Your baby has reached three months, and the changes are already striking. The tiny newborn who only slept and ate has become an alert, curious little person who smiles intentionally, lifts their head, and "talks" to you with cooing sounds.

Three months is an exciting age. Your baby is beginning to discover themselves and the world around them. Here is an overview of what to expect — and how you can support development.

Overview: What Can a 3-Month-Old Baby Do?

Here is a quick overview of the key milestones at 3 months:

Area	What most babies can do	Some babies can do
Motor	Hold head steady, lift chest during tummy time, reach for objects	Roll from tummy to back, hold a rattle briefly
Social	Smile intentionally, seek eye contact, respond to voices	Laugh out loud, "flirt" with gaze
Language	Coo, make vowel sounds (aaa, ooo)	Squeals of delight, high-pitched vocalizations
Cognitive	Recognize parents' faces, follow objects with eyes	Study own hands, respond to routines

All babies develop at their own pace. The table above shows averages. Talk to your pediatrician if you are concerned about your baby's development.

Motor Development at 3 Months

Three months is a major milestone for head control. Most babies can now hold their head steady for short periods and begin to use their arms actively.

What Most Babies Can Do

Hold their head steady when held upright against your shoulder
Lift head and chest during tummy time using their arms as support
Follow objects with their eyes 180 degrees (from side to side)
Open and close hands deliberately
Reach for objects held in front of them
Kick actively with their legs when lying on their back

Tummy Time Is Exercise

Tummy time is the best exercise for a three-month-old baby. It strengthens the neck, back, and shoulder muscles that your baby will need to roll, sit, and crawl later.

Tips for tummy time:

Start with short sessions (three to five minutes) several times a day
Lie down at eye level with your baby
Use colorful toys in front of your baby for motivation
Lay your baby on your chest instead of the floor if they protest
Don't give up even if your baby fusses a little — some discomfort is normal

Babies who dislike tummy time can be gradually encouraged. Start by placing your baby over your lap or on your chest in a reclined position. Increase the time little by little.

Social and Emotional Development

At three months, social life blossoms. The social smile typically appears around six to eight weeks, and by three months your baby has a full repertoire of facial expressions.

The Social Smile

The intentional smile is one of the most beloved milestones. Your baby doesn't smile just because they feel good — they smile at you in response to your voice, your face, and your attention.

Baby smiles when you smile
Baby smiles when you talk to them
Baby smiles at familiar faces
Baby may "flirt" — look away and back with a smile

Vocal Development

At three months, your baby begins to experiment with their voice. You will hear cooing, vocalizations (aaa, ooo), and maybe even laughter.

What to expect:

Cooing and vocalizations
Squeals of delight
Baby "answers" when you talk to them
First laughter may come around three to four months

How to encourage this:

Talk to your baby a lot — tell them what you are doing
Wait for a "response" — your baby needs pauses to respond
Sing songs and read rhymes
Use exaggerated facial expressions

Cognitive Development

The brain is developing at a remarkable rate. Your baby is learning to connect sensory impressions, recognize patterns, and understand simple cause and effect.

What Your Baby Understands

Recognizes parents' faces and voices
Prefers familiar people over strangers
Understands simple routines — recognizes the nursing or changing sequence
Follows movements with their eyes and turns their head toward sounds
Becomes fascinated with their own hands — studies them, sucks on them

Sensory Development

At three months, vision has improved significantly. Your baby sees colors clearly and can focus on objects at different distances.

Vision: Sees colors, follows movements, prefers faces
Hearing: Turns toward sounds, prefers higher-pitched voices
Touch: Enjoys feeling different textures
Taste: Prefers sweet (breast milk/formula)

Give your baby different things to look at and touch. A high-contrast black-and-white book, a rattle with various textures, or a soft fabric with a crinkle sound provides good sensory stimulation.

Sleep at 3 Months

At three months, many babies begin to sleep a little longer at night. But there is great variation — some sleep six hours straight, others still wake every two hours.

