stretch out the between-meal intervals by distracting babe with a song, a toy or a book.

If she oftentimes falls asleep without finishing a feed, endeavour to wake your baby up until it's over then you won't accept to kickoff once more and then soon.

The goal: Help your little one ease into a pattern that'southward not too strict or besides loose, simply just right.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, writer ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Wait follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such every bit peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Larn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

  • What to Expect the First Year, 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Skin Rashes in Babies and Toddlers, June 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Coronavirus Symptoms in Babies, March 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Easing Ear Infections in Babies and Toddlers, October 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Infant Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis and Contact Dermatitis), November 2018.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Sunscreen and Lord's day Protection for Babies: What Parents Need to Know, Nov 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How Much Should My Baby Eat?, April 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Hither's How Much Sleep Babies Need, June 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Newborn and Baby Sleep Nuts, May 2020.
  • National Sleep Foundation, How Much Slumber Does Your Baby Really Need?, 2020.
  • National Institutes of Health, Risk of Obesity at four to vi Years of Historic period Among Overweight or Obese 18-Month-Olds, Apr 2013.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Developmental Milestones: three Months, June 2009.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Pacifiers and Pollex Sucking, November 2020.
  • KidsHealth From Nemours, Your Baby's Growth: 3 Months, January 2019.
  • Mayo Dispensary, Thumb Sucking: Help Your Child Suspension the Habit, September 2020.

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