2 months baby girl

Baby Development: Your 2-Month Old

Written by Stephanie Watson

In this Article

• Second Month Baby Milestones: Motor Skills
• Second Month Baby Milestones: Sleep
• Second Month Baby Milestones: Eating
• Second Month Baby Milestones: The Senses
• Second Month Baby Milestones: Communication
• Tips For Your Baby’s Second Month

You've gotten past the newborn phase, and now, in the second month, you’re starting to get a sense of your baby’s personality. You’re also learning what makes your 2-month-old tick -- from likes and dislikes, to crying triggers, which are pretty basic at this point: hunger, sleepiness, and dirty diapers.

This portion of WebMD’s month-by-month guide describes a few of the baby milestones you can expect your child to reach at two months.

Second Month Baby Milestones: Motor Skills

Two-month-old babies are gaining more control over their bodies. That means they can hold their head a little steadier while lying on their tummies or being supported upright.

In the second month of life, babies continue to have a strong sucking reflex. You may notice your baby likes to suck on a fist or a few fingers. This is one of the best ways babies have of comforting themselves.

At 2 months, your baby doesn’t yet have the coordination to play with toys. But she may bat at a colorful object hanging in front of her. Your baby may even briefly hold a toy that you place in one of her hands.

Second Month Baby Milestones: Sleep

Your baby’s sleep patterns are evolving, but at two months, they still aren’t fully established. At this age, babies sleep 15 to 16 hours a day. But those hours are sporadic, and they usually aren’t ready to sleep through the night. This is especially true for breastfed babies, who generally wake up to eat every three hours or so.

Hang in there for just a few more weeks and you’ll be able to get some much-needed rest. You may even be able to get to a full night’s sleep earlier by helping your baby learn how to fall asleep on her own. Do this by putting your baby into the crib when she’s drowsy rather than fast asleep. She can sleep in your room with you, but it’s not recommended that you have her in your bed.

All babies need to be put to sleep on their backs on  firm, flat surface to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). You can provide plenty of tummy time when your baby is awake and supervised. Also, remove all soft objects from Baby’s crib, including pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, and soft bumpers.

Second Month Baby Milestones: Eating

At 2 months, your baby should be taking around 4 ounces at each feeding, and both breast and bottle feedings should be at least every 3 to 4 hours during the day with longer stretches at night. If your baby is having problems gaining weight, your pediatrician will probably advise not to go too long without feeding, even if it means waking your baby.

Expect at least 4 to 6 wet diapers a day. The frequency of poopy diapers may range from a few each day to once every few days. If you’re breastfeeding, your baby’s stools should be soft and slightly runny. If you’re formula-feeding, your baby’s stools will probably be a little firmer, but should not be hard or formed. The color can also vary but should never be red, white, or black.

Breastfed infants should be getting vitamin D supplements starting soon after birth, but other supplements, water, juice, and solid foods usually aren't necessary. Your pediatrician will recommend what’s best for you and your baby.

Second Month Baby Milestones: The Senses

At two months, babies can see objects -- and people -- from up to 18 inches away. That means you still need to get pretty close, but your baby will be able to see your face pretty well while feeding. She should also be able to follow movements when you walk close by.

Baby’s hearing is improving, too. Your 2-month-old will especially enjoy listening to the sound of your voice.

Second Month Baby Milestones: Communication

For a 2-month-old, most communication consists of crying. But you may hear a few gurgles, grunts, and even some sweet coos. Your baby should recognize your face and voice, and respond to them. You might even see the first adorable hint of a smile.

One of the most important things you can do at this age is talk to your baby. Even though 2-month-old babies can’t talk back, they will respond to the sound of your voice, and it will encourage them to start forming their own first words in the coming months.

Tips For Your Baby’s Second Month

• The first few months of a baby’s life are exciting and nerve-wracking for new parents. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice when you need it. Your pediatrician is the best source for information, but family and friends are good back-ups.

• Information on WebMD and many other websites are regularly reviewed by experts to ensure that the information is reliable. However, the internet is also a place where there is a lot of misinformation. Be sure you know the source of medical and other information you read online.

