Three months feels like a breath of fresh air. The fog is starting to lift, feedings are more predictable, and your baby suddenly feels less like a newborn and more like a little person. There’s more smiling, more interaction, and yes, a few new challenges too (hello, shorter naps and bigger opinions).
Here’s what the 3-month stage looked like for us: what changed, what stayed steady, and what helped us keep some rhythm as she grew more alert and engaged.
Feeding at 3 Months
By three months, our feeding rhythm finally felt predictable. We dropped from eight feeds to seven, following a rough 3-hour schedule with a longer stretch overnight. Our baby still drinks about 4 to 5 ounces per bottle depending on the time of day.
Since she has reflux, we kept the same routine that worked well in month two: diaper first, then feed, and at least 20 minutes upright afterward to help her digest comfortably. Once that upright time is over, we move into play before nap.
This month also brought more distractions during feeds. She started noticing everything, from the light to the sound of our voices. Feeding somewhere calm and quiet became key to keeping her focused.
Sleep at 3 Months
Sleep improved, though we weren’t at “through the night” yet. Most nights, she did one longer stretch of 6 to 8 hours, followed by a quick early-morning feed. Total sleep in 24 hours was around 14 to 15 hours, with 3 to 4 naps during the day.
We kept our same setup with red lighting from the Philips Hue bulbs, 10 hours of ocean waves on Spotify through mini JBL speakers, and a consistent bedtime routine. The biggest change this month came when she rolled from tummy to back, which meant it was time to move her from a swaddle into a sleep sack.
She was also more aware of her surroundings, so we focused on keeping the bedtime environment calm and simple. If she fought naps, we didn’t push. Sometimes a contact nap or short stroller walk helped her reset.
Wake Windows at 3 Months
Wake windows stretched to about 75 to 90 minutes, and you can feel the difference. She was more alert, playful, and curious, but also easier to overstimulate.
We still followed our general rhythm: wake, diaper, feed, upright time, play, nap. The biggest shift was adding more interactive play. She loved kicking on her mat, swatting at toys, and babbling while we talked back.
By the end of the wake window, her cues were clear. Slower movements, zoning out, and soft fussing meant nap time.
Developmental Milestones at 3 Months
This month brought a lot of “firsts” that made her feel so much older overnight.
- Rolling from tummy to back
- Longer tummy time with her head and chest up
- Social smiles and laughs (easily the best part of the day)
- Hand discovery, bringing them to her mouth
- Smooth tracking with her eyes, following faces and toys
- Cooing conversations when we talked back
Her favorite toys this month were the Fish Baby Crinkle Books , Baby Wooden Maracas , BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss , and her LOVEVERY The Play Gym where she could kick and bat at toys.
A Typical Day at 3 Months
Here’s what our days roughly looked like:
| Time | What We Did |
|---|---|
| 3am | Diaper, feed, 20 min upright, back to sleep |
| 6am | Diaper, feed, 20 min upright, back to sleep |
| 9am | Diaper, feed, 20 min upright, stroller walk |
| 12pm | Diaper, feed, 20 min upright, tummy time |
| 3pm | Diaper, feed, 20 min upright, tummy time |
| 6pm | Diaper, feed, 20 min upright, tummy time or bath (depending on the day) |
| 9pm | Diaper, feed, 20 min upright, down for bed with red lights on |
By this point, we had dropped the midnight feed and were getting longer stretches of sleep at night, which felt like a huge win.
What I Wish I Knew
Three months feels like progress — less survival mode, more connection. Feedings are smoother, sleep is improving, and she’s starting to engage with the world in such a new way.
As a Type A person, I still found myself wanting to track everything: ounces, wake windows, nap lengths. But I’m learning to ease up. She’s thriving, and that’s enough.
This stage is such a sweet one: more smiles, more calm, and a glimpse of what life beyond the newborn haze looks like.