IMPORTANT MILESTONES 0-3 MONTHS

0–1 Month (Newborn Milestones)

These milestones come from the CDC, AAP, and early childhood development research.

Remember: every baby develops at their own pace. Milestones are ranges, not deadlines.

Social & Emotional

Your newborn is learning how to exist outside the womb.

  • Calms when held close or when hearing your voice
  • Makes brief eye contact when awake and alert
  • Enjoys skin-to-skin time
  • May look at faces (especially at 8–12 inches away)

Communication

Newborns “talk” mostly through body language and cries.

  • Uses different cries for hunger, discomfort, or tiredness
  • Responds to sound by startling, blinking, or quieting
  • May turn toward familiar voices
  • Makes soft grunts, squeaks, and whimpers

Movement / Motor

Movements are mostly reflexive at this age.

  • Jerky arm and leg motions
  • Hands often in fists
  • Opens hands briefly
  • Turns head slightly during tummy time
  • Lifts head for a moment when on your chest
  • Brings hands toward mouth (self-soothing starts early!)

Thinking / Cognitive

Newborns love contrast, faces, and simple patterns.

  • Fixes on high-contrast shapes
  • Tracks an object very briefly
  • Stares at faces longer than anything else
  • Shows early awareness of routines (calms during feeding prep)
Month 1–2: Early Awareness & Connection

Social & Emotional

Your baby becomes more responsive.

  • Begins to smile socially (smiles on purpose, not just reflex)
  • Shows excitement by waving arms or kicking
  • Enjoys being talked to
  • Calms more easily with your voice or familiar touch

Communication

Cooing begins!

  • Makes cooing sounds (“oooh,” “aaah”)
  • Responds to your voice by turning their head
  • Begins “conversation” by cooing when you talk
  • Shows different crying patterns for hunger vs. tiredness

Movement / Motor

Strength slowly improves.

  • Lifts head slightly higher in tummy time
  • Turns head to both sides
  • Brings hands together
  • Opens hands more often
  • May start batting at toys by accident
  • Moves arms and legs more smoothly (less jerky than newborn stage)

Thinking / Cognitive

Their world gets more interesting.

  • Follows objects for a short distance (8–12 inches)
  • Notices people more than objects
  • Shows interest in lights, windows, or ceiling fans
  • Stares at your face for long stretches
  • Starts to recognize familiar routines (feeding, diaper change)
Month 2–3: Social Baby & Early Skills Emerging

Social & Emotional

Your baby shows joy more clearly now.

  • Smiles frequently and on purpose
  • Uses facial expressions (wide eyes, raised eyebrows)
  • Enjoys face-to-face “conversations”
  • May imitate simple expressions (like tongue movements)
  • Responds to you with wiggles, smiles, and coos

Communication

Your baby’s “voice” becomes stronger.

  • Coos more often and with more sounds
  • May squeal or make happy sounds
  • Turns toward voices and familiar sounds
  • Pauses when spoken to (early back-and-forth communication)

Movement / Motor

Strength and coordination start to show.

  • Holds head up longer during tummy time
  • Pushes up on forearms in tummy time
  • Rolls side-to-back occasionally
  • Brings hands to mouth with more control
  • Attempts to swipe or bat toys on purpose
  • Kicks legs rhythmically

Thinking / Cognitive

Your baby is curious and becoming more aware of the world.

  • Follows objects across a room with eyes
  • Recognizes caregivers visually
  • Shows excitement for familiar voices or favorite people
  • Explores with eyes, face, and hands
  • Anticipates what comes next (opens mouth when seeing bottle or breast)

When to check in with your pediatrician:

Every baby develops differently but it’s helpful to reach out if by 3 months your baby:

  • Doesn’t respond to loud sounds
  • Doesn’t smile at people
  • Can’t hold their head up at all
  • Seems very stiff or very floppy
  • Has trouble feeding or gaining weight
  • Doesn’t make eye contact
  • Doesn’t move one side of the body as much as the other

This is not about worry it’s about support.

In the first 3 months, babies learn how to connect, respond, move, and explore.

Your voice, your face, and your presence are their favorite “toys.”

Every interaction helps their brain grow.

Citations:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Important milestones: Your baby by two months. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Important milestones: Your baby by three months (included within 2-month range & extended developmental expectations). U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2023). Developmental milestones: Social, emotional, communication, cognitive & physical development.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2023). Baby’s first year: Developmental stages.

World Health Organization. (2023). Infant development and early childhood growth standards.

Zerotothree. (2023). Baby development: Three-month milestones & early learning. 

Johnson, S., & Marlow, N. (2011). Early developmental milestones and later development. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 96(7), 641–648.