Typical sleep pattern:

Total of 14–17 hours sleep per day
Three to four naps during the day
Night sleep may get a little longer (four to six hours straight for some)
Baby is beginning to distinguish between day and night

Tips for better sleep:

Establish a consistent bedtime routine (bath, song, nursing, into bed)
Dark room at night, light during the day
Put your baby down when they are drowsy, but awake
Avoid overstimulation before bedtime

Feeding

At three months, your baby should still be getting only breast milk or formula. Other foods are not introduced until six months, in line with WHO and AAP recommendations.

Typical feeding pattern:

Six to eight feedings per day (may be more)
Formula: approximately 5–6 oz (150–180 ml) per feeding, five to six times per day
Your baby self-regulates how much they need

Do not give cereal, fruit puree, or other food to a three-month-old baby. The digestive system is not mature enough, and early introduction of solids can increase the risk of allergies. Wait until six months.

Well-Baby Visit at 3 Months

Most pediatric practices schedule a checkup around three months. Your healthcare provider will check:

Growth and head circumference
Head control and motor skills
Eye contact and social response
Hearing (response to sound)
Vaccinations

Vaccinations at 3 Months

Vaccinations at this age typically include (check your country's specific schedule):

DTaP — diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough)
Hib — Haemophilus influenzae type b
IPV — polio
PCV — pneumococcal
Rotavirus — given as drops

Your baby may be fussy or have a low fever after vaccinations. This is normal and usually passes within a couple of days.

Prepare for the visit:

Write down any questions you have
Note what your baby does and doesn't do
Bring your baby's health record

Activities for a 3-Month-Old Baby

You don't need fancy toys. The best activities use what you already have.

Good activities:

Mirror: Babies love looking at faces — including their own
Songs and rhymes: "Itsy Bitsy Spider" or "Pat-a-Cake" with movements
Tummy time with toys: Colorful objects placed in front of baby
Conversation: Tell your baby what you are doing throughout the day
Stroller walks: New surroundings provide sensory stimulation
Bath play: Kicking and splashing in warm water

Frequently Asked Questions

My baby still doesn't hold their head up — should I be concerned?

Head control develops gradually. Some babies are a little later than others. If your baby cannot lift their head at all during tummy time at three to four months, bring it up with your pediatrician.

How much tummy time does my baby need?

The AAP recommends at least 30 minutes of tummy time spread throughout the day. Start with short sessions and build up gradually. Quality matters more than duration.

When does a baby start to laugh?

First laughter usually comes between three and four months. Some babies laugh early, others take a little longer. Tickling, surprises, and exaggerated facial expressions can trigger laughter.

My baby is drooling a lot — is it teeth?

Increased saliva production around three months is normal and doesn't necessarily mean teeth. The first teeth usually come around six months, but some babies start drooling and chewing on things long before that.

Does my baby need vitamin D?

Yes. The AAP recommends 400 IU (10 micrograms) of vitamin D daily for all breastfed babies from shortly after birth. Formula-fed babies who consume at least 32 oz (about 1 liter) of formula per day typically get enough vitamin D from the formula. Ask your pediatrician for specific guidance.

What can a 3-month-old baby do — a quick summary?

At 3 months, most babies can hold their head steady, smile intentionally at you, make cooing sounds, follow objects with their eyes, and reach for things. They recognize their parents' faces and voices and show clear joy in social interaction.

How much should a 3-month-old baby weigh?

Weight varies significantly and depends on birth weight. Your pediatrician tracks the growth curve to verify your baby is growing steadily. As a general rule, most babies double their birth weight by 4–5 months. Talk to your pediatrician if you are unsure.

When do babies start to roll?

Most babies begin rolling from tummy to back around 4–5 months, and from back to tummy a little later. Some early rollers may start as soon as 3 months. Tummy time is the best training for strengthening the muscles needed for rolling.

Should I worry if my baby hasn't started laughing yet?

No. First laughter usually comes between 3 and 4 months, but some babies take a little longer. If your baby is smiling intentionally and making eye contact, development is on track. Bring it up with your pediatrician if your baby is not smiling or seeking contact by 3–4 months.

Baby at 3 Months: Development and Milestones