• Parents today are always on the go. As a result, babies spend a lot of time in car seats and carriers. Babies should have the chance to move around in different positions during the day so they can use the muscles they’ll need for rolling, crawling, and eventually walking. Alternate the carrier with periods of tummy time, stroller walks, and plenty of cuddles in your arms. Babies should not routinely sleep in carriers, car seats, or bouncy seats.
• Touch is very important during baby’s first months. Try some skin-to-skin contact. Some experts recommend baby massage, but just holding or rocking her is enough.
• When your infant cries, try different soothing techniques. Some babies respond to soft music or singing. Others are calmed by ''white noise'' (for example, running the vacuum cleaner or placing the radio dial between stations). If you haven’t already done so, try introducing a pacifier. They are soothing and have also been found to help prevent SIDS. Experiment to find what works best for your 2-month-old.

Your baby's growth and development - 2 months old

5-minute read

Listen

Your 2-month-old is growing fast and becoming more alert. They will be making more sounds and getting more skilled at moving their body. They will still be crying a lot - but you've probably already seen that magic first smile (usually at 6 weeks) which somehow makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Your 2-month-old

By 2 months, your baby will have put on a lot of weight and may be looking round and chubby. As their muscles develop, their arms and legs start to move more freely, stretching out to make them seem taller and leaner.

During their first 2 months, your baby is growing very quickly. They will keep growing at this rate, probably gaining about 900g and growing 2. 5 cm to 3.8 cm every month.

Babies often have a growth spurt at about 6 weeks. This might make them more fussy because they want to eat more than usual. It might feel like you’re feeding all the time, especially at certain times of the day. You can sometimes tell your baby is hungry if they’re sticking their tongue out or sucking. If they doze off or turn their head away, they’re probably full.

At 6 to 8 weeks, your baby will have their scheduled vaccinations - 2 injections and the oral rotavirus vaccine.

Understanding baby growth charts

A growth chart helps you and your doctor keep track of how your baby is growing.

What can your baby do?

By 2 months your baby will have discovered their fingers and hands. They will hold their hands open and grab an object (although they don’t know how to let go yet!) They might also clasp both hands together.

2-month-old babies will start to learn how to coordinate their movements. Instead of the jerky arm and leg movements that made when they were born, they can move more smoothly and in more of a circular motion. They will kick both legs strongly and will be very wriggly. They may even roll over, so don’t ever leave them alone on a change table.

Their neck will be getting stronger all the time. During tummy time they might be lifting their head and moving it from side to side. Some babies can even lift their chest off the ground by now.

Some (though very few) babies can sleep through the night by the time they reach 2 months. But even if you’re not one of the lucky parents or carers, your baby will at least be sleeping for longer stretches at a time. They’ll probably be having 2 to 4 long sleeps and will be more awake and alert during the day — although babies’ sleep patterns still vary widely at this age.

Your baby’s eyes, which may have been crossed when they were younger, move together most of the time now. They will clearly recognise you, will look at you when you talk to them, and can follow you with their eyes. They will love looking at your face and will be giving you some lovely smiles. They will like looking at objects with more complex patterns and colours.

They will also be making a lot more sounds and gurgling, including sounds like ‘a’ or ‘o’, and they will seem to listen to you and talk back to you.

How can I help my baby develop?

As your baby develops more of a rhythm, you’ll find they are awake more during the day. This gives you more time to interact with them and help them develop. Spend plenty of time reading to them, singing, and talking. That way they’ll get used to sounds and words and will start to develop language and communication skills.

You can play with them by letting them look at and feel a variety of objects with different designs, colours, and shapes. Plastic toys and soft balls work well.

They will love looking at you, so make sure you smile at them a lot. It releases ‘feel-good’ chemicals in your baby’s body and helps them to feel safe and secure. You could also give your baby a massage to relax them. After a bath is a good time.

Continue with 1 to 5 minutes tummy time to strengthen their neck and upper body. It will help them develop the muscles they’ll need later to sit and crawl. But always put your baby to sleep on their back.

Development problem signs

Babies develop at a different rate. At 2 months, talk to your doctor or maternal child health nurse if:

• they aren’t smiling by 8 weeks
• they don’t calm down, even for a little while, when you pick them up to comfort them
• one side of their body seems to be stronger than the other
• they’re still holding their fingers in a tight fist
• sudden noises don’t startle them
• they aren’t feeding properly
• they’re floppy or stiff

Where can I go for help?

