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| Infant development: During the first 3 months |
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A lot happens during your baby's first three months, and part of the wonder of parenting is watching, recognizing and reinforcing these changes. Although every baby's developmental achievements are different, the following month-by-month milestones can be used as a general guide.
 The first month
The second month
The third month |
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| The First month |
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The first month is a huge adjustment for everyone in the new family. At first, life with baby may feel like an endless cycle of feeding, diapering and soothing. Sleep deprivation for the parent is often the hardest part of parenting at this stage. Until the baby really starts interacting with you, parenting may be stressful, particularly if you're sometimes unable to stop your baby's crying.
By the end of the first month, though, babies are livelier and more responsive. During this time, your baby will:
 Begin to have distinct facial expressions. A momentous occasion during the early weeks of life is your baby's first smile. Although you'll often see a happy look on your newborn's face, an infant generally doesn't focus on your face and smile right at you until after the first month, usually by the eighth week.
Move around more. Your baby will test out his or her muscles this month as they grow and gain strength. Babies begin to wobble their heads and practice flexing their arms and legs for the first time. By the end of the month, your baby will seem less floppy and more in control.
Start looking at things. One of the most important visual tasks in the first few weeks of life is learning to focus. By the end of the first month, babies can focus both eyes together to see a single object at a distance of 8 to 12 inches, such as focusing on the parent's eyes |
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during feeding.
Respond to loud noises. Month-old babies respond to loud noises by blinking, startling, frowning and waking from light sleep. Even everyday household sounds — footsteps on the floor, water running — elicit subtle responses, such as increased limb movement or slowed sucking rhythm. However, babies easily become used to background noise and tune it out.
Sense smells and touches. Newborns can detect both good and bad smells. They also are sensitive to the way you hold, rock, feed and caress them. |
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| The Second Month |
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As your baby approaches the 2-month mark, he or she reaches many more milestones.
By about the eighth week of life, your baby will:
Recognize your voice. A 2-month-old baby can differentiate voices from other sounds, and the sound of a voice — especially a parent's — evokes an immediate response. Even at this early age, a baby who screams with a baby sitter may calm immediately when a parent enters the room and talks in a soothing voice.
Become more social. Your baby can now smile on purpose, blow bubbles and coo if you talk or gently play with him or her.
Get stronger. Each day, your baby's neck muscles gain strength. By 2 months, many babies can hold their heads at midline — facing straight ahead — while lying on their backs. On their stomachs, they can lift their heads about 45 degrees. By now, your baby also has stronger kicking reflexes.
See better. By 2 months, babies begin to examine more complex designs, along with a variety of colors, sizes and shapes. Having mastered the skill of focusing, they're also learning to follow (track) moving objects with their eyes.
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| The Third month |
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By the third month, you and your baby probably will have established a daily routine of feeding, sleeping, diaper changing and playing. The process may not have been easy, but you're both starting to reap the rewards. As each day passes, your baby's distinct personality traits begin to shine through more and more.
By 12 weeks of age, babies can:
Express affection. Your baby will begin to reach for you when he or she needs attention, and snuggle in your arms for security and happiness.
Play independently. An infant at 3 months can, with minimal parental involvement, play for as long 10 or 15 minutes at a time. An interesting sight or sound easily distracts an infant this age from almost anything — even nursing. Three-month-old babies spend time staring at things — pictures, mobiles, their own hands.
Move with purpose. At this age, babies' neck muscles are strong enough to support their heads independently for a second or two. Although they can't roll over yet, they are getting close by turning from side to back. Also, if you set a toy in front of your baby, he or she will grasp it and hold onto it for a few moments.
Speak their own language. By this time, your baby coos constantly, making more noises and sounds every day. When you talk to your baby close-up, wait for a vocal or body
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| response. Even when you don't talk one-on-one, your baby still enjoys hearing your voice from across the room. |
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