Sleep at 3 months: what’s normal, what’s tough, and when to reach out

Changes at 3 months

For most families, colic is fading. According to the AAP, colicky fussing drops to 1 or 2 hours a day by 3 to 4 months and usually ends around then, although it can continue until 6 months.

Your baby is growing stronger. The CDC’s 4-month milestones include pushing up onto elbows or forearms during tummy time, holding the head steady and bringing hands to mouth. Getting hands to mouth is a genuine self-settling skill, and lots of babies start sucking their fingers in the crib around now.

The body clock is also maturing. The AAP notes that regular sleep cycles show up at about 4 months, so expect the coming weeks to be a time of change, not a settled phase.

With the 10-week birthday behind your baby, the clock on the Actually Sleeping guarantee has started. Three months is also the point where many parents find that their newborn strategies no longer work. Dr. Sam writes a plan for your baby’s next phase, and we coach you bootcamp-style before night one. Your custom plan sets how night feeds are handled, based on your baby’s age.

The hardest parts for parents

• Giving up the swaddle. It must come off at the first hint of rolling, and plenty of babies sleep worse for a stretch once their arms are free.
• Naps that are still short. One sleep cycle and then awake remains common. In studies of babies 0 to 5 months, daytime sleeps averaged around 3 a day, with wide variation.
• Newborn tricks losing their power. As your baby grows more alert, bouncing and rocking frequently stop working, right as sleep is about to shift at 4 months.

Safe sleep for 3 month olds

• On the back for every sleep. Rolling will soon make positioning trickier, but the rule stays the same until your baby rolls both ways.
• Nothing weighted, nothing inclined beyond 10 degrees, and no bumpers.
• Continue room-sharing, ideally for at least the first 6 months, as the AAP advises. Bed-sharing carries its highest risk under 4 months.
• The NICHD reports that most SIDS deaths occur between 1 and 4 months. Keep every basic in place.

About night feeds

Some babies start spacing night feeds on their own at this age, and some don’t. Whichever describes yours, your custom plan sets how night feeds are handled, based on your baby’s age rather than a calendar.

Signs it’s time to call the pediatrician

• A rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or above in a baby aged 3 months or under: call right away.
• Crying that is getting worse rather than easing, or that goes on beyond what you were told to expect.
• Frequent snoring, labored breathing, or pauses in breathing lasting more than 20 seconds (call 911).
• As 4 months approaches, your baby isn’t yet bringing hands to mouth or lifting head and chest during tummy time.

Next steps

For babies 4 months and up, the AAP recommends putting them to bed drowsy but not yet asleep, which makes the next few weeks important. The path there depends on your baby’s feeds, temperament and present sleep habits, so instead of giving you a list, Actually Sleeping writes a plan for your baby. Your custom plan sets how night feeds are handled, based on your baby’s age. We guarantee that your baby will sleep 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days of consistent, correct implementation of your sleep plan. See what other families have to say in our newborn to 3 month reviews. See also how to drop the swaddle, the 3-month schedule and how sleep cycles develop. To get started, book a free consultation with Dr. Sam.