What 2 month old baby do
Your baby's growth and development - 2 months old
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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:
Raising Children Network (1-2 months: newborn development), Women's and Children's Health Network (Milestones: Children 0-4 years), Kids Health (Your baby’s health – 2 months), Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (Developmental milestones and the Early Years Learning Framework and the National Quality Standards)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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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.
90,000 development of a child at 2 months
08.03.2021
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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.
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) issued 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.
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 a dream Boys
8 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").
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.
8 Skillful hands: the formation of hand skills in 2 months
If you put a small, light object in your baby's hand, he 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.
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 arms.
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.
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, 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.
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.
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.
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 "roam", that is, to make lingering 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!
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).
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
- 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.
- 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. - 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.
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".
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.
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 a.m., the child hardly sleeps: he groans, tosses and turns, wakes up every hour or half an hour. What to do?"
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.
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
', nextArrow: '', responsive: [{breakpoint: 1199, settings: {arrows: !1, infinite: !1, slidesToShow: 1}}] }) })What a child should be able to do at 2 months: physical and intellectual development
Your baby is 2 months old.
It is this period of life that pleases and surprises parents: just a couple of weeks ago, the baby only ate and slept, and now he is more and more awake and begins to explore the world for the first time.
Two months is also such an age when mothers, especially young ones, have their first anxieties. Not everything can be learned from books and from experienced grandmothers, and new parents are concerned about a variety of questions: is the child developing correctly, and what should a two-month-old baby be able to do in general, and whether it is necessary to strive for strict development standards.
If you are one of the parents who are concerned about the proper development of the child, you can remain calm. The norms for the development of children at 2 months have long been established by pediatricians, and you yourself will be able to assess how your baby complies with them and, if necessary, help the baby.
Content:
- Physical development
- What a 2 month old baby should be able to do
- Movement and reflexes
- Intellectual development
- Neuropsychic development, emotions
- Sense organs
- Muscle tone
- Daily routine of a two-month-old baby
- Development of a child at 2 months: the opinion of Dr.
Komarovsky - Common problems: when to worry and how to deal with them
- How to develop a baby: advice to parents
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Growth
In the first year of life, the physical indicators of an infant are monitored especially carefully - height, weight, head and chest circumference primarily indicate compliance with developmental standards. But deviations from the average up or down are not a reason to believe that the child is developing incorrectly, especially if the baby was born prematurely or there is a genetic predisposition to a certain body type.
Average indicators of the physical development of a two-month-old child:
| Measured parameter | Boys norm | Girls norm |
| Weight (in kg) | 4.2-6 | 4. 2-5.5 |
| Height (in cm) | 53.8-59.4 | 53.3-59.3 |
| Head circumference (in cm) | 39.1 | 38.3 |
| Chest circumference (in cm) | 39 | 38.1 |
⠀
Other norms for the physical development of a baby at 2 months:
- Even if the weight of a boy or girl is less or more than average, pay attention to a more important indicator - weight gain over the past month. For a period of one to two months, the child should gain about 800 grams. The total increase, taking into account the first month of life, will be 1300-1500 grams.
- Average changes in other indicators: growth over the past month has increased by 3 centimeters, head and chest circumference by 2 centimeters.
- The total duration of sleep is reduced compared to the sleep of a newborn and is approximately 18 hours.
- The hairline of the head changes: instead of the fluff, a permanent bulbous cover begins to grow.
- The child begins to better recognize pain and other unpleasant sensations - for example, feels discomfort from wet diapers. That is why a previously silent baby at the age of two months sometimes begins to cry and scream a lot.
Differences between boys and girls
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There are no significant differences in height and weight between boys and girls at two months. On average, boys are larger, but a girl who exceeds the average height and weight is not uncommon and is not considered a deviation from the norm.
According to the observations of both doctors and parents of children of different sexes, according to some indicators, girls develop faster than boys. This is true: fewer female babies are born than male babies, and girls have to learn different skills faster - this is how evolution ordered to maintain a balance between the two sexes.
So, by the age of two months, girls hear and see better, react more sharply to stimuli.
Physical ability
What a two-month-old baby should be able to do - physical ability:
- to hold a toy or other object that an adult has placed in his hand;
- briefly, for about twenty seconds, hold your head upright and raise your shoulders while lying on your stomach;
- from a position lying on his stomach with his head raised, try to turn his head from side to side, especially if something caught his attention.
