Feeding Your 3-Month-Old Baby
Feeding for 3-month-old babies may become less frequent than in the early newborn days. Whether they get their nutrition from breast milk alone, formula, or a combination of the two, most babies this age can swallow more milk at each feeding than they could the previous two months (now five to six ounces on average), thus their feedings are less frequent (perhaps six to eight feedings in a 24-hour period).
Tracking wet and dirty diapers: Keeping track of your baby’s diapers is a useful way to see if he or she is receiving enough to eat. Her stools may be more firm and occur less frequently now. When your kid was a newborn, he or she may have passed a bowel movement after every meal, but at three months, he or she may only pass one once each day, or maybe once every two or three days. In general, she’ll be feeding well if she makes six wet diapers each day.
How Much Sleep Does a 3-Month-Old Baby Need?
Your baby’s sleeping patterns may be changing at this point. Because she’s grown so much, she’s able to eat more during the day and may require fewer or no night feedings. She is now more alert throughout the day, which causes her to sleep more at night. She may now take two or three naps during the day, followed by a lengthier nap at night. Some newborns may sleep through the night, but keep in mind that this does not apply to all babies and that “through the night” frequently refers to a five or six-hour stretch.
How to Put Your Baby to Sleep
Follow these tips when putting your baby to bed at night or for a daytime nap for safe, pleasant sleep and to reduce the risk of SIDS:
- Always on her back
- Never in bed with you
- On a firm crib mattress with no loose bedding
- Dressed comfortably for room temperature
- With a pacifier.
Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep
Aim for a consistent baby sleep pattern that works for both of you. For a more restful sleep, try the following suggestions:
- Create a routine. Giving her a light massage, reading a tale, or singing a lullaby are all excellent methods to help your 3-month-old unwind after a busy day.
- Allow her to wriggle. Your baby may require a few moments to settle down and become comfortable. It’s fine to let her wiggle, chatter, or even cry for a few moments before she nods out.
- Reduce stimulation. If you need to attend to your infant during the night, try to keep distractions to a minimum. Keep the lights low and don’t talk much during nocturnal feedings or other visits to keep her peaceful and help her fall back asleep.
How Much Sleep Does a 3-Month-Old Baby Need?
Your baby’s sleeping patterns may be changing at this point. Because she’s grown so much, she’s able to eat more during the day and may require fewer or no night feedings. She is now more alert throughout the day, which causes her to sleep more at night. She may now take two or three naps during the day, followed by a lengthier nap at night. Some newborns may sleep through the night, but keep in mind that this does not apply to all babies and that “through the night” frequently refers to a five or six-hour stretch.
How to Put Your Baby to Sleep
Follow these tips when putting your baby to bed at night or for a daytime nap for safe, pleasant sleep and to reduce the risk of SIDS:
- Always on her back
- Never in bed with you
- On a firm crib mattress with no loose bedding
- Dressed comfortably for room temperature
- With a pacifier.
Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep
Aim for a consistent baby sleep pattern that works for both of you. For a more restful sleep, try the following suggestions:
- Create a routine. Giving her a light massage, reading a tale, or singing a lullaby are all excellent methods to help your 3-month-old unwind after a busy day. Our video lesson explains how to develop a soothing nighttime routine.
- Allow her to wriggle. Your baby may require a few moments to settle down and become comfortable. It’s fine to let her wiggle, chatter, or even cry for a few moments before she nods out.
- Reduce stimulation. If you need to attend to your infant during the night, try to keep distractions to a minimum. Keep the lights low and don’t talk much during nocturnal feedings or other visits to keep her peaceful and help her fall back asleep.
Your Baby’s Health: Infant Massage
You might be wondering if there is anything you can do to encourage health and wellness in addition to your baby’s normal playing activities. Some babies love the comfort and bonding that a baby massage provides. You may deepen your bond with your kid while reducing his stress levels and possibly decreasing his crying by using the appropriate strategies.
