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Your third month with your baby is so exciting! This helpful post will explain all about the 3-month baby milestones, as well as games and play ideas to support infant development! Included are tips for tummy time, learning activities and tips and for developing gross motor skills. It’s a must-read for new moms as well as experienced mothers who just need a little refresher!

This post contains affiliate links, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Important Note: I do extensive research when writing these posts. I synthesize my research using many academic and reliable sources as well as my own personal experience. I fact check using the CDC, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (APA). I also consult the following reference books both for making decisions on raising my daughter and writing these posts:

Developmental Milestones

  • Baby can prop up onto arms when on his belly
  • Can hold head up unsupported for short periods of time
  • Can lift head 45 degrees when on tummy
  • Shows signs of boredom
  • Can kick and straighten legs while laying on back
  • Recognizes familiar people from a distance
  • Coos and babbles
  • Shows when happy or sad
  • Can imitate facial expressions

Sleep for 3 Month-Olds

Sleep Basics

  • Total sleep in 24 hour period: 14-16 hours
  • Nighttime sleep 8-10 hours (with 1-2 night time feedings)
  • Daytime sleep: 4-8 hours broken up into 3-4 naps

*These are averages. Remember your baby might sleep a little more or a little less. You can always talk to your pediatrician if you are concerned.

Because your little one can hold more food in their growing belly chances are they can sleep for longer periods of time. You are looking at 6-7 hours of uninterrupted nighttime sleep at a time!

However, before you get too excited your little one should be going to bed around 7 pm each night! That means with 7 hours of nighttime sleep will have your baby waking you up around 2 am.

Don’t worry too much though! Nurse your baby when they wake up and put them directly back to bed. After that, your baby should sleep through till the morning!

Bedtime Routine

This is how a nighttime schedule could look for you.

  • 6:30 pm Bathtime, books
  • 6:45 pm breastfeed or bottle
  • 7:00 pm Put baby to bed
  • 2-3am middle of the night feed (don’t wake baby up, wait for baby to wake up on their own)
  • 7 am Morning Wake up

Don’t forget! Babies should always be placed on their back to sleep. Remember “Back is Best” Placing your baby to sleep on their back reduces the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) tremendously.

Tip: If you want your baby to sleep soundly I highly suggest grabbing a DockATot. The DockATot is my #1 recommendation for new moms, and actually, any mom expecting a baby! The great thing about the DockATot during the newborn days is that you are able to safely and easily put the baby down just about anywhere. It will feel so cozy to your baby.  It was my favorite for night time anytime I wanted to relax and have her nearby. I think the DockATot was one of the biggest reasons my daughter was such a good sleeper in the early days and this really came in handy when sleep training! Yes, it is a bit pricey when it comes to baby products but I am sure you won’t regret the investment! Grab one with my affiliate link directly from DockATot here or with my Amazon link here.

Breastfeeding

Your baby will probably want to eat 8-10 times over a 24 hour period. This could be every 3-4 hours. Most babies will consume around 4-5 oz per feeding. A sample breastfeeding schedule could look like this:

  • 7 am: Wake up and Nurse
  • 9 am: Nurse and nap
  • 10:30 am: Wake up from Nap
  • 11:00 am: Nurse
  • 1:00 pm: Nurse and Nap
  • 2:30 pm: Wake up and Nurse
  • 4:00 pm: Nurse/ Bottle
  • 6:45 pm: Nurse
  • 7:00 pm Bedtime
  • 2am/3am: Middle of the night Nurse

How to Play with your 3-month-old

  • Talk to your baby all day long! This starts developing their language skills
  • Sing and Dance
  • Read books
  • Mimic sounds back to her to show the process of talking
  • Hug and snuggle often to show your baby affection and to build a sense of security!
  • Tummy time! You should continue doing tummy time! You will now want to put toys within reach so that he can start reaching out to grab them. Your baby is likely to hate tummy time but it is very important for strengthening his or her neck muscles! Keep at it for a few minutes each day to build up her stamina!
  • You can also play with your baby by dangling objects above their heads so that they have something to look at. A play gym is a great thing to have them look at as well!  It’s also a good idea to have a mobile for them to look at when they are in their swing or bouncy chair.

Appropriate Toys for your 3-Month-Old

  • Around this time your baby will start grasping toys for a few seconds and should even be reaching out for them. Provide soft crinkly toys that are easy to grab such as this fish or this cute butterfly.
  • A set of easily grippable rattles and teethers will also be really beneficial in the coming months. Teething can start as early as 3 months so you might want to have those on hand!
  • Ankle and Wrist Rattles for when your little one is practicing her kicking and stretching!

Helpful Tips for Baby’s 3rd Month

Establishing bedtime rituals is key for setting your baby up for sleep success. Playing quiet music from day 1 can be so helpful in getting your baby off on the right foot. Any kind of music playing device will work for this. We personally use the Sonos Play 1 because my husband is a tech nerd and we have Sonos in every room of the house basically. But any old music playing device will work! The one really nice thing I will say for the Sonos Play 1 is that you can control it using Alexa or with your smartphone. Being able to control the Sonos with your smartphone is super helpful If you need to turn on or adjust the music and you don’t want to walk into the room while the baby is falling asleep.

Your baby will soon be ready for some gently sleep training! read to see how you can establish a rock solid bedtime ritual and survive sleep training!

If you are headed back to work after your maternity leave check out my tips and tricks for returning to work after maternity leave.

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