What should you expect as your baby turns 3 months?
Your little one loves your face! So talk, sing, and read to them often!
You may have heard that the first three months of your newborns life is considered the “fourth trimester.” By week 12, you’ll have graduated from your very last trimester! Congratulations!
According to Verywell Family, “month 3 is a turning point for many babies and parents.” Why is that?
Well, for starters, your newborn is no longer considered a newborn. They are now your baby and over the last three months they have likely mastered several milestones so far.
During the Third month, your child will likely:
Tracking objects with their eyes
Their legs become more active
Reaching and grasping with their hands
Babble and noises become more constant
Mastering Tummy Time
Their heads follow sounds
Your baby’s head and neck control is continually getting stronger
Thanh-Tam Nguyen, MD, a pediatrician and medical director at CalOptima in Orange County, CA, tells Verywell Family that “3-month-old babies should be able to hold their head up well and while laying on their stomach, be able to push up with their arms to support their chest.”
Your baby may also be finding a more predictable sleeping schedule and eating schedule. And if your baby has been dealing with colic, hopefully, it is subsiding.
And while raising a baby is still tiresome, all of the hard and difficult parts are made better with the smiles you are likely receiving from your little one now! Despite their colic subsiding, the fussiness they are likely showcasing probably isn’t colic, but instead because of a growth spurt. And just like we mentioned in their first month, your baby is continuing to gain 1 1/2 to 2 pounds every month. And growing 1 to 1 1/2 inches taller.
When it comes to spitting up, it’s normal for your 3-month-old to spit up on occasion. So long as your baby is still growing and not bothered by the spit-up, everything is OK. And your baby may be drooling more often at this point. This is likely due to their teeth getting ready to come in. The only time drooling is cause for concern is if they’re also having trouble breathing or if they also have a fever or congestion. If this is the case, seek emergency medical attention.
Feeding and sleeping
While many parents choose to feed on demand, feedings usually occur every 2 to 3 hours if you are breastfeeding and four ounces, every 3 to 4 hours if you are formula feeding.
It’s documented that if you’re bottle-feeding and your baby doesn’t finish their bottle, there is a window of time they can drink from that same bottle again. If breast milk is in the bottle, they can still drink from it again within two hours. Formula only has a one hour shelf life.
According to Babycenter, if your baby is sleeping for long stretches during the night, it’s usually not crucial for you to wake your baby up to eat. However, discuss that with your doctor first!
Speaking of sleep, did you know a one-month-old will sleep anywhere between 14 to 17 hours a day! However, it is likely your little one won’t have a normal sleep schedule until they’re about 3 months old.
Babycenter suggests that even though a sleep schedule may not exist for a few months, by starting a consistent bedtime routine, it could help teach your baby when it’s bedtime.
Doctors Visits
Your baby will get a 1-month and 2-month checkup! After that, they’ll visit the doctor every two months for their first year of life. During their 4-month doctor visit:
DTaP (Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine)