It’s best to see your paediatrician first, and you might even be able to find local infant massage workshops to teach you the basics, but here are some simple techniques to try:
- Make a soothing atmosphere. You have the option of using your baby’s changing table or your own bed. Maintain eye contact with your infant while massaging him on his back.
- Use a little touch. Massage his entire body with delicate strokes, beginning with his head, neck, and shoulders and ending with his waist, thighs, feet, and hands.
- Speak to him or sing to him. If you chat gently or sing a favourite song while massaging him, he will feel more at ease.
- Determine his reaction. If your infant appears to be content, continue the massage. If he appears restless or cranky, it’s time to quit because he’s probably not having fun.
You should wait at least 45 minutes after feeding to start a massage. If your child enjoys this exercise, it can last far into his or her toddler years.
A Day in the Life of Your Baby
Every baby is different, but here’s a glimpse of what a typical day could look like with your baby.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When does the soft spot in her head close up?
- This soft region should close in two or three months, but keep in mind that her head may still appear proportionately huge in comparison to her body.
What are some 3-month-old baby development milestones to watch out for in relation to speech and hearing?
- Smiling when she hears your voice, replicating the sounds of your words, and tilting her head toward sounds like voices or music are all indications that her hearing and speech are normal.
How can grandparents get involved?
- If there are older children in the home, grandparents can help make the other tiny ones feel special as well. Grandparents can accompany the newborn’s siblings on errands, read tales and play with them, and even organize special sleepovers away from the baby on occasion.
My3-month-old baby isn’t gaining much weight. What’s happening?
- If your infant is breastfed but does not appear to be growing, it is possible that your milk supply is insufficient. This could be due to stress or weariness. You can get advice from your physician or a lactation consultant on how to enhance your milk production. If you’re formula feeding, a delayed weight gain could be related to digestive issues or inaccurate formula measurement. Again, your paediatrician or lactation specialist can tell you for sure.
What are some appropriate toys for a 3-month-old baby?
- Pictures or books with attractive patterns, textures, and colours are excellent for the visual development of babies. Rattles and colourful play mats can also give fun and stimulation while improving hand-eye coordination, grasping ability, and visual tracking ability.
What do I need to prepare when heading out of the house with a 3-month-old baby?
- Make sure you have lots of diapers and at least one complete change of clothing (for both of you). Also, even if you’ve just fed your baby before leaving, be prepared to feed her away from home. Dress her weather appropriately, with an extra layer in cold weather and enough sun protection in summer.
Your Life as a Parent: Dealing With Sleep Deprivation
Do you yearn for those pre-baby mornings when you could sleep in as long as you wanted? Any new parent will tell you that sleep deprivation is a major problem. Of course, you want to be your best for your newborn, but lack of sleep makes that difficult. Here are some ideas to try to make things a little bit easier:
- Teamwork – between you and your partner, as well as other caregivers like a grandparent or nanny You could, for example, choose to divide the burden of your baby’s bedtime ritual so that the obligation of putting baby to bed does not rest exclusively on you.
- Prioritization –Don’t strive to do everything; instead, focus on one or two chores that must be completed each day and let the rest go.
- Downtime – This may be difficult, but try to set aside 30-60 minutes per day for yourself, even if it is simply to run a small errand or go for a stroll. It’s surprising how revitalized you may feel after just a short vacation!
- Sleep training – As your baby is near the 4-month mark, consult with your paediatrician about readiness for sleep training, which will essentially teach your baby to self-soothe and better manage their sleep without your assistance. The Lumi by Pampers Smart Sleep Coaching App includes a comprehensive content program backed by science, as well as tools to assist you on your journey to sleep success. Let’s face it, if your kid sleeps better, so will you, and while you’ll never be able to replicate those long pre-baby sleep-ins, you can surely get more sleep.
This page is based on professional advice from reputable medical and government organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This page’s material should not be used in place of professional medical advice. For a complete diagnosis and treatment, always seek the advice of a medical expert.