3-4 Month Baby Development: Head Control, Babbling, and Rolling Over

At 3 months, babies master head control, and by 4 months they start babbling and rolling over. This is when your baby truly begins to interact with the world. Here's your complete guide to 3-4 month developmental milestones and helpful play activities.

3-Month Development Milestones

Gross Motor Skills

Head control completion is the biggest milestone at 3 months.

• Head control: Lifts head 45-90 degrees while on tummy
• Upper body strength: Begins pushing up with arms to lift chest
• Leg movements: Active kicking while lying on back
• Hand discovery: Discovers and stares at their own hands

Fine Motor Skills

• Open hands: Opens fists and moves fingers
• Reaching: Reaches toward objects in front of them
• Hand to mouth: Brings hands to mouth for exploration

Cognitive and Social Development

• Face recognition: Clearly recognizes parents' faces
• Social smiles: Responds with smiles and attempts communication
• Sound response: Turns head toward sounds
• Cooing development: "Ah" and "ooh" sounds become more varied

Sleep and Feeding

• Sleep: Night sleep lengthens, 4-6 hours of continuous sleep possible
• Feeding: Increased feeding amount, 3-4 hour intervals

4-Month Development Milestones

Gross Motor Skills

Rolling over is the signature milestone at 4 months.

• Rolling: Begins rolling from back to tummy or tummy to back (varies by baby)
• Stronger upper body: Fully lifts upper body with arms while on tummy
• Sitting preparation: Attempts to maintain sitting position when supported
• Leg strength: Pushes against floor when held in standing position

Fine Motor Skills

• Grasping: Can hold objects and shake them
• Bilateral coordination: Brings both hands together to explore toys
• Hand-eye coordination: Accurately reaches for and grasps objects

Language Development

Babbling begins as an important language milestone at 4 months.

• Babbling: Consonant-vowel combinations like "baba," "mama"
• Intonation mimicking: Attempts to copy parents' speech patterns
• Emotional expression: Expresses emotions through various sounds beyond crying
• Turn-taking: Pauses when parent speaks, responds when they stop

Cognitive and Social Development

• Cause and effect: Understands shaking a rattle makes sound
• Stranger awareness: Begins showing wariness of unfamiliar people
• Mirror response: Smiles or reacts to reflection in mirror
• Peek-a-boo: Responds to hiding and appearing games

Development-Stimulating Play for 3-4 Months

Gross Motor Play

1. Tummy Time

• Place baby on tummy several times daily
• Put toys at eye level to encourage head lifting
• Start with 1-2 minutes, gradually increase duration

2. Rolling Practice

• Gently push hips to teach rolling sensation
• Place toys to the side to encourage body turning

3. Bicycle Legs

• Move legs in cycling motion while baby lies on back
• Helps leg muscle development and digestion

Fine Motor and Sensory Play

1. Rattle Play

• Give lightweight rattles to hold
• Practice grasping and shaking

2. Texture Play

• Let baby touch fabrics and toys of various textures
• Experience soft vs. rough differences

3. Hand Exploration

• Touch baby's palm with your finger
• Play with each finger individually

Language and Social Play

1. Talk to Baby

• Respond to baby's babbling
• Narrate daily activities constantly

2. Songs and Nursery Rhymes

• Sing gentle lullabies or children's songs
• Sway baby to the rhythm

3. Peek-a-boo

• Hide and reveal your face
• Cover and uncover toys with cloth

3-4 Month Development Checklist

3-Month Baby

• [ ] Can control head
• [ ] Lifts head 45+ degrees while on tummy
• [ ] Looks at hands and brings them to mouth
• [ ] Smiles at people
• [ ] Turns head toward sounds

4-Month Baby

• [ ] Attempts or succeeds at rolling over
• [ ] Holds and shakes toys
• [ ] Babbles
• [ ] Responds to peek-a-boo
• [ ] Shows wariness of strangers

Warning Signs to Watch For

Consult your pediatrician if you notice these signs.

Age	Warning Signs
3 months	No head control at all, no response to sounds, doesn't smile at people
4 months	Doesn't follow objects with eyes, can't grasp objects, makes no sounds
Both	Uses only one side (hand, leg), body is too stiff or floppy, avoids eye contact

Development varies greatly! Even if not all boxes are checked, overall developmental progress matters most.

What Parents Should Know

4-Month Sleep Regression

Around 4 months, sudden sleep difficulties called sleep regression may occur. This is normal due to brain development and typically resolves within 2-4 weeks.

Oral Exploration Begins

At this stage, babies try to put everything in their mouths. This is normal oral exploration—provide safe teethers and toys.

Colic Relief

Colic often naturally decreases around 3-4 months of age.

Track 3-4 Month Development with BabySnap

• Development tracking: Record milestone dates like head control and rolling
• Growth tracking: View height and weight changes in graphs
• Sleep patterns: Track changes in nighttime sleep
• AI consultation: Ask the AI chatbot about development questions

References

• AAP HealthyChildren - Developmental Milestones: 4 Months
• CDC - Important Milestones: Your Baby By Four Months