What a 2-month-old baby should be able to do
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The period of life up to three months is generally the most important for a child under one year old. And it is at two months that the child begins to behave meaningfully: the baby develops a variety of skills that confirm the normal development of motor activity, sensory organs, timely intellectual and neuropsychic development.
Briefly about what the child is already doing well by the middle or end of the second month of life:
- thanks to strengthened muscles, not only raises his head and chest while lying on his stomach, but also makes swimming movements with his arms and legs;
- knows how to squeeze and unclench his hand, grabs a toy, fingers and hair of an adult;
- brings brush to lips, can suck fingers;
- holds its head for a few seconds when in the arms of an adult;
- touches the hanging toy, pushes it away;
- rubs eyes and nose with hands or fists;
- smiles;
- shows interest in sounds;
- the first sounds appear in speech;
- distinguishes between familiar and unfamiliar people;
- briefly focuses on the subject of interest.
Below is a detailed description of each aspect of the development of a two-month-old baby.
Motor activity and reflexes
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com
At two months, the baby assumes completely different postures than a newborn. Legs in the supine position or on the stomach are no longer constantly bent due to the fact that muscle hypertonicity characteristic of newborns gradually becomes weaker. However, the baby still spends part of the time in the fetal position, which is normal for its age.
The reflex is also weakened, due to which the newborn firmly rested his feet on the surface when he was held by an adult. A two-month-old baby still rests his feet on a crib, sofa or other support, but not so much. The breath holding reflex is preserved, but by the end of the second month of life, it usually completely fades away.
Automatic walking and crawling reflexes develop when the child is held in the appropriate position. By two months, the baby occasionally assumes a swordsman's position when lying on his back: he turns his head to the right and automatically straightens his right arm and right leg. The same thing happens when turning the head to the left, only with the left arm and leg.
A two-month-old baby reacts differently to smells: when he smells a pleasant aroma, he freezes or smiles, when he catches an unpleasant smell, he wrinkles his nose and sneezes.
Intellectual development
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The behavior of a two-month-old baby is already quite conscious: he, to the best of his ability, learns the world and is able to establish simple cause-and-effect relationships. The kid understands that his mother is the main figure who takes care of him, and reacts to the presence of his mother differently than to other people: he smiles, tries to walk, follows his mother with his eyes. The child does not yet experience such complex emotions as fear or embarrassment and willingly goes into the arms of any adult.
In a simple form, the baby expresses his attitude to objects: he is attracted to things that are interesting to him, repels uninteresting things or does not react to them at all. Produces simple, but already emotionally colored repetitive sounds, similar to singing.
And although these first sounds seem unintelligible to others, these are the first attempts of the baby to repeat the speech of adults.
Neuropsychic development, emotions
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A child who is two months old experiences emotions and needs to respond to them. Crying changes: the cry ceases to be monotonous, like that of a newborn, intonation coloring appears. Sensitive mothers can determine the cause of discontent by the cry of their son or daughter: fatigue, soiled diapers, hunger, or something else.
The baby's smile becomes meaningful: he does not just raise the corners of his lips, but smiles in response to a certain event, for example, in response to a gentle voice. Some babies already know how to laugh at two months. The baby also cries and screams consciously, realizing that in this way you can attract the mother.
The child not only smiles, but also uses different facial expressions. May frown and wrinkle nose, open mouth when spoken to.
Holds a look at the person who is talking to him, can look at the face of the speaker for a long time and intently.
The baby is aware that a mother or other person who is talking to him affectionately can take him in her arms and emotionally anticipates this event - makes impatient sounds, quickly moves his arms and legs.
Sense Organs
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A baby grows up and every day his sense organs develop. The child sees and hears better compared to a newly born baby and, as a result, reacts more noticeably to stimuli.
A two-month-old baby is interested in many objects, and by the middle of the second month of life, he tries to grab an attractive thing and hold it in his hand. It’s not always possible to grab it yet - at this age it is difficult to accurately calculate the trajectory of movement. But if an adult puts an object in a child's hand, then the baby will hold it, tightly squeezing his palm.
If you give a rattle to a two-month-old baby, he will quickly learn that the rattle makes sounds when it is moved.
The baby begins to rattle the rattle consciously.
Hearing becomes more sensitive, and the baby looks in the direction where the sounds come from, listens for a long time. May be frightened by harsh or unfamiliar sounds, shuddering and blinking frequently.
Vision is also developing, and although the child is not yet able to distinguish small details of the surrounding world, bright and moving objects already capture the child's attention. At the age of two months, the baby begins to squint, reacting to bright light.
