My Baby is 2 Months Old: What should he/she be able to do?
Your baby is now almost 2 months old and has changed your life for the better. Here are the things you should expect your child to do by 2 month of age.
By 2 months of age, your child should be able to:
Gross Motor/Physical Movement
Hold his/her head up a little higher and more steadily when lying on his/her tummy or when sitting on your lap
Make smoother movements with his/her arms and legs
Social/Emotional
Smile at you when you are looking or smiling at him/her
Make better eye contact with you (even when you're standing a little farther away)
Language/Communication
Coo and make gurgling sounds
Turn his/her head toward sounds
Cognitive/Learning & Problem-solving
Pay attention and may stare at faces
Track your movement with his/her eyes, now following you all the way across the room with his/her eyes
If your child is 2 months old and is doing all of these things, great!!
Tips to Help Your Child Reach Their 2 Month Milestones
Tummy time: Set your child on top of a blanket/playmat on the floor for “tummy time” at least once a day. Don't worry if your baby seems to hate "tummy time". Some babies do. If your baby is fussing and crying while in "tummy time", it's okay to pick your baby up and try again later or on another day. Try not to do tummy time right after your baby has eaten as this may result in stomach discomfort and spit-ups.
Talk: Talk to your baby as much as possible. You may not realize it, but their little baby brain is absorbing everything you do and say. Your baby may look at you and listen intently, staring at and absorbing the sound of your voice, the inflection in your tone, and the facial expressions you make.
Smile and play: Smile at and play with your child often. This helps to develop your child socially and reminds him/her constantly that they are loved and cared for.
Read: Read simple books to your child. Reading is fundamental at all stages of learning and helps your child to be exposed to and absorb as much information as possible. Don't worry if your baby doesn't look at the book as you're reading at this age but know that they are still listening to you. Books with high contrast colors are best at this age, as your baby's vision can distinguish these type of colors/pictures best.
When to Be Worried
If your child is already 2 months of age and is not meeting these milestones, talk to your child’s pediatrician. You know your child better than anyone else. If you are concerned your child may have a delay in his/her development, it is better to intervene sooner rather than later. This gives your child the best chance of catching up to his/her peers by the time he or she reaches school age.
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