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The first year · 2 to 3 months

2 to 3 Months: Development, Research, and What Helps

Last reviewed · 26 min read · 13 activities · 12 common questions · 90 sources · Plain-text version

Month three brings coos, chuckles, and hands that finally find each other. Here's what's developing, what to expect after the 2-month shots, what the research says about talk and sleep, and what helps.

A parent lies face to face with a baby doing tummy time on their forearms while an older sibling cheers.

At a glance

  • Crying usually eases now. In diary studies, fussing and crying fell from about 2 hours a day in the first 6 weeks to about 1 hour by 10 to 12 weeks.
  • Soreness and fussiness for a day or two after shots are common. But before 12 weeks, any fever means call your pediatrician, even right after vaccines.
  • Don't give fever or pain medicine before shots, or to a baby this young at all, without your pediatrician's OK.
  • Talk, pause, and let your baby answer. Back-and-forth exchanges make baby sounds more speechlike.
  • Stop swaddling at the first sign your baby is trying to roll. Some babies start working on it around 2 months.
  • Longer night stretches often arrive between 2 and 4 months, but the normal range is wide. Night waking is not a problem to fix yet.
  • Aim for at least 30 minutes of tummy time a day, spread out in short sessions, while your baby is awake and watched.
  • Partners get postpartum depression too. If anyone at home feels low, numb, or frightened, call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA or 988.

Your month-three checklist

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Somewhere between 2 and 3 months, your baby starts to feel like a conversation partner: coos, long looks, and maybe a first chuckle. This guide picks up after the 2-month checkup. For colic, the crying peak, and first steps on head shape and going back to work, see the 1-month guide; next up is the 3-month guide.

What's developing

A baby lying on their back brings both hands together at their mouth.

Your baby is changing from a newborn who mostly reacts into a baby who acts on purpose. The AAP describes this stretch as one where newborn reflexes fade, babies stare at their hands, and personality starts to show (AAP).

Milestones: what to watch for next

CDC's 2-month checklist includes smiling when you talk, making sounds other than crying, and holding the head up on the tummy (CDC). The 4-month checklist lists skills at least 75% of babies show by that age, so it describes the months ahead, not what your baby must do today (Zubler et al., 2022).

By 4 months, most babies (CDC):

  • Social: smile on their own to get your attention, chuckle (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make them laugh, and look at you, move, or make sounds to get or keep your attention.
  • Communication: coo ("oooo," "aahh"), make sounds back when you talk, and turn toward your voice.
  • Thinking: open their mouth at the sight of a breast or bottle when hungry, and look at their hands with interest.
  • Movement: hold their head steady when you hold them, hold a toy you put in their hand, swing an arm at toys, bring hands to mouth, and push up onto elbows or forearms on their tummy.

Born early? Use corrected age for milestones during the first 2 years (AAP).

Smiles, chuckles, and first laughs

By the second or third month, many babies "talk" back with coos and gurgles and smile when they see or hear you (AAP). These back-and-forth exchanges are early practice for conversation (see the research). Chuckles are a 4-month milestone and full laughs a 6-month one (CDC), so there's a wide window.

Your baby is also sorting out who's who: familiar people get the big smiles, sitters may get a hesitant one, and strangers a curious stare. Around 3 or 4 months, babies become fascinated by other children. Looking away mid-chat is normal; it gives your baby some control and keeps them from getting overwhelmed (AAP).

Hands find each other

In month two, hands catch your baby's attention, and after many tries they reach the mouth, where sucking can become a way to self-soothe. By month three, fists relax, and many babies open and shut their hands, swipe at objects just out of reach, and may hold and shake a toy (AAP). Hands and eyes start working together around 2 months (AAP).

Expect drool, too. Salivary glands "kick into high gear" at around 2 to 3 months, before babies can swallow all that spit (Shu, AAP), and it isn't a sure sign of teeth (more below).

Eyes: tracking and color

By 3 months, babies should be able to focus on faces and close objects and follow a moving object with their eyes. Occasional wandering or crossing should be going away by 2 to 3 months. By 4 months, babies see colors and shades better and often love circular patterns, one reason faces are so appealing (AAP).

Head control and forearm push-ups

Most 2-month-olds can lift their head on their tummy, and some start trying to push up. By month three, kicks get stronger, and some babies begin rolling over, usually tummy to back first. Held upright on your lap, your baby may enjoy bearing a little weight and bouncing. The AAP advises against leaving babies in bouncer seats, where they get less chance to practice using their muscles (AAP). Rolling gets its own section in the 3-month guide.

Newborn reflexes fade

The startle (Moro) and stepping reflexes usually fade around 2 months, rooting around 4 months, the palm grasp at 5 to 6 months, and the "fencing" tonic neck reflex at 5 to 7 months. Tell your pediatrician if a reflex seems different on one side, or if your baby moves one side of the body better than the other (AAP).

Crying eases

For most families, this is when things get easier. Across 28 diary studies of 8,690 babies, fussing and crying averaged about 2 hours a day (117 to 133 minutes) for the first 6 weeks, then dropped to about 68 minutes by 10 to 12 weeks. Colic fell from 17% to 25% of babies in the first 6 weeks to 11% at 8 to 9 weeks and 0.6% at 10 to 12 weeks (Wolke et al., 2017). The AAP says colic is usually gone by 3 months, sometimes 4 (AAP).

