By 3 months, what is a typical gross motor development milestone?

At 3 months of age, a typical gross motor development milestone is that infants exhibit only slight head lag when pulled to a sitting position. At this stage, infants are developing the strength in their neck and upper body, which allows them to have some control over their head movements. As they practice pushing up while lying on their stomachs, their head and neck muscles strengthen, leading to a gradual decrease in head lag.

This milestone reflects a key phase in infant development, where they are beginning to gain better control and coordination of their movements. Although they are not yet able to hold their heads completely steady or sit up unsupported, the ability to manage slight head lag is an important indicator of their progressing motor skills and muscle tone.

The other milestones associated with the other choices typically occur at later ages. Rolling from back to side and sitting unsupported are milestones that usually develop later in infancy, around 4-6 months for rolling and by 8 months or later for unsupported sitting. Holding a bottle is often achieved around 6-7 months of age. Thus, the ability to demonstrate only slight head lag by 3 months is the most accurate representation of gross motor development for that age group.