3-Month-Old Baby

Though your baby technically shed her newborn status around month 2, she's really acting like a full-blown infant this month and not a brand new baby anymore. She's still got a lot to learn (obviously!), but one thing she definitely realizes now is that there's more to life than eating, sleeping and pooping!

These days, she's likely to stay awake for longer stretches during the day and (with any luck) stay asleep for longer at night too.

Your baby is no doubt making you chuckle too, and she's probably doing a little giggling by now (bring on the raspberries!) as well as bringing those little paws together (clap hands!).

Some babies may even begin to bear a bit of weight on their legs, but don't worry if yours doesn't — she's not ready and that's just fine.

If you're struggling to find time to fit in exercise, go easy on yourself. It can be as simple as taking out the stroller.

Just make sure you've gotten the green light from your practitioner before starting back into your exercise routine, and never exercise to the point of exhaustion (you're probably exhausted enough from the lack of sleep!).

Besides helping you with weight loss after delivery, a brisk walk with baby is a great way to meet other parents, stay healthy and clear your mind.

One thing your 3-month-old baby is definitely ready to do is show you that budding personality.

She may be serious, silly, gregarious, persnickety or determined — the bottom line is she is who she is, and she's all yours!

Don't give in to the urge to compare your little one with other babies. Every baby is different and special.

Online searches can be a good way to find child care, but the best way to learn about top-notch babysitter or nanny candidates and reputable day care centers is often word of mouth.

Don’t be shy about asking parents if they can recommend a great infant caregiver. Day care teachers and your child’s pediatrician are also good sources, as are bulletin boards at your doctor’s office, library or house of worship.

If you do wind up researching options online, get the names of licensed day care centers near you from your state’s website (usually the two-letter postal abbreviation followed by .gov). And then arrange to visit the ones that seem like a good fit with your little one in tow.

Looking for a nanny? Agencies sometimes sell lists of pre-screened candidates online — though you should always look into references yourself and make sure there’s been a thorough background check, as well as doing in-person interviews (with your baby!).

Aside from caring for and feeding your baby, your job as a parent now also includes stimulating your little one's intellectual growth.

That's less complicated than it sounds — singing and talking are two wonderful ways to help a baby's brain shift into high gear.

Some new twists to try:

1. Use different tones of voice as you speak.
2. Sing songs with surprise endings — "Pop Goes the Weasel" is an oldie but a goodie.
3. When you tell a story or recite a nursery rhyme, insert your baby's name for a character's name so she gets used to hearing it in a variety of tones and situations.
4. Another great way to increase baby's awareness of the world is to take your little one on expeditions. Go for a walk and watch baby respond with glee as she sees leaves move and birds fly, or listens to the sounds of dogs, cars and just about anything that makes a noise.

At playtime, those little hands and fingers are still your baby’s favorite “toys,” but now she might be able to do even more with them.

During tummy time, which she should be becoming a pro at by now, try rolling a ball about 2 feet in front of your baby. With a little practice, she'll soon be able to use hand-eye coordination to reach for it.

Now that your baby is 3 months old, she's developmentally ready to be put on a schedule. Yay!

But don't insist on a minute-by-minute plan. An overly rigid schedule can be too much, while none at all is also stressful and hard on the whole family.

How can you establish a routine that works for everyone? Try to introduce a few anchors into your baby's day: a special chair for nursing, a walk after lunch, and bathtime and bedtime at the same time and in the same way each evening.

If she's feeding more frequently than you'd like, gradually stretch out the between-meal intervals by distracting baby with a song, a toy or a book.

If she frequently falls asleep without finishing a feed, try to wake your baby up until it's over so you won't have to start again so soon.

The goal: Help your little one ease into a pattern that's not too strict or too loose, but just right.