Eight weeks have whizzed by and now suddenly, you have an adorable 2 month old baby. Now that you've had the pleasure of getting to know your baby a bit better and have probably started to get the hang of parenthood, you might notice your 2 month old baby's emerging personality.
What further developments can you expect this month? You can find out in this article, also keeping in mind that every child is unique and so may hit their milestones at different times.
2 month old baby development and milestones: Is your baby on track?
Physical Development
Your 2 month old cherub is gaining more control over his/her body. You'll notice that during tummy time or when you carry your child upright, he/she holds his/her head up a little steadier.
At this stage, your child’s median length and weight* should be as follows:
- Boys
– Length: 58.4 cm (23.0 inches)
– Weight: 5.6 kg (12.3lb) - Girls
– Length: 56.1 cm (22.1 inches)
– Weight: 5.3 kg (11.7 lb)
And your child’s head circumference* should be:
- Boys: 39.1 cm (15.4 inches)
- Girls: 38.3 cm (15.1 inches)
Your baby's leg and arms movements will be smoother, less jerky and slightly more coordinated. Watch out also for cute little baby push-ups during tummy time.
Be extra careful during diaper changes especially if your 2 month old is on an elevated surface, as he/she is more mobile now.
As your baby continues to have a strong sucking reflex, you might notice him/her sucking on his/her fingers or fist in order to self-soothe. Your baby's salivary glands might be in overdrive this month, so expect lots of drooling. This doesn't mean he/she is teething though, as that usually occurs after four months.
You may have noticed that your baby naturally has a grasping reflex. But it's only now that he/she is beginning to figure out how to unclasp those little fists and might even attempt to wave his/her hands.
Tips:
- Your baby might spend a lot of time in his car seat or carrier. Give him plenty of opportunities to move around in different positions so he can exercise different muscles.
- Give him toys like soft squeeze balls and teethers to help him practice his grasping skills. Though he doesn't have the coordination needed to play with toys, he can now bat at colorful objects or hold them briefly in his hands.
- Invest in a good baby gym mat for your bub's tummy time that has lots of different features like a bright and colorful design, dangling toys, toys that make sounds, a baby-safe mirror, a soft textured padded base, lights, and music. Help your baby explore the different features and interact with him by showing him how to play (bat at the dangling toys, shake the rattly toys, feel the textured cloth, etc.).
When to talk to your doctor:
If your baby:
- Is unable to hold his head up even briefly, when placed on his tummy
- Is stiff or floppy
Cognitive Development
As your baby can now see about 60cm from her face, he can also start to distinguish between different colors and will be drawn to bright primary colors or clear, bold designs and shapes.
As the month progresses, he will get even better at following objects with his eyes, and might even start to recognize faces from a distance. Make sure that your baby's room is bright and full of pictures and baby-safe mirrors.
Tips:
- You can start to introduce your baby to the concept of object permanence by playing a fun game of peek-a-boo.
- Although he might have some difficulty distinguishing between similar tones like red and orange, you can show him toys, books, and pictures that are black and white or have high-contrast patterns.
- Play music. As his listening skills develop, he will enjoy hearing different sounds and types of music. You'll notice that he'll kick his legs while listening intently – sort of like a little baby dance!
- Let him watch fish in a tank. As your baby's eyesight is quickly developing, this simple game of watching colorful fish swim around in a tank is a good way for your baby to track them with his eyes. The different sizes and colors of fish will also be very fascinating to your baby.
- Take your 2 month old baby outside when it's not hot. He will love the fresh air, as well as all the interesting sounds and sights around him.
When to talk to your doctor:
If your baby:
- Does not notice his hands or bring them to his mouth.
- Is not responding to loud sounds or sudden noises (door slamming, car alarm, dog barking, etc.).
- Does not watch things as they move or track them with his eyes.
Social and Emotional Development
You will notice that your 2 month old baby now starts to pay attention to faces and will even recognize familiar people at a distance. Be prepared to have your heart melted when your baby flashes you his very first smile – and no, it's not just gas this time!
Believe it or not, your tiny bub will actually start crying or fussing to show that she's bored with a certain activity or if he feels understimulated. So if you pick up on these cues, you can tend to his needs, play with him, and just show him some love.
Tips:
- Hold and comfort your baby when he's upset. Don't worry about spoiling him when you do this – at this age, they don't cry to get attention, they cry because they need you.
- You can encourage him to show you that adorable toothless grin by constantly smiling at him and talking to him.
When to talk to your doctor:
- If your baby isn't smiling at people, even those she recognizes
- If your baby does not respond to you
Speech and Language Development
Although your 2 month old baby mainly communicates by crying, you may start to hear a few gurgles, grunts, and sweet coos at this stage. It is important to talk to your baby, even if he can’t talk back yet. This will encourage him to start forming his own first words and soon she will become quite the little chatterbox!
Although your 2 month old is still unable to talk or tell you what exactly he likes or dislikes, as parents you can learn to pick up on his cues and figure out what he's trying to tell you.