A shrieking or panicked cry? Check for clothing that's bothering your baby or a strand of hair caught around a finger or toe (AAP).

Sleep at 2 to 3 months

Babies up to 3 months need 14 to 17 hours of sleep a day, naps included (WHO). Regular sleep cycles don't arrive until about 4 months (AAP), but this is when many babies start stringing together longer night stretches. In one diary study, the biggest gains in babies' self-settled night sleep came between 1 and 4 months (Henderson et al., 2010).

Growth and feeding

From 1 to 4 months, babies typically gain 1.5 to 2 pounds and grow 1 to 1.5 inches a month, and head size grows about half an inch a month. At 2 months, the soft spots should still be open and flat; by 3 months, the one at the back should be closed (AAP). For how much babies eat, see the feeding questions below.

What the research says

Some of these findings come from large studies, several from small lab experiments, and one famous claim is still disputed.

1. Babies learn that they can make things happen. In a classic experiment, 3-month-olds learned to make a crib mobile move by kicking. They usually forgot the trick after about 8 days, but a brief reminder the day before testing let them remember it after 2 or even 4 weeks (Rovee-Collier et al., Science, 1980). How long babies remember this kind of lesson grows steadily from 2 to 18 months (Hartshorn et al., 1998). Takeaway: Simple cause-and-effect play (I kick, the toy rattles) is real learning.

2. Reaching practice may give reaching a nudge. Babies who got 2 weeks of daily, parent-guided play with Velcro "sticky mittens" that let them pick up toys advanced in reaching; babies who only watched their parents handle the toys didn't (Libertus & Needham, 2010). In a follow-up with 24 not-yet-reaching babies just under 3 months old, plain mittens worked at least as well: after 16 days, only the plain-mitten group made significantly more toy contacts than 13 untrained babies (Williams et al., 2015). Takeaway: Repeated chances to reach for real toys seem to matter more than any gadget.

3. Taking turns makes baby sounds more speechlike. In a 1987 experiment with two groups of 20 three-month-olds, babies whose adult partner took conversational turns, rather than responding at random, made a higher share of syllable-like sounds (Bloom et al., 1987). In a randomized trial of 71 families, coaching parents at 6, 10, and 14 months increased their "parentese" and back-and-forth turns, and those increases went along with faster language growth through 18 months (Ferjan Ramírez et al., 2020). That trial started at 6 months, so it doesn't test younger babies directly. Takeaway: Talk, pause, and treat your baby's coo as their turn.

4. Babies prefer "parentese," and the finding replicated. Parentese is the higher-pitched, slower, more melodic way adults talk to babies (Ferjan Ramírez et al., 2020). Testing in 67 labs across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia confirmed that babies prefer it to adult-style speech, though the effect was about half the size earlier studies suggested, and stronger in older babies and when the speech matched their own language (ManyBabies Consortium, 2020). Takeaway: The voice you already use with your baby is the right one.

5. The "30 million word gap" is contested. Hart and Risley recorded 42 families for an hour a month, from age 7 to 9 months until age 3, and extrapolated a gap of roughly 30 million words heard between children in professional families and families on welfare, a figure they called a "first approximation" (Hart & Risley, 2003). A study of 42 children in five US communities didn't support that claim once talk from other caregivers and bystanders was counted (Sperry et al., 2019). Other researchers replied that speech directed to children, not overheard talk, is what drives learning (Golinkoff et al., 2019). A meta-analysis of 19 studies found a difference in child-directed speech, but much smaller than 30 million words, and none when all speech was counted (Dailey & Bergelson, 2022). Takeaway: Don't count words. Talk with your baby, not just near them.

6. At shot time, comfort helps and pre-dosing medicine doesn't. A Cochrane review of 10 trials (1,066 babies) found that breastfeeding during vaccination cut crying by about 38 seconds compared with water or nothing (moderate-quality evidence) (Harrison et al., 2016). In 230 babies getting 2- and 4-month shots, the "5 S's" (swaddling, holding on the side or stomach, shushing, swinging, sucking) lowered pain scores and crying (Harrington et al., 2012). A 2026 guideline strongly recommends oral comfort such as feeding or sucking for babies, and advises against video distraction for infants (Taddio et al., 2026). Medicine is different: in two trials with 459 babies, preventive acetaminophen (paracetamol) at vaccination cut fevers but also lowered antibody responses to several vaccines (Prymula et al., 2009). Takeaway: Feed, hold, and soothe through shots. Don't give medicine beforehand.

7. "Sleeping through the night" has a wide normal range. In a New Zealand study of 75 babies, half were sleeping from midnight to 5 a.m., or 8 hours, without needing a parent by about 3 months, yet 11 still weren't at 12 months (Henderson et al., 2010). In a Canadian study of 388 babies, 27.9% to 57.0% of 6- and 12-month-olds didn't sleep 6 or 8 hours straight, depending on the definition. Sleeping through wasn't linked to later mental or motor development or to mothers' mood, but it was linked to much lower breastfeeding rates (Pennestri et al., 2018). Takeaway: Long stretches come when they come. Waking at this age is normal.