If you are worried or would like to discuss any issues with your baby’s development, speak to your doctor or child health nurse.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Sources:

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: October 2020

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Related pages

• Bonding with your baby
• How your baby learns - birth to 3 years
• Your baby’s growth and development – first 12 months
• Understanding baby growth charts

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The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

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08.03.2021

26919

23

Development of a child

0-3 months

Article

team Babysleep

Team Babysleep

Consultants for SNO, doctors, psychologists, consultants, consultants according to GV

Is your baby already 2 months old? Fasten your seat belts, dear parents. The development of the child is gaining momentum, and to keep up with it, read our article carefully. From it you will learn what awaits you in the coming weeks, what your baby already knows or will soon begin to do, and how you can help him in understanding the world and himself. nine0003

0–4 months. Improve sleep in 3 weeks

In this article:

Height and weight of a child at 2 months
Skillful hands: the formation of hand skills at 2 months
Physical development of a child at 2 months
Mental development of a child at 2 months
Baby massage at 2 months old
2 month old baby's language development
How to play with your 2 month old baby
Toys for 2 month old baby
How sleep and baby development affect each other

All children are different. Even twins often have different rates of development. Any tables and norms can only serve as a guide. Hardly anyone can feel a child better than a mother and know what and when he needs.

Child height and weight at 2 months

In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) released the Child Development Standards. They are based on a large-scale study of the height and weight of almost 9,000 full-term boys and girls from around the world who were breastfed for at least 6 months. Unlike the old standards, the new norms allow parents to track the development of the child, taking into account his individual characteristics. nine0003

Height of a child at 2 months

In the second month, children grow an average of 3.5 cm. An increase of 2 or 3 centimeters is also normal. More than just a dream Boys Very low Low Below average average Higher the average high Very high 53. 8 55.1 57.1 58.4 59.8 61.7.7.7.7.7.7.7.7.7.7.7.7.7.7.7.7.REIGED 1 Girls Very low Low Below average Average Above average High Very high 0071 52.3 53.7 55.7 57.1 58.4 60.4 61.8 9000 , pediatrician

The norms of height and weight in children are very wide, depending on the term of delivery and birth weight, type of feeding. It is optimal when the height and weight indicators are in the same column-corridor (“medium”, “low”, “above average”, etc.) or in neighboring ones. The attention of the pediatrician is required when both indicators are in the extreme columns, or the difference between the corridors of values ​​is 3 or more (for example, weight and height in the first percentile corridor is “very low” or weight in the first is “very low”, and height in the fifth is “higher than average"). nine0003

Weight of a child at 2 months

In the second month of life, a child most often gains about 800 grams in weight. But it can add both a little less and much more. It is definitely worth showing the baby to the doctor if he adds less than 125 grams per week.

Shulamith Volfson

Pediatrician with more than 18 years of experience

It is worth remembering the difference in gains between breastfed and artificially fed children. Babies on IV add smoothly, in the first six months, 600–700 g each. But babies on HB up to 4–6 months can sometimes gain even up to 1.5–2.5 kg per month, and this is absolutely normal, in the second half of the year such "Pyshechka" will definitely grow slimmer. nine0076 6.0 6.8 7.4 Girls Very low low below the average average above the average Very high 3. 8 4.1 4.1 4.1 ,1 5.6 6.3 6.9

Skillful hands: the formation of hand skills at 2 months

Putting a small, light object in your baby's hand can hold it for a couple of seconds. While sucking, the baby can rhythmically squeeze and unclench his fingers.

At rest, the fingers are most often clenched into a fist. But if bright toys are hung over the child at a distance of 30-40 cm, he may try to grab them on his own. Often the baby grabs one hand with the other and carefully examines them.

Physical development of a child at 2 months

The arms are already fully opened, that is, the baby does not constantly press them to the body with bent elbows. Lying on his stomach, he can slightly rise with support on his forearms. Remember that before feeding it is useful to lay the baby on the tummy. nine0003

The baby holds his head more and more confidently, turns it to the sound or following the movement of the object. It is worth paying attention to the pediatrician if by the end of the third month the child does not hold his head at all for at least a minute.

The infant regularly has periods of revival, when he makes faces, actively moves his arms and legs. By the end of the month, when revived, the child throws up his hands.

