Your baby's early milestones might not sound as important as her later ones, when she will be walking, running, and talking. But these early milestones, like the first smile and first laugh, can be so much more exciting than the ones that happen later. These moments can be especially emotional for new fathers who haven't been through the experience before. In fact, for some new dads, this is the time when they might get that feeling of “hey, I'm a dad!”

Two- and Three-Month Milestones

The milestones that your infant is likely to reach at this age include:.

Smiling by two months

Looking at or regarding her own hand

Following objects past the midline of her face

Laughing, squealing, and saying “ooh” and “aah”

Being able to hold her head up at a 45º and then 90º angle

Being able to sit with support and hold her head fairly steady by four months

By the time she reaches the end of her third month, your baby also may be able to bear weight on her legs, roll over, lift herself up on her arms while lying on her chest, grasp a rattle, and hold her hands together. Remember that not all children reach these milestones at the same age, so being a little late can be normal. If your baby is delayed and not catching up after a few weeks or months, or is delayed in more than one area, be sure to talk to your pediatrician.

Growth Spurts and Slowdowns

In a baby's first month, growth is fairly predictable. As you've learned, babies usually lose weight the first week and then slowly start gaining weight until they again reach their birth weight by the time they are two weeks old. For the rest of that first month, most babies continue to gain one-half to one ounce each day.

In their second and third month, healthy babies continue to steadily gain weight. But unlike the gradual one ounce a day that they gained in the first month, further growth can be a little bit more unpredictable. So they may gain a lot of weight one week and almost none the next, although they will still average about one ounce a day and about five pounds between one and four months.

It may not seem important to understand these growth spurts and slowdowns, because you won't be weighing your baby that often, but it can help you to understand any increases or decreases in the amount she eats. During a growth spurt, your baby will likely want to breastfeed more often or drink more formula. Likewise, during a slowdown, she may not want to eat as much. Be sure to see your pediatrician if your baby isn't eating well for more than a few days or if she has a lot of other symptoms, like fever, vomiting, or fussiness.