8. Helmets for flat heads: the evidence is split. In a Dutch randomized trial of 84 babies aged 5 to 6 months with moderate to severe flattening, head shape improved just as much without a helmet as with one by age 2, and every helmet family reported side effects (van Wijk et al., 2014). A neurosurgery guideline reviewing 15 studies, mostly not randomized, concluded that helmets bring faster and larger improvement, especially for severe flattening (Tamber et al., 2016). The AAP says helmets may help if moderate or severe flattening hasn't responded to other treatment by 5 or 6 months (AAP). Takeaway: Right now, tummy time and position changes are the tools. Helmet decisions, if needed, come later.

Parenting techniques

A parent and an older sibling talk with a baby lying across the parent's lap.

After the 2-month shots

During the shots. Hold your baby and, if you can, breastfeed or offer a bottle or pacifier during and right after; feeding and sucking are among the best-supported comforts (Harrison et al., 2016; Taddio et al., 2026). Skip medicine beforehand (Prymula et al., 2009).

What's normal after. Soreness, redness, and swelling at the shot site usually start within a day and last 3 to 5 days (up to 7 with DTaP). Fussiness, restless sleep, extra sleep, and eating a little less usually pass within 24 to 48 hours. A warm, wet washcloth on the spot for 10 minutes and gentle massage can help. Under 6 months, the only fluids should be breast milk or formula (AAP).

Fever is the exception at this age. Most babies are still under 12 weeks at the 2-month visit. For them, the AAP's guide says any fever means call your pediatrician now, and don't give fever medicine before your baby is seen (AAP). In older babies, a low fever on day 1 or 2 after shots is a normal reaction.

Medicine rules. The AAP says not to give acetaminophen (Tylenol) to children under 2 without a doctor's guidance (AAP), or ibuprofen before 6 months unless your doctor says to (AAP).

After rotavirus vaccine. About 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 100,000 US babies who get it may develop intussusception, a bowel blockage, within a week (CDC). Call your pediatrician now for vomiting or severe crying after this vaccine, or for nonstop crying that lasts more than 3 hours after any shot (AAP).

Which vaccines, which schedule. US vaccine guidance has been changing. The AAP's 2026 schedule differs from CDC's, and the AAP now develops its schedule with other medical societies rather than with CDC (AAP; Contemporary Pediatrics, 2026). The 1-month guide lists the AAP's 2-month vaccines. Ask your pediatrician which schedule they follow.

Fall viruses. The AAP recommends RSV immunization for all babies under 8 months who are born during or entering their first RSV season, unless they're protected by a vaccine their birthing parent got in pregnancy (AAP). If your baby hasn't had it, ask. Babies under 6 months are too young for a flu shot, so the AAP recommends a yearly one for every eligible family member (AAP).

Play that matches new skills

  • Get face to face. Act excited when your baby makes sounds (CDC), and give them a moment when they look away (AAP).
  • Give hands something to do. Put a rattle in your baby's hand, and lay them on a blanket with safe toys to reach for and kick at (CDC).
  • Let them mouth safe things: nothing sharp, hot, or small enough to choke on (CDC).
  • Floor over seats. WHO advises interactive floor play several times a day and not keeping babies strapped in a stroller, seat, or carrier for more than 1 hour at a time (WHO).

Talk, read, and sing every day

Talk, read, and sing to your baby (CDC). The AAP recommends shared reading starting at birth (Klass et al., 2024); it's never too early (AAP).

  • Use your parentese voice: higher pitch, slower, more melody (Ferjan Ramírez et al., 2020).
  • Leave gaps long enough for your baby to coo back, then answer.
  • Narrate your day. Laundry, cooking, and tidying all come with words.

Script: "Ooh, you said 'ahh'!" (Pause.) "Ahh! Are you telling me about the window?" (Pause.) "Yes, the light is so bright."

Tummy time at 2 to 3 months

For babies who aren't moving around yet, WHO recommends at least 30 minutes on the tummy a day, spread out, while awake (WHO). The AAP suggests working up to 15 to 30 minutes a day by 7 weeks (AAP), and up to an hour a day in short sessions for babies with a flat spot (AAP).

  • Time it well: right after a diaper change or nap, with your face or toys in a circle around your baby to reach toward (AAP).
  • If your baby protests, try your chest, your lap, or side-lying with a rolled towel behind their back, and change positions every 10 to 15 minutes (AAP).
  • Stay with your baby the whole time. If they fall asleep, move them to their back in their own sleep space (AAP).

Head shape and neck check-ins

Flattening most often develops in the first 4 to 12 weeks, so this is a good month to look. After a bath, when hair is wet, check that the back of the head is evenly round, the ears line up, and the forehead looks balanced. About 85% of babies with torticollis (tight neck muscles) also have a flat spot. Skip "head-shaping" pillows: they can create a suffocation risk, and the FDA says there's no evidence they work (AAP).

