3 months old

Development

Around three months, many babies genuinely turn a corner. Where the newborn weeks could feel like unbroken need, this stage often brings a baby who is more settled, more sociable, and a little more predictable to be around. Delighted chuckles and high squeals start to appear, usually in response to you — a tickle, a silly voice, a familiar face leaning in. Smiling is more generous and easier to earn, and many babies begin holding longer "conversations" of coos and gurgles, waiting for you to answer and then chiming back in.

Physically, head control is firming up. During tummy time a three-month-old can often lift and hold the head more steadily and begin pushing up onto the forearms, building the neck and shoulder strength that later rolling and sitting depend on. Hands are coming together at the midline, and you'll see the first swipes and reaches toward dangling toys — not always accurate, but purposeful. Keep offering short, frequent bouts of supervised tummy time and a few interesting things to look at and bat at; that everyday play is exactly what this stage needs. As always, timelines vary widely from baby to baby, so read this as a general picture.

Sleep & days

As awake windows gradually lengthen and sleep slowly consolidates, days may start to feel more organised — a rough shape you can half-predict rather than a series of surprises. Many families notice a loose, cue-led daytime rhythm beginning to emerge: feed, a stretch of alert play, tired signs, sleep, and around again. This isn't a rigid schedule and doesn't need to be; following your baby's tired cues and offering sleep before they tip into overtired remains far more reliable than clock-watching at this age.

A couple of things commonly throw parents at three months. Drooling can ramp up noticeably well before any tooth is anywhere near arriving, so a suddenly soggy chin and lots of hands-in-mouth is usually just normal development and saliva production — not a reliable teething sign on its own. And every baby's sleep timeline is genuinely their own: some are stretching nights, others are not, and both are within the range of normal. Hold gently to your calm wind-down, keep the sleep space simple and safe, and let the rhythm settle at its own pace. If your baby's sleep or feeding changes in a way that worries you, it's always reasonable to contact your healthcare professional.

Feeding

It's still early for solids at three months. The signs that a baby is truly ready to start — steady head control, being able to sit up with support, and a genuine interest in reaching for and mouthing food — usually come together a bit later, often around the middle of the first year. Starting before those signs are in place doesn't help and can complicate things, so there's no rush and nothing to catch up on here.

For now, milk is the whole show, whether that's breast, bottle, or a combination — it provides everything your baby needs at this stage. You may notice feeds becoming a little more efficient as your baby gets stronger and more coordinated, and some babies naturally space feeds out a touch. If you have questions about how much or how often your baby is feeding, weight gain, or when and how to eventually introduce solids, your healthcare professional is the right person to talk it through with, and can tailor the timing to your particular baby.