The baby continues to develop a threshold of taste sensations, but as a pleasant one, he only distinguishes a sweet taste. All other flavors are disgusting.
Muscle tone
Young parents are often worried about muscle hypertonicity in a two-month-old baby. Considering muscle tone a problem, moms and dads consult neurologists and pay for special massage sessions.
But you shouldn't worry too much about hypertonicity. At two months, muscle tone is still preserved in the arms and back.
On average, hypertonicity in infants completely disappears only by 6-8 months , but if it seems to you that your child has too strong muscle tone, record the vivid manifestations of muscle hypertonicity on video and show it to your pediatrician.
Daily routine of a two-month-old baby
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The well-established routine depends on the well-being of both mother and child. It is really important to organize the order of the day, but in a two-month-old baby, biorhythms are very different from those of, for example, a six-month-old baby.
At the age of 2 months, the mother can only start preparing for the future regimen. And if a baby at this age falls asleep and wakes up at different times - this is a variant of the norm, there is no reason to worry.
Gradually accustom your child to approximately the following daily routine:
- 7.30 am - getting up;
- every 2.5-3 hours - feeding.
The frequency of feeding is set depending on the type of feeding: breastfeeding, mixed, completely artificial; - daytime sleep - 4-6 times a day lasting from 30 minutes to 3 hours;
- 20.30 - bathing;
- 21.00 - going to bed.
The regimen of a two-month-old baby is never stable, with rare exceptions. And if your baby, for example, sleeps little at night, falls asleep late, often wakes up for night feedings, you will have to temporarily adjust to his rhythms. Usually, by four months, children themselves begin to sleep more at night, and stay awake during the day.
Child development at 2 months: Dr. Komarovsky's opinion
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According to Yevgeny Komarovsky, the main problem with caring for children at the age of two months is the difficulty in determining the causes of crying. Mostly babies cry because of hunger, thirst, drowsiness and problems with stool. The doctor advises to start by offering a crying child to eat or drink, if it doesn’t help, try to lull the baby.
If the crying doesn't stop or gets worse, the baby may not be able to empty its bowels on its own. Remember when the child last had a chair, and if more than ten hours have passed, help the baby by giving him a stomach massage. You can try to press the legs to the stomach.
For the rest, Dr. Komarovsky advises focusing exclusively on the pace of development of your child, not trying to keep up with the rapidly developing children of friends or neighbors. Komarovsky claims that severe pathologies that would prevent the baby from starting to walk and talk are not so common and are visible not at two months, but much earlier - usually even at the stage of pregnancy.
Common problems: when to worry and how to solve them
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Young parents worry for various reasons, but the most common problems associated with the development of a two-month-old baby are five:
- The child does not even try to hold his head, constantly bowing it to the shoulder of an adult.
Solution: lay the baby on his stomach as often as possible (but before feeding or at least half an hour after eating) - various muscle groups are perfectly strengthened in this position, including the muscles of the neck. - You notice that the baby's muscles do not develop symmetrically: more in one part of the body than in another.
Solution: carry the baby, periodically changing hands, turn from one side to the other when he sleeps. - The baby has an anxious sleep, he sleeps poorly or little, is naughty when falling asleep and waking up.
Solution: Try to set up a schedule for going to bed and waking up around the same time. - Colic begins.
Solution: give the baby a belly massage, apply heat to the belly, use a gas tube. - Dry skin, allergic reactions on baby skin.
Solution: rethink the principles of bathing. Skin problems in babies happen due to too frequent bathing and the use of bath additives. Bathe your child three to four times a week without using any supplements, not even herbal teas
If the problems with the development or care of the baby are episodic or easily solved by the parents, there is no reason for concern.
But if a specific problem is not solved in any way - for example, by the end of the second month of life, the child cannot hold his head at all or suffers from too painful colic - be sure to consult a doctor.
How to check the speech and motor development of your baby, in the video:
How to develop your baby: tips for parents
Follow these simple tips to help your two-month-old baby develop correctly:
- talk a lot with your son or daughter to promote development hearing and speech;
- play with the rattle, moving it in front of the child from side to side - both vision and the ability to concentrate are trained in this way;
- regularly do a light massage - it will relax the baby and create a close emotional connection with the mother;
- spend more time outdoors;
- from educational toys at the age of two months, play mats and mobiles can be used.
Remember that all norms are not the ultimate truth.
