1–3 Month Old Development: What to Expect
Between 1 and 3 months, most babies develop their first social smile (typically by 6–8 weeks), begin cooing with vowel sounds, improve head control during tummy time, and visually track objects across their field of vision (CDC, 2022). Total sleep is 14–17 hours per day, and most babies begin sleeping in longer nighttime stretches of 4–6 hours by 3 months. The AAP recommends well-child visits at 1 month and 2 months for developmental screening and immunizations.
Explore 1–3 Month Topics
What physical skills should my 1–3 month old have?
By 3 months, most babies can hold their head up steadily while being held and lift their head and chest 45 to 90 degrees during tummy time (CDC, 2022). Head control is the signature physical milestone of this stage, driven by rapidly strengthening neck and shoulder muscles. Hand discovery — bringing hands to the mouth and watching them move — also emerges during this window.
- Head control: By 3 months, most babies hold their head up steadily while being held and lift their head during tummy time. Continue offering supervised tummy time daily to build this strength.
- Social smiling: The social smile typically appears between 6 and 12 weeks — one of the most rewarding milestones of early infancy.
- Hand discovery: Your baby will likely find their hands, watch them move, and start bringing them to their mouth for exploration.
- Pushing up: When on their tummy, many babies begin pushing up with their forearms by 2–3 months.
How is my baby communicating at 1–3 months?
By 2 months, most babies are cooing — producing vowel-like sounds such as "ah" and "oh" — and can follow a moving object smoothly with their eyes across a 180-degree arc (CDC, 2022). Cooing is your baby's first intentional social communication. They are learning that their voice and expressions get a reaction from you, which is the foundation of all language development.
- Cooing: Vowel-like sounds replace some of the crying. Your baby is experimenting with their voice.
- Visual tracking: Your baby can now follow objects and people more smoothly with their eyes.
- Recognition: They begin to recognize familiar faces and voices and may show excitement when you approach.
What do feeding and sleep look like at 1–3 months?
Breastfed babies 1–3 months old typically feed every 2–4 hours; formula-fed babies usually go 3–4 hours between feedings. Total sleep remains around 14–17 hours per day, but longer nighttime stretches of 4–6 hours may begin to emerge by the end of the third month for some babies (National Sleep Foundation, 2023). The AAP safe sleep guidelines — back to sleep, firm surface, no loose bedding — remain critical at this stage.
Feeding and sleep often become slightly more predictable during this stage, though significant variation is typical. Most babies still need at least one or two night feedings. If your baby consistently sleeps longer than 4–5 hours without eating and has not yet regained birth weight, wake them to feed and consult your pediatrician.
Is This Normal? Common Questions About 1–3 Month Development
When will my baby first smile at me?
Most babies develop their first "social smile" — a smile in response to your face or voice — between 6 and 8 weeks of age (CDC, 2022). While newborns may smile in their sleep due to reflexes, the social smile is a major developmental milestone that signals your baby is beginning to connect with people. If your baby is not smiling by 3 months, mention it to your pediatrician.
How much tummy time does a 1–3 month old need?
The AAP recommends starting tummy time in the first week of life. By 1–3 months, aim for 15–30 minutes total throughout the day, spread across several short sessions. Tummy time builds the neck, shoulder, and arm muscles needed for rolling, sitting, and eventually crawling (AAP, 2022).
Is it normal for my 2-month-old to drool so much?
Yes. Around 2–3 months, a baby's salivary glands become more active. Since they have not yet learned to swallow saliva efficiently, significant drooling results. This is rarely a sign of teething this early — it is a typical part of developmental maturation.
Why is my baby constantly sucking on their hands?
Hand-sucking is a common and healthy developmental behavior at 2–3 months. It is often a sign of self-soothing or sensory exploration rather than hunger or teething. Babies at this age have discovered their hands and are learning to use them for comfort.
When will my baby sleep through the night?
Most babies begin consolidating longer nighttime sleep stretches of 4–6 hours by around 3 months, though "sleeping through the night" (6–8 hours) often does not happen reliably until 4–6 months (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2022). At 1–3 months, nighttime feedings are still biologically necessary. A consistent day-night routine — bright and active during the day, dark and quiet at night — helps establish the circadian rhythm.
When should I talk to my pediatrician about my 1–3 month old?
The 2-month well-child visit is a major milestone involving a full physical exam and the first large round of immunizations. Contact your pediatrician if you notice your baby:
- Not smiling by 3 months
- Not supporting their head when you hold them or during tummy time
- Not tracking moving objects with their eyes
- Not responding to loud sounds
- Persistent crying that seems to be getting worse rather than better
- Any fever (100.4°F or higher) — this is still a priority call for babies under 3 months
Development is a range. Some babies hit these marks early, while others take a bit more time. If you have concerns, your pediatrician is your best resource.