Your Baby’s Developmental Milestones From Birth To 3 Months
Your Baby’s Developmental Milestones From Birth To 3 Months
Discover what to expect during these thrilling, challenging and rewarding early days
While major milestones like crawling, walking and talking are some way off, there are plenty of other “firsts” coming your way soon, says postnatal practitioner Claire Maguire.
‘The milestones your newborn will reach in these first few weeks and months are the stepping stones to those bigger skills. They’re every bit as exciting and important in terms of their physical, emotional and cognitive development,’ she says.
From surprisingly strong finger grips to heart-melting first smiles, here are some small but mighty milestones your newborn will reach any day now.
Feeding and motor skills
Tiny wonders: Newborns come equipped with some fascinating reflexes (involuntary movements), like their grasp reflex. When you stroke your baby’s palm, their fingers will close in a grasp. If you haven't experienced this yet, give it a try!
Mastering movements: For the first eight weeks, your baby's movements often appear random. But around three months, you might catch your baby gazing at their tiny hands: they're starting to realise those waving fists are part of their own body! They may begin to shake a fist at you or a nearby toy.
Skilled at sucking: Right from birth, babies have an incredible sucking reflex, allowing them to feed from your breast or a bottle. They’ll also suck on your fingers, and some will enjoy a dummy. Sucking is one of the best ways for your baby to calm themselves.
Cognitive and social development milestones
Discovering the world: Newborns are mostly attracted to contrasting dark and light, and they see in fuzzy focus – everything is a blur! But in the first couple of months, their vision gets sharper. The first colour they can see is red (it takes up to a few weeks, but they can distinguish the nipple from the breast before this by using contrast). By two to four months your baby can see different shades of red and green, soon followed by yellow and blue. That’s why so many toys for young babies are black and white or primary colours. By around three months, your baby can focus on your face and follow moving objects with their eyes.
Crying for different reasons: As you navigate these early weeks with your baby, you might discover something fascinating: they communicate different needs through their cries. Whether it's hunger, discomfort, tiredness, or a dirty nappy, their cries can reveal what they're feeling. See if you can pick up on these cues the next time they cry, but don’t worry if you can’t distinguish them to start with. Getting to know your baby takes time.
Getting more alert: As your baby grows, that initial sleepy phase fades away, and you'll see them becoming more awake and engaged during the day. It's an exciting sign that they're progressing well in their development journey.
Magical moments unfold: Around six weeks, right when tiredness might have you feeling emotional, something incredible happens. Your baby graces you with their very first intentional smile (not an accidental one caused by wind!). Instantly brightening your sleep-deprived day, it’s pure joy!
A shift in naptime: As your baby nears three months, the time spent asleep during the day may get shorter. This is a sign that they’re becoming more active during the day and could mean more night-time sleep for everyone soon, fingers crossed!
Physical development milestones
Building strength: At around two months, you might notice your baby raising their head for a few seconds during tummy time. This is a sure sign of growing strength. It's an exciting physical milestone, marking their transition out of the newborn phase and into the next stage of development!
My baby hasn’t met all their milestones, should I be worried?
It’s important to remember that every baby develops at their own pace. In the first 10 days after birth, your midwife will visit you at home. You will also be offered regular health and development reviews with a health visitor. Feel free to discuss any questions or concerns about your baby's development with them.
At six to eight weeks, your baby will see the doctor for a thorough check-up to ensure they're healthy and progressing as expected. It's a great opportunity to get feedback on their growth and wellbeing.
How to help your baby’s development
Baby books: Reading a picture book to your newborn is a lovely way to bond, make eye contact as you do it and don’t forget to tell them about the world around you. According to experts, this simple activity can also stimulate your baby's language and conversation skills.
Baby playmats: Giving your little one some carefully supervised tummy time will help to strengthen their back, neck and shoulders. This prepares them to lift their head, and eventually, start moving!
Sensory toys: Your baby is just starting to make sense of the colourful world around them. Introduce them to new sights, sounds, and textures with toys that stimulate their senses.