For torticollis, you'll learn gentle neck stretches, and your pediatrician may suggest placing what your baby likes to look at so that turning toward it stretches the tight muscle. Early treatment usually works and can prevent lasting unevenness (AAP). The basics are in the 1-month guide.

Nights: what's realistic

  • Redefine "good sleeper." At this age, it's a baby who wakes often but can get back to sleep, not one who sleeps 10 hours straight (AAP).
  • Expect night feeds to shift, not vanish. Most formula-fed babies stop needing a middle-of-the-night feed between 2 and 4 months, or once they weigh more than 12 pounds, though this varies a lot (AAP). For breastfed babies, night feeds are common and an important share of the day's milk (Kent et al., 2006).
  • Keep nights calm and days lively: quiet feeds and changes at night, talk and play by day (AAP).
  • Never put your baby to bed with a bottle. Milk pooling in the mouth can lead to tooth decay and ear infections (AAP).
  • Offer a pacifier for sleep if your baby takes one; it lowers SIDS risk (Moon, AAP).
  • Wait on sleep training. The AAP's tips on putting babies down drowsy and not rushing in are for babies 4 months and older (AAP); see the 4-month guide.

Moving on from the swaddle

Stop swaddling as soon as your baby shows any sign of trying to roll; some babies start working on it as early as 2 months (Moon & Glassy, AAP). Rolling usually happens around 3 to 4 months but can come earlier (Moon, AAP). In a meta-analysis of four studies, SIDS risk with swaddling was highest when swaddled babies were placed on their stomach or side, and limited evidence suggested it rose with age (Pease et al., 2016).

  • Switch to a sleep sack that doesn't swaddle. Ones that let your baby move freely can be used as long as you like; ones that compress the arms and chest should stop at signs of rolling. One arm out is a comfort step, not a safety step: there's no evidence about SIDS risk with arms in versus out (Moon & Glassy, AAP).
  • No weighted sleep sacks, swaddles, or blankets (Moon, AAP).
  • Starting child care? Many centers don't swaddle, and babies swaddled for the first time at an older age may have a harder time waking (Moon & Glassy, AAP).

Feeding at 2 to 3 months

Follow your baby's cues, not the clock. Repeatedly bringing a hand to the mouth can mean hunger, but babies also suck for comfort. With bottles, offer a little less, since you can always give more, and pause so your baby can notice when they're full (Jain & Bunik, AAP).

Don't add cereal to bottles unless your pediatrician advises it; it can lead to overfeeding and to gagging or breathing the mixture in (AAP). Keep giving 400 IU of vitamin D a day if your baby gets any breast milk, or less than 32 ounces of formula a day (AAP). The 4-month and 6-month guides cover solids.

Back to work: pumping, bottles, and child care

Many parents go back around now. The Family and Medical Leave Act gives eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to care for a newborn (US Department of Labor). The 1-month guide covers pumping rights, paced bottle feeding, and child care basics. Next steps:

  • Practice first. Pump or hand express before you go back, build a frozen supply, and practice bottles once breastfeeding is going well. If your baby refuses, another adult may have better luck (CDC).
  • Pump when you'd feed, often 2 to 3 times a workday; babies 1 to 6 months old take about 2 to 3 ounces of breast milk per feeding (Office on Women's Health). Most nursing workers have a right to break time and a private space that isn't a bathroom for a year after birth (US Department of Labor).
  • Store it safely. Fresh milk keeps up to 4 hours at room temperature (77°F or colder), 4 days in the fridge, and about 6 months in the freezer (up to 12 is acceptable). Freeze 2 to 4 ounces per container, use leftovers within 2 hours, and never thaw or heat milk in a microwave (CDC).
  • Check child care. For babies 12 months and younger, the AAP lists a maximum of 3 babies per caregiver and 6 per group; ask about CPR training (AAP) and a written safe sleep policy (AAP), and share what calms your baby (AAP).

Your mental health, and your partner's

Most perinatal depression begins within 4 to 8 weeks after birth. Low mood, anxiety, or emptiness that is severe or lasts more than 2 weeks may be postpartum depression, which usually doesn't improve without treatment but does respond to therapy, medication, or both; zuranolone is the first FDA-approved pill specifically for it (NIMH). Your pediatrician should ask how you're doing at the 1-, 2-, 4-, and 6-month visits (Earls et al., 2019), and ACOG recommends your own full postpartum visit no later than 12 weeks after birth (ACOG, 2018).

Partners count. A meta-analysis of 43 studies found depression in about 10% of fathers around a birth, rising to about 26% at 3 to 6 months after birth (Paulson & Bazemore, 2010); a larger, later one of 74 studies found about 8% and no effect of timing (Cameron et al., 2016). Either way, it's common.

Scary thoughts are common too. In a study of 100 new mothers, all reported unwanted thoughts of their baby being accidentally harmed, and nearly half had unwanted thoughts of harming the baby on purpose, more often with high stress and little support. The study found little link between these thoughts and aggressive parenting (Fairbrother & Woody, 2008). If such thoughts feel like urges, or you're afraid you might act on them, get help today. Seeing or hearing things that aren't there, or feeling confused or out of touch with reality, can signal postpartum psychosis, an emergency: call 911 (NIMH).

