2 Months
Here's what's happening at this age - milestones, common concerns, nutrition, sleep, and vaccines.
Developmental Milestones
Based on the 2 Months checkpoint
Gross Motor
- Holds head up at 45-degree angle during tummy time - When placed on their tummy, your baby can lift their head up and hold it for several seconds.
- Movements become smoother and less jerky - Your baby's arm and leg movements are starting to look less like startled jerks and more like smooth, flowing motions.
Fine Motor
- Hands open more often - Your baby's hands are starting to relax and open up instead of always being in fists.
- Brings hands together near midline - Your baby is beginning to bring their hands together in front of their body.
Language
- Begins to coo and make gurgling sounds - Your baby starts making soft, vowel-like sounds - "oooh," "aaah," and "goo" - especially when happy.
- Turns head toward sounds - Your baby moves their head toward a sound, like your voice or a rattle.
- Uses different cries for different needs - You can start to tell the difference between your baby's hungry cry, tired cry, and uncomfortable cry.
Social & Emotional
- Smiles at people (social smile) - Your baby smiles in response to your smile, voice, or face - not just from gas or reflexes.
- May briefly calm themselves (self-soothing) - Your baby might briefly calm down on their own by sucking on their fingers or fist.
- Looks at parent while being fed - Your baby gazes at your face during feeding, whether breast or bottle.
Cognitive
- Follows things with eyes and recognizes people at a distance - Your baby can track a moving object or person with their eyes, following it as it moves across their field of vision.
- Begins to act bored if activity does not change - Your baby may fuss or cry when there is nothing interesting to look at or do for a while.
- Pays attention to faces - Your baby stares at faces with increasing interest and for longer periods.
Red Flags to Watch For
- !Does not respond to loud sounds
- !Does not watch things as they move
- !Does not smile at people
Common Concerns at This Age
Things parents often wonder about around 2 months
My Baby's Belly Looks Swollen
A rounded, slightly protruding belly is completely normal in babies and toddlers due to immature abdominal muscles and t...
I'm Worried About Lazy Eye (Amblyopia)
Amblyopia (lazy eye) is the most common cause of vision loss in children, affecting about 2-3% of kids. It occurs when o...
My Baby Has an Anal Fissure (Blood When Pooping)
A small streak of bright red blood on the surface of your baby's stool or on the diaper is most commonly caused by an an...
Anaphylaxis Signs in Baby
Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that affects multiple body systems. In babies, i...
My Baby Has Unequal Pupils
Slight differences in pupil size (anisocoria) can be normal and affect up to 20% of people, including babies. However, i...
My Baby Stops Breathing Briefly (Apnea)
Brief pauses in breathing lasting under 10 seconds are very common in newborns and are called periodic breathing. This i...
I'm Worried My Baby Is Aspirating During Feeds
Aspiration means liquid or food enters the airway instead of the stomach. Occasional coughing during feeds is common and...
My Baby Seems to Use One Side More Than the Other
Babies should use both sides of their body fairly equally during the first 18 months of life. While slight preferences c...
Feeding
Breast milk or formula only at this age
Your baby gets all the nutrition they need from breast milk or formula right now. The AAP and WHO recommend exclusive breast milk or formula for about the first 6 months. Solid foods are usually introduced around 6 months, when your baby shows signs of readiness like sitting with support, good head control, and interest in food.
Sleep Needs
2-4 months
14-16 hours
Total sleep per day
9-10 hours (with 1-3 wake-ups)
Nighttime sleep
3-5 naps
Naps
Tips for this age
- A bedtime routine helps - keep it simple (bath, book, feed, sleep)
- Start putting baby down drowsy but awake to practice self-soothing
- The 4-month regression may disrupt any pattern - it's temporary
- Swaddling is still fine if baby isn't rolling yet
Vaccines
Vaccines due around 2 months
Hepatitis B
Protects against hepatitis B virus, which can cause liver disease.
Rotavirus
Protects against rotavirus, a common cause of severe diarrhea in babies.
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
Protects against three serious diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough.
Haemophilus influenzae type b
Protects against Hib disease, which can cause meningitis and other severe infections.
Pneumococcal
Protects against pneumococcal disease, which can cause ear infections, pneumonia, and meningitis.
Polio
Protects against poliovirus.