Week-by-week library · about 3 months old
Week 12
Quick answer
What is my baby up to at about 3 months old?
This week, hands are opening up and pushing up is starting to look like real strength.
What's developing
Motor
By around three months, many babies push up on their forearms during tummy time and hold their head more steadily when upright.
Motor
Hands spend less time in a tight fist; some babies are starting to bring their hands together at the midline.
Social
Laughs and squeals may start to emerge for some babies now, though for many this shows up a bit later, closer to four months.
Try this together this week
- Tummy time on the forearms with a mirror or toy just ahead to reward the push-up.
- Gentle tickles or silly faces to go hunting for that first laugh, no pressure if it is not here yet.
- Encourage hands-together play: guide their hands to touch during a song like patty-cake.
- Rotate toy textures (soft, crinkly, smooth) during grasp practice.
What parents often notice
The three-month mark is when a lot of parents feel the fog of the newborn stage genuinely lifting, more predictable naps, more smiling, more "give and take" in daily interactions.
Sourced to
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org
- Zero to Three, Early Development guides
Last reviewed by the This Week Baby editorial team.