Help now: call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262), or call or text 988 (CDC).

What to teach

Your baby doesn't need lessons. They learn from everyday back-and-forth with you, which helps build connections in the brain (Harvard Center on the Developing Child). This month, your baby is ready to learn:

  • My actions make things happen. A kick shakes the toy; a swipe makes the rattle sound (Rovee-Collier et al., 1980).
  • My voice gets answers. When you take turns with your baby's coos, their sounds become more speechlike (Bloom et al., 1987).
  • These are my hands. Looking at their hands with interest and bringing them to the mouth are 4-month milestones (CDC).
  • I can calm myself, a little. Sucking on hands can become a way to self-soothe (AAP), and it's not a habit to worry about at this age (AAP).
  • I'm safe and loved. You can't spoil a baby this age; prompt responses build the security that later lets them become confident and independent (AAP).

Screens: still video chat only

Babies under 18 months learn best from real-world interactions (Munzer, AAP), and WHO doesn't recommend any screen time for babies (WHO). Video chats with faraway family are the usual exception (Hill, AAP).

Family life is the lesson

Your baby is watching how your household runs, and narrating the work as you go ("Now I'm folding your tiny socks") turns everyday jobs into language time. The AAP suggests inviting older children to play with the baby, with clear rules such as never picking the baby up without permission (AAP); fetching a diaper or singing to the baby can be a big kid's first real family job. For how household jobs grow with age, see how to raise independent kids with chores.

Activities to try

Every activity here is for an awake, alert baby with an adult right there. Stop when your baby looks away, fusses, or arches. If your baby gets sleepy, lay them on their back in their own sleep space (Moon, AAP).

How we rate the evidence
Strong evidence
Randomized trials or systematic reviews show a consistent benefit.
Moderate evidence
Consistent observational research, or a major guideline (AAP, WHO) built on research.
Emerging evidence
Small or early studies. Plausible, not yet proven.
Mixed evidence
Studies disagree, or reviews rate the evidence as weak.

Too tired to choose? Let us pick one.

  1. Forearm push-up tummy time

    Moderate evidence
    Time
    3 to 10 minutes, several times a day
    Builds
    Neck, shoulder, and arm strength; head control
    1. Lay your baby tummy-down on a firm, flat surface with elbows tucked under their shoulders.
    2. Get down at eye level and talk, or set a toy just in front of them.
    3. Slowly move the toy up a little so they lift their chest to follow it.

    Make it work: Pushing up onto forearms is a 4-month milestone (CDC). Every short session counts.

    Evidence: Moderate. A systematic review of 16 mostly observational studies (4,237 babies) linked tummy time to better gross motor development and less flattening across the back of the head (brachycephaly) (Hewitt et al., 2020), and WHO recommends at least 30 minutes a day for babies who aren't yet mobile (WHO).

  2. Chuckle hunt

    Emerging evidence
    Time
    A few minutes, when your baby is happy and alert
    Builds
    Shared joy, social connection
    1. Try one silly thing at a time: a gentle "boo," a funny sound, or a raspberry on your own hand.
    2. Watch your baby's face and repeat whatever gets a smile.
    3. Stop while it's still fun.

    Make it work: No chuckles yet? Smiles count. Full laughs often come closer to 6 months (CDC).

    Evidence: Emerging. Chuckling when you try to make them laugh is a 4-month milestone (CDC), and the AAP says responding warmly to your baby's signals tells them they matter (AAP). Laugh games themselves haven't been studied.

  3. Talk-and-pause duets

    Emerging evidence
    Time
    2 to 5 minutes, several times a day
    Builds
    Turn-taking, early speech sounds
    1. Wait for your baby to coo or gurgle.
    2. Answer in your parentese voice, with a smile.
    3. Pause and wait for the next coo, and keep the volley going.

    Evidence: Emerging. In a small experiment, 3-month-olds made more speechlike sounds when an adult took turns with them (Bloom et al., 1987); a randomized trial in older babies linked more parent-child turns to faster language growth (Ferjan Ramírez et al., 2020).

  4. Narrated family jobs

    Emerging evidence
    Time
    Any time you're doing chores
    Builds
    Language exposure, connection, a window into family life
    1. Set your baby in a safe spot where they can see you, such as a play mat on the floor.
    2. Describe what you're doing, face your baby often, and pause for their sounds.
    3. Hand them a safe item to hold, like a clean washcloth while you fold laundry.

    Make it work: If you use a carrier, follow the babywearing safety steps, and don't hold your baby while handling anything hot (Seattle Children's).

    Evidence: Emerging. CDC encourages talking with your baby throughout the day (CDC), and some researchers argue that speech aimed at children matters more than talk they overhear (Golinkoff et al., 2019). Narrating chores hasn't been studied as its own activity.

  5. A baby on their back under a wooden play gym reaches up toward hanging soft toys.

    Swat-the-toy

    Emerging evidence
    Time
    5 minutes, once or twice a day
    Builds
    Reaching, hand-eye coordination
    1. Lay your baby on their back under a play gym, or hold a soft toy above their chest, within arm's reach.
    2. Gently touch the toy to their hand so they notice it.
    3. Cheer when they bat it, then let them try again.

