Your 3-month-old: Week 3

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is starting to draw conclusions about the world around him. He's looking at everything with curiosity, even his own reflection.

Prop an unbreakable mirror next to him or set him in front of your mirror when you're getting ready in the morning. Your baby won't realize that it's actually his image in the mirror (which usually begins to happen well into the second year), but that doesn't matter. He'll love staring at his — or anyone else's — reflection, and he may show his delight with an all-out gummy grin.

• Learn more fascinating facts about your 3-month-old's development.

Your life: Changing friendships

Having a new baby brings changes in your relationships with everyone — including your friends. Sometimes old friends who have no children are as delighted by your baby as you are, and aside from a few accommodations to your schedule, things continue as they once did. But others may not be as excited about your new phase of life. Some may be envious, others bored, and still others may simply have no interest in children. You can't blame your friends entirely. You're changing, too. Interests you once shared with certain people — skydiving, nightclubbing, shopping for shoes till you dropped — may no longer mesh with your lifestyle.

Although you can't expect everything to stay exactly the same, it helps to strive for a balance between your old way of being together and your new situation. Your friend can't expect you to abandon all thoughts of your baby, and you can't expect her to want to talk only about motherhood. Look for common ground in your activities and time together. It's great if you can sometimes go out to lunch, just the two of you, and other times have her come to your house to visit with the baby, for example.

You may drift apart from some pals, but at the same time, your baby will bring you into the orbit of new friends. Through playgroups, mom support networks, and chance encounters, you and your partner will meet other new parents with whom you have a lot in common.

3 questions about: Thrush

What is thrush?
Thrush is a fungal infection in your baby's mouth caused by the yeast Candida albicans. If you see white spots on the inside of your baby's lips and cheeks or on his tongue that don't easily wipe away (like spit-up does), they could be a sign of thrush.

Yeast grows in moist, warm, sugary environments — like the inside of a baby's mouth. If you're breastfeeding, your nipples can become infected with yeast when your baby latches on, which can then cause your nipples to be dry, sore, and painful during feedings. You're more vulnerable if you're stressed and your resistance is low. The yeast can also travel through your baby's digestive tract and come out on the other end, causing a diaper rash or vaginal yeast infection.

What can be done about it?
See your baby's healthcare provider. She'll probably prescribe an antifungal medication for you and your baby. If you're breastfeeding, it's important for both of you to be treated so that you don't continue to reinfect each other. It will probably take several weeks for the condition to go away once treatment has begun.

During treatment, be sure to wash your hands frequently and sterilize your baby's toys and pacifiers in boiling water. Applying an over-the-counter antifungal cream (clotrimazole) on your nipples can help you, as can taking ibuprofen.

How does thrush affect my baby?
While the yeast infection is annoying to you, your baby may show no ill effects at all. Some babies with thrush are more irritable and less interested in eating, however, because their cheeks and gums are sore.

source: babycenter