Baby Milestones in the First 3 Months: What To Expect, Fun Facts and Top Tips

Welcome to your baby's first milestones! Think of these as your little one's personal highlight reel – those magical "first" moments that have you excited to capture and record every smile, wiggle, and coo. From their first attempts at rolling over to those heart-melting social smiles, these developments are your baby's way of showing off their growing skills. While healthcare professionals use these baby milestones to check that everything's on track, they're really more like loose guidelines than strict rules – after all, every baby is their own tiny individual! Some babies might be champion rollers while others take their sweet time, and that's totally okay. Whether your little one is right on schedule, taking their time, or even skipping some steps altogether (hello, baby who went straight to walking!), what matters most is that they're making progress in their own unique way.

We found that the first three months of our babies lives flew by in a whirlwind of high emotion and little sleep! However, in amongst the chaos of nappies, feeding, and adapting to a totally new way of life, your baby will experience some of our favourite first baby milestones.

The First Three Months: Your Baby's Adventure Begins!

Get ready for an incredible journey through your baby's first three months! From wobbly head lifts to those first precious smiles, let's explore what you might see your little one achieving. Remember, every baby is unique, and these timeframes are just rough guides – your little superstar will develop at their own perfect pace!

Moving and Grooving (Physical Development) 

Those tiny muscles are getting stronger every day! Around 2 months, you'll notice your little one starting to lift their head during tummy time (even if it's just for a few seconds!). By 3 months, they're typically becoming quite the mini athlete – pushing up during tummy time, kicking those legs like they're training for the baby Olympics, and discovering their hands are actually part of their body (cue endless face-grabbing!). You might even spot them swiping at hanging toys, though their aim might need a bit of work!

Did you know - Tummy time develops your baby’s visual skills as they can see the world at eye level rather than just the ceiling!

Top Tip - give your baby some tummy time from birth. Starting with just a few minutes a couple of times a day and building this over the coming weeks. This tummy time helps with physical development, learning about movement. Remember to always supervise your baby when they’re on their tummy and make it fun by getting on their level face-to-face.

Becoming a Social Butterfly (Social and Emotional Development) 

Here's where the real heart-melting moments begin! Around 2 months, get ready for those first proper smiles (and no, it's not just wind!). Your baby will start to recognise your face and might even try to 'chat' with some adorable coos and gurgles. By 3 months, they can be proper little performers – smiling spontaneously, trying to copy your expressions, and maybe even getting a bit dramatic when playtime ends. Those early 'conversations' of babbles and giggles are just the beginning of your lifelong chats!

Did You Know? Your baby can recognise your voice from the day they're born! During those 9 months in the womb, they were already tuning into your conversations, which is why they often calm down when they hear their parents speaking. Even more fascinating - babies are born with a preference for their native language's rhythm and can actually distinguish between their mother tongue and foreign languages!

Top Tip - I loved doing this with both my children - the "Mirror Game"! Hold them in front of a mirror and pull different expressions - stick out your tongue, smile wide, or make gentle sounds. Not only will this help develop their social skills and facial recognition, but it's also a fantastic bonding activity. Plus, babies often find their mirror image fascinating, and you might get some amazing giggles out of it! 

Don't forget to capture all your baby's firsts with our 'All My Firsts' prints

Brain Power (Cognitive Development)

Your baby's brain is like a tiny sponge, soaking up everything! At 2 months, they're fascinated by faces and might follow you around the room with their eyes (yes, they're definitely watching you!). By 3 months, they're typically showing off their growing intelligence – tracking moving objects, recognising familiar faces from further away, and even showing preferences for different toys. You might notice they're becoming a bit pickier about strangers too – that's their brain learning to distinguish between familiar and new faces!

Did You Know? Your baby's brain is incredibly busy - it doubles in size in the first year of life and reaches about 80% of adult size by age three! Even more amazing, every second, your baby is forming around one million new neural connections. These connections are strengthened through everyday experiences like your touch, voice, and even simple games of peek-a-boo!

Top Tip - Try creating a "Contrasting Corner"! Make a special area with high-contrast items (think black and white patterns or strong colour contrasts) in your baby's line of sight during awake times. This could be as simple as a striped blanket or some bold pattern cards. In these early months, babies see high-contrast images most clearly, and this kind of visual stimulation helps develop their attention span and cognitive processing. Just remember to switch up the patterns every few days to keep it interesting!

5 Further Ways To Support Your Baby’s Development from Birth to 3 Months

Talk and Sing Constantly - encourage language and listening skills by narrating your day, singing nursery rhymes and mimic their coos and babbles. Babies love to hear your voice!

Encourage Grasping - to develop motor skills. Offer baby rattles, soft toys or your finger to grasp. You can also hang toys just within reach during tummy time.

Go Outside - to stimulate senses. Take baby for a stroller walk or sit in the shade outdoors. Let them feel the breeze, listen to birds and watch the leaves move.

Introduce Textures - to develop tactile senses. Gently touch their hands and feet with different fabrics, like a soft blanket, a smooth scarf, or a sponge.

Peek-a-Boo - to boost their social and emotional development. Hide behind your hands, a blanket, or a nearby object and then “reappear” with a smile and a gentle “boo!”

Top Tip - remember to capture all your baby milestones with our ‘All My First Prints’. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your little one changes!

 

Sources:

• NHS Start4Life (www.nhs.uk/start4life)
• NHS Buckinghamshire (https://www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/cyp/pifs/fun-ways-to-play/)
• Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) developmental guidelines
• The National Childbirth Trust (NCT)
• UCL (University College London) Institute of Education
• The NHS Birth to Five Book
• NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) 
• The Royal College of Occupational Therapists' 
• UNICEF UK Early Years Brain Development Research
• Centre for Child, Adolescent and Family Research, University of Cambridge 
• First 1001 Days Movement UK research papers
• Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH)

Remember: While this guide is based on typical development patterns, every baby is unique. If you have any concerns about your baby's development, your health visitor or GP is always there to help. What's most important is celebrating your little one's achievements, whenever they happen!