    Make it work: Change which side the toy hangs on so both arms get practice.

    Evidence: Emerging. Small studies found that a couple of weeks of daily reaching practice helped young babies make more contact with toys (Williams et al., 2015; Libertus & Needham, 2010). Swinging at toys is a 4-month milestone (CDC).

  6. Kick and see

    Emerging evidence
    Time
    A few minutes during floor play
    Builds
    Cause and effect, leg strength
    1. Lay your baby on their back on a blanket on the floor.
    2. Place a crinkly or jingly soft toy where their feet can reach it.
    3. When a kick makes a sound, say so: "You did that!"

    Make it work: Stay right there, and put the toy away when play is over.

    Evidence: Emerging. Lab studies show 3-month-olds learn to kick to make a mobile move and remember it for days (Rovee-Collier et al., 1980). CDC suggests giving babies safe chances to kick at toys (CDC).

  7. Hands-together games

    Emerging evidence
    Time
    1 to 2 minutes, during changes or cuddles
    Builds
    Body awareness, bringing hands to the middle
    1. Gently bring your baby's hands together over their chest.
    2. Clap them softly to a short rhyme, like "Pat-a-cake."
    3. Let go and see if your baby brings their hands together or to their mouth.

    Evidence: Emerging. Hands and eyes start working together around 2 months, and looking at hands with interest is a 4-month milestone (AAP). These games haven't been studied.

  8. Rattle in the hand

    Emerging evidence
    Time
    1 to 3 minutes
    Builds
    Grasp, linking movement and sound
    1. Place a light, sturdy rattle in your baby's palm.
    2. Gently shake their hand so it makes a sound.
    3. Let them hold it, drop it, and try again.

    Make it work: Choose a rattle that's too big to choke on and won't break (AAP; CDC).

    Evidence: Emerging. Holding a toy you put in their hand is a 4-month milestone (CDC), and the AAP lists sturdy rattles as good toys at 2 months (AAP).

  9. Mirror chats

    Emerging evidence
    Time
    2 to 3 minutes, during tummy time or on your lap
    Builds
    Attention to faces, motivation to lift the head
    1. Prop an unbreakable baby mirror in front of your baby during tummy time.
    2. Put your face next to theirs in the mirror and talk about what you see.

    Evidence: Emerging. The AAP lists an unbreakable mirror among good toys around 4 months (AAP), and liking to look in a mirror is a 6-month milestone (CDC). Mirror play hasn't been studied.

  10. Lap reading with rhymes

    Moderate evidence
    Time
    5 minutes, once or twice a day
    Builds
    Language, a shared routine, closeness
    1. Hold your baby on your lap with a board or cloth book with bold, bright pictures.
    2. Read in a sing-song voice; rhymes and repetition are great.
    3. Point to pictures, name them, and pause for coos.

    Make it work: Any book counts; it's the time together that matters (AAP).

    Evidence: Moderate. The AAP recommends shared reading from birth, based on research linking it to stronger relationships and early language (Klass et al., 2024).

  11. Supported lap bounce

    Emerging evidence
    Time
    1 to 2 minutes
    Builds
    Leg strength, fun
    1. Sit your baby facing you and hold them firmly under the arms, supporting the head as needed.
    2. Let their feet touch your thighs and allow gentle bounces if they push.
    3. Stop when they get tired.

    Make it work: Keep it gentle, and never shake a baby (AAP).

    Evidence: Emerging. The AAP describes supported "standing" on your lap as a fun way to play as babies start to bear some weight on their legs (AAP). It hasn't been studied.

  12. Bottle practice with a new face

    Emerging evidence
    Time
    One feed every few days, 2 to 4 weeks before you return to work
    Builds
    Comfort with bottles and other caregivers
    1. Have your partner, a relative, or the caregiver offer a bottle of pumped milk or formula.
    2. Hold your baby close and upright, and stop at signs of fullness.
    3. If your baby refuses, try a different time of day or a different nipple.

    Evidence: Emerging. CDC and the Office on Women's Health suggest practicing bottles before going back to work and having someone else give them at first (CDC; Office on Women's Health). The timing here is practical advice, not a tested schedule.

  13. Sibling floor time

    Emerging evidence
    Time
    5 minutes, with an adult watching
    Builds
    Sibling bonds, tummy time motivation
    1. Lay the baby on their tummy on the floor, and invite the older child to lie down face to face.
    2. Give the big kid a job: show a toy, sing a song, or make funny faces.
    3. Thank them for helping.

    Make it work: Set clear rules, such as never picking up the baby without permission (AAP).

    Evidence: Emerging. The AAP suggests having a young child play with the baby during tummy time while an adult keeps watch (AAP), and babies around 3 to 4 months are often fascinated by other children (AAP).

Common questions

Is it normal for my baby to have a fever after the 2-month shots?

Low fevers after vaccines are common, but before 12 weeks any fever means call your pediatrician now. In the AAP's symptom guide, fever after most vaccines starts within a day and lasts 1 to 2 days, and it's a normal reaction in older babies. The same guide lists fever in a baby under 12 weeks as a reason to call right away, and says not to give fever medicine before your baby is seen (AAP). A rectal reading of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher counts as a fever (AAP).