If you put your baby on his side, he can roll over on his stomach or back. It is good during this period to maintain his reflex crawling and grasping reflex. When the baby grabs your fingers, you can pull him up to a half-sitting position several times and put him back, “pumping” his abdominals. For a short time, you can put it on a hard surface, supporting it under the armpits. Many children like the "bicycle" exercise, when an adult holds the baby's legs and rotates them. nine0003

Mental development of a child at 2 months

A two-month-old child already knows his relatives (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather) by sight, reacts to their appearance with a smile and even laughter, and becomes animated when they approach him. Adults can support the development of the baby by constantly talking to him, showing him various objects and explaining his actions.

If the baby does not recognize the mother by the end of the third month, it is worth consulting with the pediatrician. An important indicator of healthy development at this age is also interest in one's own hands. nine0003

The second month of a baby's life can be captured by as many as two developmental leaps!

The first leap occurs in the development of the sense organs, the quality of perception of the world sharply increases. Therefore, the baby distinguishes much more sounds and pictures, sensations and smells. A child at 2 months realizes for the first time that he has hands, and examines them with surprise. If a toy hangs over him, he hits it with his hand or foot.

But only a couple of weeks pass - and the next leap overtakes him! At 2.5 months, the child opens up the "world of nuances", now he is able to notice soft changes in sounds, light, movements. He not only hits the toys, but also reaches for them with his hands, gently feels them or grabs them, brings them closer to him, examines them, shakes them, listens to the sounds made by the toys. nine0003

Baby massage at 2 months

Baby can be massaged once a day. Although it is more correct to call it stroking. This is not a mandatory procedure, but only a way of tactile communication with the child. It is important that it is pleasant for both you and the baby.

The best time for a massage is when the baby is full, rested and in a good mood. But do not forget that it is not recommended to massage immediately after feeding, at least an hour should pass. The optimum air temperature is 20–22 ºС. During the massage, gently talk to the child, sing funny songs or read play rhymes. nine0003

The development of a child's speech at 2 months

The development of hearing leads to the appearance of new sounds in the "repertoire" of the baby: he begins to "buzz", that is, make drawling sounds like a-a, o-o, a-ha, a-gi , a-boo. Animation at the sight of mother is also accompanied by joyful sounds. The baby can “talk” with the toy he likes.

At this stage, the child is already trying to repeat sounds after adults. He likes to look at them for a long time when they speak, studying facial expressions, lip movements. The kid listens attentively to the voices of people and is very happy with them. He also learns to deliberately attract your attention with sounds! nine0003

You can support your baby's speech development by talking to him often and animatedly, even just talking about everything you do. And if both of you are in the mood, you can play Roll Call.

Bring your face close to your baby so that he can see your lips well and begin to say some simple sound that the baby already knows how to make. Pause. If the child begins to pronounce this sound after you, listen to it, keep a short pause and repeat the same sound again. After a few repetitions, change the sound. For example, if before that you said “aaaa” to each other, now try “uuu” (provided that the baby has already mastered this sound earlier). nine0003

It is possible that at first the baby will not repeat after you even the sounds he has already mastered. Then you can join the "roll call" spontaneously at the moment when he himself starts the "talk". The very fact that he will hear a repetition of his own sound from your lips will help him become more aware of the sounds he makes and gradually learn to repeat them after you.

How to play with a 2 month old baby

1. Game 1. Development of tactile sensations . Since a two-month-old baby tries to touch objects with both hands, invite him to feel objects of different textures and temperatures. Pieces of fabrics, large slingobuses, light rattles and "rustles". It will be useful to stroke the palms, during which the child can either clench his fists, then straighten his fingers, developing the muscles of the whole arm. nine0318
2. Game 2. Tracking . Approach at a distance of 20-25 cm from the baby's face. When he fixes his gaze on you, slowly move to the left, then to the right. When this game is mastered by the child, try to do the same using a small bright toy.
3. Game 3. Music and rhythm . Just dance with the baby in your arms! By themselves, rhythmic movements develop interhemispheric connections, help the development of speech. And if at the same time the mother also sings, the baby will surely be delighted. nine0318

If you find it difficult to find suitable games for a two-month-old baby, read our series of articles about games with babies using the PEKIP system, and you will discover new opportunities for joint leisure for yourself and your child.

