12 weeks old: How your three-month-old is developing

Three months of age is a special time for you and your bub as they continue to grow and interact with you and the world around them. Here’s what you can expect around the 12-week mark.

Holds up their head, finds their hands and ‘chats’ to you

Holds up their head

Your baby has almost gained complete head control, but her body still wobbles when you pull her into a sitting position – a pose she loves being in. During tummy time, your little one will now be strong enough to hold her head up and lift her torso up with her arms.

For fun and successful tummy playtime, follow these tips:

• Choose a comfortable time when your baby is awake, like after a nappy change, bath or sleep
• Try a variety of tummy positions
• Interact with your baby by talking, singing, playing with musical toys or textured toys
• Never leave your baby alone or unsupervised during tummy time

Finds their hands

Many babies begin to suck their thumbs or fingers around this time because it’s the age when your baby may begin to suck their thumbs or chew on their fingers as they have found their hands. They may find them fascinating or a source of comfort.

Once your baby is able to reach out and grasp objects, she’s likely to put everything into her mouth to explore its size, shape, weight and texture. It’s natural for your little one to use mouthing to learn about the world.

She will spend more time examining objects like rattles, which develops her concentration.

Communicates with you

Your bub has most likely settled into her relationship with you and, as her communication powers grow, she starts communicating what she wants by wriggling or making noises so you’ll pick her up. As her awareness grows, your baby displays more enjoyment of games like splashing around in the bath. She’s much more responsive and vocal, too, and will ‘chat’ for ages.