Can I give my 2-month-old Tylenol after vaccines?

Only if your pediatrician tells you to. The AAP says acetaminophen shouldn't be given to children under 2 without a doctor's guidance, and that fever in the first 12 weeks needs a medical check (AAP). Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) isn't for babies under 6 months unless your doctor says so (AAP). Don't give medicine before shots: in trials, it cut fevers but also lowered the immune response to several vaccines (Prymula et al., 2009). For soreness, a warm, wet washcloth on the spot and gentle massage are good first steps (AAP).

When do babies start laughing?

Most babies chuckle by about 4 months and laugh out loud by about 6 months. Chuckling when you try to make them laugh is on CDC's 4-month milestone list, and laughing is on the 6-month list (CDC; CDC). Before that, look for smiles and coos when you talk (AAP). If your baby isn't smiling at you, mention it to your pediatrician.

When will my baby sleep through the night?

Many babies start sleeping longer stretches between 2 and 4 months, but plenty still wake at 6 and 12 months, and that's normal. In one study, half of 75 babies slept from midnight to 5 a.m. without needing a parent by about 3 months (Henderson et al., 2010). In another, 27.9% to 57.0% of 6- and 12-month-olds didn't sleep 6 or 8 hours straight, with no link to their development (Pennestri et al., 2018). The AAP describes a good sleeper at this age as one who wakes but can get back to sleep (AAP).

When should I stop swaddling my baby?

Stop as soon as your baby shows any sign of trying to roll over, which can happen as early as 2 months. The AAP says rolling while swaddled raises the risk of suffocation and SIDS, and that swaddling sleep sacks that compress the arms and chest should stop at the same point (Moon & Glassy, AAP). A wearable blanket that lets your baby move freely is fine. Skip weighted swaddles and sleep sacks (Moon, AAP).

How much tummy time does a 3-month-old need?

Aim for at least 30 minutes a day, spread across short sessions while your baby is awake and watched. That's WHO's guideline for babies who aren't moving around yet (WHO). The AAP suggests reaching 15 to 30 minutes a day by 7 weeks and building from there (AAP). If your baby has a flat spot, the AAP suggests working up to an hour a day (AAP).

How many ounces should a 3-month-old drink?

There's no single number, but most formula-fed babies this age take at least 3 to 4 ounces per feed, and your baby's cues matter more than any chart. The AAP says babies take at least 3 to 4 ounces every 3 to 4 hours by the end of the first month and 6 to 8 ounces by 6 months. A rough daily guide is 2½ ounces per pound of body weight, usually no more than about 32 ounces a day (AAP). Breastfed babies take smaller, more frequent feeds; about 2 to 3 ounces per bottle is typical from 1 to 6 months (Office on Women's Health). In a study of 71 exclusively breastfed babies aged 1 to 6 months, babies fed 11 times a day on average (range 6 to 18) and took about 76 grams, roughly 2.5 ounces, per feed (Kent et al., 2006). Talk with your pediatrician if your baby always wants much more or less.

Will rice cereal in a bottle help my baby sleep longer?

No, it doesn't appear to help, and the AAP advises against it. In a trial of 106 babies, starting bedtime cereal in the bottle at 5 weeks instead of 4 months made no consistent difference in sleeping through the night (Macknin et al., 1989). The AAP warns that cereal in a bottle can lead to overfeeding and raises the chance of gagging or breathing the mixture in (AAP).

Why is my 3-month-old drooling so much? Is it teething?

Probably not teething; drooling ramps up at 2 to 3 months for most babies. Salivary glands become much more active around then, before babies can swallow all the spit (Shu, AAP). First teeth usually come in between 6 and 10 months, though some babies feel discomfort earlier (AAP). Use a soft bib while your baby is awake, take it off for sleep, and call your pediatrician if heavy drooling comes with fever, trouble swallowing, or illness (Shu, AAP).

Why does my baby suck on their hands all the time?

Hand sucking is normal at this age and is often how babies soothe themselves. As babies gain control of their arms, their hands find their mouth, and sucking can become a way to calm down (AAP). Bringing hands to mouth is a 4-month milestone (CDC). It can also be a hunger cue, so check the timing of the last feed (Jain & Bunik, AAP). Thumb or finger sucking only becomes a concern for teeth if it continues strongly past 2 to 4 years (AAP).

How much breast milk should I leave for day care?

Plan on about 2 to 3 ounces for each feeding your baby would normally have while you're apart. The Office on Women's Health says that's what babies 1 to 6 months old typically take per feeding, and that you may need to pump 2 to 3 times during a workday to keep up (Office on Women's Health). Store milk in 2- to 4-ounce portions to avoid waste, and throw out leftovers after 2 hours (CDC). Your caregiver's notes for the first week will show what your baby actually needs.

Can dads and partners get postpartum depression?