Positive cues include looking at your face, smooth movements of arms and legs, reaching out to you, smiling, and cooing. Negative cues include turning his face away, crying, fussing, coughing, back arches, squirming, frowning, and yawning.
When your baby hears something, especially your voice, he will respond by turning his head towards the source of the sound. At two months, your little one will be able to tell the difference between voices he's heard more frequently, such as yours and your partner's, and will become a better listener.
Tips
- Hold conversations to teach your baby how to listen and respond – even if the replies are mainly coos, gurgles, nods, or grins.
- Speak slowly and clearly and allow your little one to study your mouth and tongue as you articulate your words.
- Imitate the words that your baby says, even if it's just "Ba ba" or "Na na".
- Even if you don't understand the language of babies, just pretend that you do and respond to him.
- Babies also communicate by using gestures, so you can imitate your bub's gestures like clapping and waving.
- Copy his facial expressions and smiles to reinforce communication.
- Talk and sing to your baby. He can also feel comforted by hearing familiar voices. These voices can help to soothe or calm him down when he is fussing. The more you talk and sing to him, the more he will learn to recognize your voice.
When to talk to your doctor:
If your baby:
- Do not watch your face when being spoken to
- Does not react to sounds
- Cries for long times every day
Health and Nutrition
By now, your breastmilk would have well and truly come in. It is still all that your baby needs in terms of nutrition. While you're still feeding on demand, you might notice a nursing pattern emerging already. If you cannot breastfeed for any reason, then the only other form of nutrition your baby should get is formula milk.
If you have a baby boy, he needs around 573.4 calories a day to fuel his growth. A baby girl needs 546.7 calories every day. Typically, the amount of breastmilk/formula milk for your baby at this stage is:
- Breastmilk: 19.3-30.4 ounces/day
- Formula: 24 ounces/day
Your baby needs 15 to 16 hours of sleep per day. And he will usually wake up for a feeding every three hours. But at this age, your baby probably won't sleep through the night yet, although there are some babies who do (lucky parents!).
Be patient and try to help your baby learn how to fall asleep alone by putting him/her back inside the crib when you notice he/she is feeling drowsy rather than when he/she is already fast asleep.
Sleep cues include frowning, making grunting noises, whimpering, yawning, eye-rubbing, jerky limb movements suddenly followed by slow movements, ear-scratching or rubbing, clinginess, and asking to be fed.
Tips:
- Remember to let the baby drain your breasts at each feeding in order to prevent engorgement, which could lead to issues like blocked ducts or even mastitis.
- Eat a balanced diet, mummy. This will pass on to your baby via your breast milk.
- If you are struggling with breastfeeding, speak to your doctor or a lactation consultant for advice.
When to Talk to Your Doctor:
If your baby:
- Still has trouble feeding, or if he refuses to eat.
- Is terribly underweight, or experiences rapid weight loss.
Vaccination and Common Illnesses
You should visit your doctor in your baby's second month for a routine checkup and immunizations. At this age, your baby should get his/her vaccinations against DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis), Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), polio, pneumococcal, rotavirus.
Your baby should also get his/her second hepatitis B vaccine if he/she hasn't gotten it already. You can check your baby's immunization schedule by clicking this link.
Your baby's immune system is still very immature. This combined with an incomplete vaccination schedule makes him/her very vulnerable to common illnesses like the common cold. While a cold is not a big deal in an older child, in a newborn it could lead to even severe consequences.
This is why it's crucial you and all others who handle your baby practice strict hygiene, which must include frequent hand-washing. Wear a mask if you have a cold or cough, and any other family members or friends with colds or who are sick should stay far away from the baby until they are better.
Nobody should ever kiss your baby on his/her face, mouth, hands, or feet as this could potentially transmit the fatal HPV virus to your little one.
Treating Common Illnesses
In the event your little one gets a cold or other common illness, you should bring him/her to the pediatrician immediately. At just 2 months old, your baby is too young for any kind of home remedies.
Tips:
- Try breastfeeding your baby while he/she gets vaccinated. This will help soothe the discomfort of the jab.
- It is important to note that all babies should be put to sleep on their backs so as to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- You should also remove all soft objects from your baby’s crib, such as pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals, as such items might accidentally cover your baby’s face while he's sleeping.
- Never give your baby any medicine before checking with your doctor.
When to Talk to Your Doctor:
If your baby:
- Has trouble breathing
- Is excessively cranky or sleepy
- Gets a temperature of 38ºc (100.4ºF)
- Vomits excessively or has diarrhea
- Has rashes
- Grabs at ear (could be a sign of an ear infection)
- Has upper respiratory tract infections like the common cold
Your baby’s previous month: Baby development and milestones: your 1-month-old
Your baby’s next month: Baby development and milestones: your 3-month-old
*Disclaimer: This is the median length and weight, and head circumference according to WHO standards)
What can your 2 month old baby do right now? Do you have any funny stories to share with our readers? Tell us by leaving a comment below!