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Infant (early)

Development in month 3

Development month by month — what your baby is learning now, what to watch, and how to support.

Motor milestones

  • Holds head at 90° in tummy position
  • Hands open, brings hands to midline
  • Eye-hand coordination starts: reaches for toys
  • Legs kick strongly on back

Cognitive milestones

  • Tracks objects over 180°
  • Looks deliberately at faces and objects
  • Shows boredom by crying when activity is missing

Social and emotional milestones

  • Laughs and chuckles in response to interaction
  • Reliably recognises primary caregivers
  • Responds to being spoken to with happy faces

Language milestones

  • Varied vowel sounds (‘a-goo’, ‘ooo’)
  • Begins to ‘reply’ in conversation

Red flags — when to see the paediatrician?

  • No hand-mouth contact, hand remains fist
  • Head cannot be held in tummy position
  • No cooing or sound production
  • No response to visual stimuli

Activity ideas

  • Hang toys above the baby (mobile, play arch)
  • Read board books with high-contrast colours
  • Sing songs with hand claps and gestures
  • Tummy time several times daily, now 10–15 min

Common concerns and tips

From month 3, many parents face early sleep regression (first sleep change around week 16). The baby is now much more awake and needs more stimulation.

Development varies. This information is based on WHO and CDC milestones but does not replace paediatric assessment. If in doubt, consult your paediatrician.

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