Yes. Meta-analyses estimate that about 8% to 10% of fathers have depression during pregnancy or the year after birth (Cameron et al., 2016; Paulson & Bazemore, 2010). One found higher rates 3 to 6 months after birth (Paulson & Bazemore, 2010), though the larger, later one found no difference by timing (Cameron et al., 2016). Depression in one parent was moderately linked to depression in the other (Paulson & Bazemore, 2010), so check on each other. Anyone can call or text 988 (NIMH).

Safety and when to call your pediatrician

Safe sleep still applies

Every rule in the newborn guide still holds: on the back for every sleep, on a firm, flat surface with nothing else in the crib, and in your room but not your bed for at least the first 6 months (Moon, AAP). This is the highest-risk window: 72% of SIDS deaths happen in months 1 to 4, and more than 90% before 6 months (NICHD).

Rolling, falls, and bouncers

Your baby may roll sooner than you expect. Keep a hand on your baby on a changing table, and never leave them alone on a bed or couch (AAP). Use bouncer seats only on the floor, never on a counter, table, bed, or sofa, and always buckle the straps (CPSC). If your baby falls asleep in a seat, swing, or carrier, move them to their back on a firm, flat surface (Moon, AAP).

Hands to mouth: choking and strangulation

Now that hands reach the mouth, anything in reach can end up there. Keep small, sharp, or hot things away (CDC). Take bibs off before sleep (Shu, AAP). Never tie a pacifier to the crib or around your baby's neck or hand (AAP). Skip amber or other teething necklaces and bracelets: the FDA warned against them in 2018 after reports of choking and a strangulation death, and the AAP doesn't recommend any jewelry for babies (AAP).

Hot drinks and bath water

Scalds are the most common burns in young children (Seattle Children's). Don't hold your baby while you're holding something hot, keep hot drinks away from table and counter edges (Seattle Children's), and set your water heater so the hottest water at the faucet is no more than 120°F (48.9°C) (AAP).

Car seats as your baby grows

Ride rear-facing in the back seat. For rear-facing seats, harness straps go in slots at or below your baby's shoulders, so recheck as your baby grows. The harness should be snug enough that you can't pinch any slack, with the chest clip at armpit level. As the weather cools, skip bulky coats and snowsuits under the straps; tuck a blanket over the buckled harness instead (AAP).

Never shake a baby

Crying is easing, but hard evenings still happen. It's never safe to shake, throw, hit, slam, or jerk a baby. If you feel yourself losing control, put your baby in a safe place like the crib, leave the room for 10 to 15 minutes, and call someone for support (AAP). If you're afraid someone might hurt or shake your baby, call your pediatrician now (AAP).

Call 911 if your baby

  • Is struggling for each breath, has stopped breathing, or has bluish lips or face (AAP)
  • Is not moving or is very weak (AAP)
  • Can't be woken up (AAP)
  • Has trouble breathing or swallowing after a shot (AAP)

Go to the ER now if your baby

  • Has any trouble breathing, including ribs pulling in with each breath or wheezing; the AAP advises the ER for babies under 1 with trouble breathing (AAP)
  • Isn't alert when awake, or seems "out of it" (AAP)
  • Vomits green (bile) or blood (AAP)

Call your pediatrician right away if your baby

  • Has any fever before 12 weeks, including after vaccines, or a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher at any point before 3 months (AAP; AAP)
  • Cries nonstop for more than 3 hours after a shot, or vomits or cries severely after rotavirus vaccine (AAP)
  • Cries nonstop for more than 2 hours and can't be consoled, cries when touched or moved, or has a bulging soft spot (AAP)
  • Vomits 2 or more times (not just spit-up), or has no wet diaper in more than 8 hours (AAP)
  • Drinks very little or nothing for more than 8 hours (AAP)
  • Seems especially floppy, or has shaking of the whole body (AAP)
  • Looks or acts very sick, or you think they need to be seen urgently (AAP)

Call within a day if your baby isn't gaining weight or always seems hungry, or if you're worn out from the crying (AAP).

Don't wait on development worries

If your baby isn't meeting milestones, has lost skills, or you're concerned, ask your pediatrician about developmental screening (CDC). You can also call your state's early intervention program for a free evaluation without a referral or diagnosis (CDC). Bring it up if your baby:

  • Doesn't smile at you or look at your face (CDC)
  • Doesn't react to loud sounds or make sounds other than crying (CDC)
  • Can't hold their head up on their tummy (CDC)
  • Uses only one hand or one side of the body, or stops doing something they used to do (AAP)
  • Has eyes that still often cross or wander after 3 months (AAP)
  • Always tilts their head one way, or has a flat spot (AAP)

The 4-month checkup

At the next well visit, expect measurements, an exam, and questions about sleep, feeding, and safety. Under the AAP schedule, babies may get second doses of rotavirus, DTaP, Hib, pneumococcal, and polio vaccines. Your pediatrician will ask how you're feeling, and if you're breastfeeding, may talk about the AAP's advice on an iron supplement until iron-rich solid foods start at about 6 months (AAP). Bring your questions in writing. The 4-month guide covers what comes next.

Sources

This guide is general education that summarizes published research and guidance from groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, and the WHO. It isn’t medical advice, and every child develops on their own timeline. Your pediatrician knows your child; if something feels wrong, call them. In an emergency, call 911.

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