Toys for 2 month old baby

"Toys of the month" can be called sensory toys. Rattles are still relevant.

How sleep and child development influence each other

A 2-month-old baby sleeps 15-16 hours a day, of which 8-10 hours are spent at night. Read more about the night and daytime sleep of a two-month-old baby in our service "Child's sleep month by month". nine0003

The golden rule of the BabySleep Center for Children's Sleep and Development: if the house is noisy and fun all day long and your baby needs to sleep, white noise can be your salvation.

Often at this age, parents are disturbed by short daytime naps (20–40 minutes). The good news is that the child's ability to fall asleep early at night begins to mature: if a one-month-old baby could fall into a night's sleep closer to midnight, then a two-month-old is likely to fall asleep before 22 or even about 20 o'clock.

Moms most often worried this month:

To give or not to give a pacifier? A pacifier can be good for calming a baby when he is anxious. Or, for example, if he is already hungry, and the mother was late for a walk and cannot immediately feed the baby. True, not all children immediately accept it.

The American Association of Pediatrics believes that the use of a pacifier reduces the risk of developing ADHD, as well as the stress and anxiety levels of the infant. Most often, mothers worry that a dummy will interfere with breastfeeding. Therefore, the introduction of a pacifier after lactation is recommended. nine0003

We have written a detailed article about the benefits and harms of pacifiers, what they are and how they help prolong 20-minute sleeps.

BabySleep FAQ this month

Mom:

“Baby is 10 weeks old. First, he does not sleep well during the day. Sometimes he can’t meet at all, although he was active all day and very tired. It happens that dreams last only 30 minutes and are very restless. In the evening he falls asleep early - sometimes at 7, sometimes at 8. He can wake up at 10, and then at 1 in the morning. But after 3 am the child hardly sleeps: he groans, tosses and turns, wakes up every hour or half an hour. What to do?" nine0029

Consultant's answer

Anna Bakhareva

Top sleep consultant, BabySleepConsult Senior Supervisor, psychologist

laying down for daytime sleep. The rule “if you get tired more - sleep longer” most often does not work with young children. Due to long periods of wakefulness and short sleeps, fatigue and arousal accumulate during the day, and this affects nighttime sleep. Therefore, start from the time of wakefulness: watch how the child's behavior changes about an hour after waking up, note the first signs of fatigue and immediately after they appear, proceed to bed. It is advisable to extend short sleeps so that at least 1-2 sleeps per day are longer than an hour. nine0003

How BabySleep can help

You put your baby to bed for hours and your baby sleeps even worse? You are not alone! Thousands of parents are trying to "survive" every night and dream of improving the daytime sleep of the baby.

If you can't manage on your own, a one-on-one baby sleep consultation is what you need.

#colic#developmental spurt#pacifier#mother'smassage#baby play

At 2 months, the child's motor skills are getting better and better. It becomes easier for the child to control his body, some sharp and unconscious movements become a thing of the past, the crawling reflex disappears. The grasping reflex begins to develop well, it is expressed more and more in the grip of the fingers or hair of adults by the child. Often a child at two months old can already hold a small toy in his hands for some time, pressing it with his palm. nine0003

In addition, the baby likes to put everything in his mouth and taste it. At this age, the baby can open his hand on his own, so you can often see his fingers in the crumbs' mouth. At 2 months, the baby should be able to hold his head well in a raised position and in an upright position. The baby is able to lie on his tummy to independently raise his chest and head and stay in this position for up to twenty seconds.

A two-month-old child actively explores the world around him with interest. At 2 months, the child should be able to distinguish between strangers and familiar voices. He often smiles at his father and mother, and at the same time carefully and warily looks into the face bent over him. The child can distinguish between unloved and favorite objects, he is drawn to everything that interests him. The attention of the baby begins to attract sounding and moving objects. He can follow how they move, the child listens to sounds and stretches in the direction of the object with his tiny hand. nine0003

At this age, mom and dad can hear sounds from their baby that are somewhat reminiscent of singing. These are the sounds usually uttered before the start of the hum. At this time, the baby is trying to reproduce the sounds he hears from the people around him.

And although it may seem to you that such sounds are meaningless, still help the baby to pronounce them, sing along with him, and then you will notice that a child at 2 months can pronounce sounds well.

What games and activities does a 2 month old baby need to develop? nine0382